Resolve

Often I think of Palm Sunday as this glorious celebration. Maybe this is a weird day or something, but I am sensing foreboding and danger. It almost seems at though Jesus is acting out of steely resolve. I am not imagining him kissing babies and doing the parade wave. (It's quite possible that he was doing both) As I read this section, and the section in Matthew 21, I see Jesus fulfilling prophecy, for sure, and being honored. But it seems like Jesus is more focused on the task before him.

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. -Mark 11:1-11

One of the things that we no for sure, since we can't know what Jesus' facial expression was during his ride (and we don't need to), is that Jesus knew what had to happen. Jesus had been explaining the future to the disciples so that they would be ready for the suffering coming up. And he is knowingly, willingly, lovingly, walking into a trap with the resolve that only our Savior could muster.

How I long to have such a focused resolve. Jesus is so opposite of the blowing side to side in the wind that I embody. I sway. I falter. He stands firm and resolute.

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