forum week nine

This week, we covered one of my favorite stories from the New Testament in class: Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

I hope this doesn't seem irreverent, but I have always visualized this scene kind of like a WWE wrestler approaching the ring. The crowd is going wild. Flames are shooting up behind the wrestler. Their walk-on music is LOUD, and the speakers are shaking the room.

Every moment of Jesus' final approach into the holy city was deliberate. He knew exactly what he was doing. The timing, the donkey he was riding on, the direction he approached from, all of it pointed towards a fulfillment of ancient prophecy -- the Messiah had come. As a storyteller, I love this part of Christ's story arc. As he grows closer to his great and final sacrifice, he becomes more confident using his power. As a contrast to John chapter 2 when Christ says, "My hour is not yet come," His hour has now come. Jesus is no longer holding anything back. He is telling everyone who he is and reminding everyone that he is in fact God's only begotten.

These stories near the end of His life more wonderfully round out the character of Jesus Christ. Earlier in the gospels, we have many opportunities to see examples of Jesus' mercy, love, kindness, attention to detail, respect for others, intelligence, leadership and counseling skills, and sense of morality and righteousness. Stories like the triumphal entry allow us to see Jesus in royal majesty, descending upon Jerusalem like the king He is.

"And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."