The King of All Things Heartbreaking and Hopeful
Today is Palm Sunday. Today is the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), displaying his humble kingship. Jesus, the God-man, a man who has the power to calm wind and waves, a man who heals at a word, a man who seeks out those who are low in class and reputation and means, a man who respects and encourages and frees women. A man, essentially homeless, without status or pomp or money or any of the things we look for in a leader. No fanfare, no glitter, no designer robes.
As he rides, palm branches sway and humanity swells around the action as the volume rises with hope-filled voices. Men and women clothed in frustration of Roman government, frustration of work and family and survival. Each having a depth of need, a desire to worship yet also to be seen. A desire for justice yet a desire to go with the crowd.
“Praise God! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The people shout as he rides a donkey into town. They don’t realize they are the same ones to shout “crucify him!” in a few short days. Their hope is contingent on popular opinion. Let that not be our way, it changes by the hour.
Today is Palm Sunday. It is the day to see the ways Jesus has come so that we can understand God’s crazy love. To see how he has reached out to each of us, right where we are. The worrier. The winner. The addict. The image-conscious. The harlot. The broken. The depressed, the fearful, the prideful. The leaders, the followers, the opportunists. The confident and the crushed. The self-righteous and the self-seeking.
We who put our hope in wellness. We who put our hope in plenty. We who put our hope in masks and gloves and distancing. We who put our hope in income or influence or relationships or gain or power or government or our own strength. Let us be there, waving palm branches at the one who is the source of hope. The source of healing. The source of justice and provision and peace and joy. Welcome him into your day, friends. Welcome him.
I’ve been watercoloring this week, practicing mixing colors, trying the wet on wet technique and spending time in prayer. Watching how the paint and water bleed into itself and make something more beautiful than I could do by trying to put the paint where I want it to go. Today, spend time with Jesus doing something that reminds you that he is more beautiful than you can imagine or create. That he is King, one that knows the struggles of humanity yet one who willingly experienced them to be with us. Plant a seed, write a poem, play some chords on a ukulele, hold a child. All this beauty is a gift from a king, one who sees you today in all your fears, all your hurts, all your needs. He sees you, he has got you.
Love,
Kate