Lent
March 21, 2018
Scripture Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever. –Psalm 118:26-29
Being a crowd favorite is hard. Always being recognized, having your every word noted, having people pushing in to get even a touch of your clothing. As heady as it may be, it must get old at times. I have always thought Jesus saw the innocence of it as well as the irony. Perhaps that is why he rode a lowly donkey on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. His fans reached back into their history and pulled forth the words of this Psalm to welcome him. Did they think they were welcoming a savior like the mighty King David returning from battle? As far as I know, Jesus never dressed the part of a soldier, never gave robust speeches calling followers to arms. Did they view him as a politician someone who could outsmart Pontius Pilate? Or was he truly the Messiah? What do you suppose was in the hearts and minds of those who waved palms and cried out: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord? I am confident that most had no idea what was coming next. Even his disciples who he had warned were not prepared.
Who is this man called Jesus to you? What kind of Savior is he? Role model, teacher, friend, healer, comforter are some possibilities. Today, I leave you with the second verse of Charles Wesley’s hymn, Jesus, Lover of my Soul to ponder as you envision what Jesus means to you:
Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on thee.
Leave, oh, leave me not alone;
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed;
All my help from thee I bring.
Cover my defenseless head*
Prayer: Jesus, Lover of My Soul, guide me to love like you. Amen.
*See at https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/jesus-lover-of-my-soul?lang=eng&_r=1