JOURNEY TO EASTER

Like me, most of you are busy with your day to day lives. We have our daily schedules which are overly full, then we add to that the "extra-ordinary" things that are occuring....babies being born, children getting married, people moving from one location to another, doctor visits, family illnesses, deaths, special projects we are undertaking, preparing our yards for spring....the list could go and on! All of these are just part of life. Yet in the midst of all this busyness, we need to stop and reflect upon the significance of this coming Sunday..... Easter.

That day changed MY life.........has it changed yours?


I'd like to invite you to take a journey with me this week, back to Jerusalem, back to the roots of the first Easter. Let's take a few moments for the remainder of this week and reflect upon how Jesus, the centerpiece of Easter, spent his last week on this earth. Maybe by doing that, it will help us to truly appreciate Easter and make it truly a day to celebrate.


This past Sunday was Palm Sunday. What does that mean? Well, scripture tells us that on Sunday, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and entered the city on the back of a donkey. So why is that such a big deal? Let's look a little further:


Matt. 21: 1-7
"When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethpage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, telling them, 'Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them and immediately he will send them' This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled,
"Tell Daughter Zion
See your King is coming to you,
gentle, and mounted on a donkey,
even on a colt,
the foal of a beast of burden" (Is 62:11, Zec 9:9)
The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them and He sat on them."

The Roman leaders (who were then occupying Jerusalem) had probably paraded through the streets earlier that day. It was almost time for Passover and everyone would be entering the city in preparation for it. It was customary for the Roman royalty to come through in a fine chariot, the red carpet rolled out before them, the colors flying, a parade of great splendor! But when Jesus comes, he comes riding on the back of a lowly donkey, with borrowed robes for a saddle. He was probably followed by a rag tag group of followers, children, lame, poor, who were all expecting Him to become their king, roust the Romans from Jerusalem and FINALLY set up his kingdom. They laid palm branches and their coats on the road for him to ride in on, it was the best they could do. They had great expectations, yet little did they know what the week would bring as they shouted Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God in the Highest!!

When He arrived in the city, he was not bowing and waving, cheering on the crowd and enjoying his moment of triumphal entry. No, he wept. He wept for Jerusalem. Luke 19: 41 says "As He approached and saw the city, He wept over it ..." He wept because they had hardened their hearts. He wept because they would not believe He was their Messiah. He wept for their loss.

Today Jesus comes to man and too often man does not recognize Him. They are looking for someone or something different and they fail to see Him as He really is. He has come to seek and to save that which is lost. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Many are expecting something else from life. They are looking in all the wrong places. When what they really need is Jesus and He is right in front of them, yet they cannot see. It breaks His heart.

Even those of us who are His often miss seeing Him. We are so busy with our everyday lives that we miss the evidence of His presence all around us. I encourage you this week, TODAY...to look around, to realize how God is with you every moment of every day. He is in the small things and the BIG things! See him in the beauty of spring. See him in the blessings He loads you with every day. See him in the answered prayers. See him in the unexpected blessings that seem to just come from nowhere. It is NOT coincidence, it is NOT luck, it is your Heavenly Father who loves you and loves to give you good gifts. And even in the midst of your storms, He is there. He is holding your hand, watching over you, caring for you, meeting your needs before you even realize you have one.

This week, LOOK FOR HIM. Be aware. Do not be asleep as those in Jerusalem were! Dont' miss the blessings!! Open your heart this week. Ask God to help you SEE Him as you have never SEEN Him before. If you don't know Him, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will!

Easter is coming!!!