“Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I remembered many Easter Cantatas at church where we acted out this scene. One particular year, they even brought in someone’s donkey for the actor to ride across the stage on! And that year, we only threw down palm branches someone had purchased from a florist. I remember the sound of the donkey walking across them and the giggles when the donkey did his business on the palm leaves. At least the clean up was easy. 

But on the day Yeshua made his triumphal entry, clean up was the least of their concerns. In fact, the only thought was Him- Yeshua. The One they’d heard so much about, the One who had performed numerous miracles and raised the dead, THIS One was surely the promised King! And He was coming through the gates! 

Hurriedly people stripped of their cloaks – a symbol of identity and protection – and threw them before Him, knowing full well a donkey would pass over them, possibly even rendering them unwearable. The symbolism isn’t lost on me – it was a symbol of humility and surrender. You above me, Lord! You above all else! And He crossed over their garments and the branches – a symbol of offering – they cried out: Hosanna – translated “SAVE US!! Save now, we pray!” 

This cry – the cry they uttered – comes from the Psalms: 

“Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This is the posture that honors Him – a life laid down. In laying down my rights, my abilities, and my strength – my very identity stripped before Him, it makes room for Him. And crying out: “SAVE ME!! Save now, I pray!” is a call He cannot – and will not – ignore. When we call, He will come. When we lay down ourselves and the pretense we hide behind, He has room to move. Today, I need to strip myself of some pride. Tomorrow it will be something different. But day after day, moment by moment, my deepest desire is less of me, more of Him and my earnest cry is, “save me now, I pray.” Come Yeshua. You are welcome. 

Father – thank You for Yeshua. I do not deserve Him. May my life be an offering of thanksgiving for the gift You’ve so freely given. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and. You can be trusted. Amen. 

Daily Reading: Mark 11,  John 12

November 3, 2022