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wings
Triumphant entry to Jerusalem
I haven't written much about our January pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I wanted to reflect and discover how the Holy Spirit seeks to speak to me through this trip. As we approach the celebration of Easter, I was tempted to get ahead, without acknowledging the "Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem." I remember standing on the Mount of Olives and looking toward the walled city of Old Jerusalem. Peter Miano, our pilgrimage guide, pointed to what is apparently a sealed gate and said, "We believe this was the gate through which Jesus traveled as he entered Jerusalem on what we celebrate as Palm Sunday."
I remember so well staring at that gate and tracing the path back up to Mount Olive and beyond. It was as if I could see and hear the shouts, "Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" I could see the excitement on the faces of the crowd. I could see some people running ahead of Jesus, cutting down palm branches, throwing them in front of his donkey. Transported back in time, I was lost for a few moments in my thoughts. It was a very festive occasion. I thought of the joy I feel time and time again whenever Jesus rides into my life during a worship experience. Every time I go to a church and see the ushers smiling and excited about welcoming people who come to worship... every time I watch acolytes bring in the light of the world with reverence and joy... every time I hear choirs sing with all their hearts... every time I hear the word of God read with power and respect... every time I hear a preacher proclaim the word with conviction, passion, and honesty... I believe I experience Palm Sunday.
But when Jesus rides up to our churches, what does he experience? I wonder if Jesus experiences a joy that does not come from the world. I wonder if Jesus experiences a people who are involved in mission within the community, throughout our conference and beyond our borders. I wonder if Jesus experiences a people willing to share their possessions. I wonder if Jesus senses an excitement about being in his parade.
I am so happy to report that there are churches in Holston where Jesus rides in and finds blessed children in Sunday School, youth on mission trips, adults in Disciple Bible study, and parishioners witnessing at Wal-Mart. We have churches with pastors who visit the sick and shut-ins, congregations that use their financial resources to help victims of hurricanes and AIDS, members who help children in our country and refugees from other lands find new homes, and groups that clean up their communities and share the good news of our own deliverance.
So I'm back in Jerusalem, and I see the walled-up gate, and I hear in the background somebody singing, "Ride on, King Jesus, no man can a-hinder thee. Ride on, King Jesus, ride on. No man can a-hinder thee, oh, oh, no man can a-hinder thee."
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Bishop James Swanson
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