“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
Zechariah 9:9
Starting this Sunday is the beginning of what most churches call Holy Week. It is a time of getting Easter hams, and holy bread, decorating Easter eggs, and putting up spring decorations (even if there is still snow on the ground outside my office). Most importantly this is a time we focus around and remember the last week of Jesus’ life. Because in his last week he reminds us again of why God sent His only son to earth, and to die for us.
We remember in this week that Jesus life began and ended in a way and place that few people expected. There was great hope that Jesus would lead a political revolution, and be the main man for a mutiny against the Roman occupiers. There was expectation that the savior would lead Israel to a place like they were at back in the day as a world power and a political player.
Instead we celebrate at Christmas that Jesus was born to a young couple in a barn, and his first visitors likely did not believe in God. He did all this because He came not for those who already knew Him, but to go to those who don’t yet.
As we celebrate the last week of his life, we are reminded again that Jesus had a unique calling, and one different that most people expected. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on a donkey, a symbol of humility, instead of a horse, a symbol of power and war. Jesus cleared out underhanded vendors from the Temple, who took advantage of visiting worshippers. Jesus died at the hands of pompous religious elite, who thought they were better than everyone else. Jesus rose so that thousands of years later people like you and I would find Hope, because of a God who died for you, when He didn’t have to, but did because He loves you that much.
I pray that your celebration of Holy Week is a wonderful and meaningful time of worship, family, and reflection.
Pastor Bill