Clouds hovered. Light rain sprinkled
our tour group as we retraced the steps of Jesus as He rode the donkey on Palm
Sunday.
Instead of walking easily and
observing the area, like I did on previous trips to Israel, I took baby steps
to keep from falling on the slippery surfaces. Our guide constantly reminded us
to hold the handrails.
Even with small, careful steps, I
slipped. Because my hand clutched the rail, I didn’t fall. At breaks in the
railing, we held onto each other.
“Car coming,” someone yelled. “Get
to the side.”
We leaned against the walls of the
narrow roadways. There was hardly room for cars and us on the tight turns.
Blind curves made the journey down the Mt. of Olives more challenging.
A friend lost her footing and fell
to the pavement. Hands helped her up. She continued her downward trek.
Extremely slick marble slabs led us
into the Garden of Gethsemane. What a relief to safely arrive at the garden and
church.
On the descent, I focused on
reaching the bottom safely. It was a treacherous, stressful trip. I hardly had
time to remember Jesus’ descent with the enthusiastic crowd praising Him as He
moved toward the city.
Then I thought of how distressing
that trip must have been for Jesus. The jubilant
multitude threw
down palm branches and sang praises. Joy filled the air. Only He knew they
would soon turn on Him and the agony ahead.
Despite the exuberant crowd, He wept
as they approached the city.
“Go
to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied
there, which no once has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone
asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those
who were sent went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying
the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They
replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They
brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he
went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When
he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole
crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the
miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who
comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory
in the highest!”
Some
of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I
tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
As
he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you,
even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is
hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:30-42
Lord, thank you for the difficult journey
and pain you endured for us. Our trials are nothing compared to yours. Amen
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