Cheers and Chains

 

Cheers and chains…isn’t that the way it is.

One minute you're at the top of the world, and everyone is cheering for you, shouting your name. You are awesome.

The next minute, you do something (or don’t do something), say something (or don’t say anything) and the mob is ready to get out the chains and beat you to a bloody pulp.

This is Holy Week.

It starts with Palm Sunday.

Here comes Jesus, riding on a donkey. He stops before he enters the city. Jerusalem. What a beautiful, magnificent city. But, as Jesus looks, he weeps. “Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem.” He loves this city, and the people. Yet, he knows what is coming – for Jerusalem, for himself.

He proceeds, and as he enters the city people surround him, covering the streets with garments, and branches.  Shouts and cheers fill the air with triumph. “Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!”

The people see this miracle worker, this man who is going to free them from the tyranny surrounding them. He is their King, their Messiah, their Deliverer.

I’ve always felt so many emotions about that day. It appears Jesus has so many followers. He’s so loved. Yet, it wouldn’t be long till the same lips that praised and cheered for him would be shouting, “Crucify him!”

I’m sure some people thought he had let them down. He didn’t stand up to the authorities the way they thought he would. Things weren’t going the way they thought they should. What was wrong with him? Why didn’t he do something?

Things in this life can be like that.

Not always do things work the way we think they should.

There are nights with tear-stained pillows. Heartbreak so intense we don’t know how we are going to make it through another minute.

Sometimes situations are difficult. The world seems to be spiraling out of control. It can be overwhelming.

 I see it. I feel it.

I also see Jesus, riding on that donkey, going through the crowd, knowing he was going to be betrayed.

When life throws some hard punches, I run.

I run to the One who knows what it is to be alone, heartbroken, betrayed.

Holy Week reminds me that Jesus Christ suffered alone. Everyone he loved left him. He took on the all the darkness that this world would ever encounter…all because of his great love.

It’s hard for me to envision Jesus riding that donkey through the streets, hearing all the hoopla that would turn to jeers and shouts for his death. But, he held his head up.

He knew what was ahead, and when he was talking to his Father, he cried out, "Father if you are willing, take this cup of suffering from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Luke 22:42)

 As horrible as it was going to be, he knew it was going to be worth it.

He saw you.

He saw me.

Imagine that.

It always brings tears to my eyes.

What wondrous love.

Oh, it may be tough now. There may be tears and sorrow.

But, when I think of Jesus – who did it all because he could see beyond the pain –

Well, I hang on.

He overcame death and the grave.
And -

He is now seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us (Romans 8:34) and I know Caleb is there with so many others, cheering us on – till we all meet again.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

Selah.

Amen.