The Plan

“And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying 'Who is this?' And the crowds said, 'This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.'” – Matthew 21:10-11, (ESV)

Hello Dear Friend,

I can’t believe that I’m in my mid-thirties and up until now, I have never thought of Holy Week as being Jesus’s last week on earth before His horrific crucifixion. Palm Sunday, the first day of His last week and what’s He doing? He was departing Bethany after visiting with His close friends; Lazarus, Mary and Martha and preparing to enter Jerusalem. I can’t begin to imagine what He must have been feeling as His mind and His heart were fixated on the plan. The plan that would change everything.

“They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.’”  – John 12:13, (ESV)

He comes to Jerusalem riding in on a young donkey and I can almost picture Him there. He triumphantly enters the city all the while knowing the deeper meaning behind everything leading up to this point. You know, He knew. He knew that the ones shouting “Hosanna!” and those covering the dirt path with palm tree branches and their own clothing would turn on Him in the next few days, sneering hateful insults and spitting in His face. 

These people that He loved so much, yelling in the streets “Hosanna!”  (Hebrew meaning, “save, please” or “salvation, thank you”)

He knew all that would unfold. He knew one of His closest friends would betray Him while greeting Him with a kiss. He knew another one of the twelve would deny ever knowing Him. Words would be twisted into false stories spun and spit out against Him. He would be rejected. He would be hated. He would be mocked. He would be beaten, broken and ripped open. But it was all part of the plan, His Father's plan, the inevitable horror of Him dying on a cross was part of God’s rescue mission. 

Jesus knew what had to be done. He knew how this story ended. Yet, even in the knowing, He sent for a donkey. He was fulfilling every prophecy spoken about Him. As He entered the city of Jerusalem and stepped into His last week, He knew about me, and He knew about you.

So, He got up on that donkey and made His way into the last days of The Plan for you and for me.

To be completely honest, I’m not sure what I would have done this week all those years ago. Would I have greeted Him with palm branches or taken my shawl off my shoulders and laid it beneath Him shouting “Hosanna!” and offering Him praise? Would I too be changing my tune by Friday and join the masses that screamed, “Crucify Him!”? Would I mock Him? Would I deny Him? Would I betray Him? I will never know.

As He journeyed on that little donkey and made His way through the crowded street towards the city with far more love than I could ever begin to understand or attempt to describe, I try to picture myself in that crowd. When His eyes pierce through mine, I wonder where is my heart? Do I honor Him? Do I follow Him? How do I love Him back?

How do I show Jesus, the Son of God, the King of kings, and the Messiah that I stand for Him and Him alone? How do I prove my love to my precious Savior? How do I show Him I stand behind Him? 

I say “Yes, Lord.” and decide that I won’t turn away when He looks at me. My focus is on Him. I step forward when He calls my name. I stand as an Ambassador for Him. I stand with Him. I give everything He asks of me to help fulfill His mission.

As we head into “Holy Week,” lets step forward with Jesus and keep our minds and our hearts fixed on the plan. Let’s not look away when He calls us. Let us be mindful of what He’s doing and who He is. Let’s see Jesus this week.

Afterall, it’s not about coloring eggs or hunting for baskets filled with candy and treasures. It’s not about an extra day off work and a longer weekend. It’s not even about dressing up and making your, once a year, annual appearance at church. It’s not about a bunny but it is about a lamb. It’s about The Lamb of God who came and died and was resurrected. The Lamb, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for your life and mine and fulfilled God’s plan that was established before the beginning of time.  

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” – 1 Peter 1:20, (ESV)

Lord Jesus, help us to see You this Easter. We want to see what You’re doing and be mindful of all that You’ve already done. Thank You for staying true to the course and fixed on the mission. You could have changed Your mind and no doubt, it would have been easier for You to go a different way. But thank God, You didn’t. Instead, You chose to stick to the Father’s plan. Thank You for knowing what You were up against, all the pain and suffering that You would endure, everything You were facing and doing it anyway. Thank You for choosing us. Thank You for loving us and for making a way for us. Thank You for stepping forward for us even today. We love You, Jesus and we stand with You. Amen.

With love,

a Poetic Soul