Sunday, April 13 ~ The Triumphal Entry

~~Matthew 21: 1-11
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethpage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, look, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crows that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”   

~~In the movie The Music Man is a song called “Seventy-six Trombones.” A persuasive “huckster” comes to town to form a high school band. He sings a song touting a band with seventy-six trombones and a hundred and ten cornets right behind. Soon enough, the band forms and there is a parade. Garnet and gold uniforms accent the brass instruments and the sound is stunning. (The Ambassadors of Harmony sing this song on YouTube and I listen to this at least once a month. It’s just a silly song, but I enjoy it so much.)
I love a parade. There are fire engines and police cars with screaming sirens; floats, Clydesdale horses, classic cars (sometimes just like one we owned when I was growing up). There are clowns, go-carts, marching bands and their drum lines, military units in lock-step, convertibles carrying pageant winners and proud mommas. There are Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports teams and commercial displays. There are balloons, elephants, cowboys, big rigs, clubs, organizations, churches, stagecoaches, fancy carriages. There are dancers, dance teams, guard squads with marching bands. Political figures ride in cars, parade marshals wave to us. People walk with banners promoting their cause. Animal shelters bring dogs to walk down the street and entice you to adopt.
This parade only had one man and a donkey.
His presence was cause enough for a parade.
At least a few must have wondered if he was going in the right direction.
Jeff W. Bell