Grand Entrance

My Day with Jesus

I enjoy a good entrance.

In college, I was part of the Southern Adventist University Symphony Orchestra, playing second trombone. My concert in the group taught me the important skill of the “Grand Trombone Entrance.” We would wait until everyone was on stage, still warming up, walk in to our seats in the back of the orchestra, stand for a moment, then on the first trombonist’s cue, sit down in unison. It was greeted with a mixture of laughter, groans, and eye-rolls from the orchestra. I think the eye-rollers were just jealous that they weren’t having as much fun. We were idiots, but we were fun idiots!

When I get home after being gone for several hours outside the house, or when I return from a trip, I can expect three responses to my “grand entrance.” First comes the dog, who beats the kids into the garage as I’m pulling in. She waits expectantly outside my door, her tail beating against the garage shelves, and will barely let me out of the car without a hand-lick and a head scratch. Then comes the kids when I step into the house, usually with a big pick-up hug and a kiss. Then I can count on a happy greeting from my wife, if not in the same room then from the room she’s busy in. I imagine part of that is due to the relief of knowing someone else is home with her to help deal with the kids after a day of having them to herself.

The reactions to Jesus’ grand entrance in Luke 19:29-44 were a mixed bag as well. I just love how Ellen White puts it in The Desire of Ages, Chapter 62: “Never before had the world seen such a triumphal procession. It was not like that of the earth’s famous conquerors. No train of mourning captives, as trophies of kingly valor, made a feature of that scene. But about the Saviour were the glorious trophies of His labors of love for sinful man. There were the captives whom He had rescued from Satan’s power, praising God for their deliverance. The blind whom He had restored to sight were leading the way. The dumb whose tongues He had loosed shouted the loudest hosannas. The cripples whom He had healed bounded with joy, and were the most active in breaking the palm branches and waving them before the Saviour. Widows and orphans were exalting the name of Jesus for His works of mercy to them. The lepers whom He had cleansed spread their untainted garments in His path, and hailed Him as the King of glory. Those whom His voice had awakened from the sleep of death were in that throng. Lazarus, whose boy had seen corruption in the grave, but who now rejoiced in the strength of glorious manhood, led the beast on which the Saviour rode.”

Now, I don’t know how she would have known if Lazarus led the donkey. I’ve seen some vague references to that possibility. Maybe there’s a tradition of belief in that which I don’t know about. But it’s an intriguing story line. Jesus had just come from Bethany, where He spent time with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. Of all the “prisoners” that Jesus had released—from blindness, sickness, sin—Lazarus certainly was the most visibly symbolic. Here was a man Jesus raised from death. He was a walking, living, breathing representative of Jesus’ strength over death itself and His victory over death to come but a few days later when He Himself rose from the dead. Lazarus was a living illustration of Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever,
 And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people
 He will take away from all the earth;
 For the Lord has spoken.” Who better, then, to lead Jesus to Jerusalem and, ultimately, the cross, than Lazarus, the only one there that day whose body had been through the corruption of the grave?

I wrote some time ago about how much I miss grandpa. Today, this again puts a smile on my face, and I hope it does for anyone who has lost loved ones. Death is swallowed up in victory! We have no need of wallowing in defeat and endless sadness in this life. The celebration can already begin for those who believe, for life is already ours! Perhaps it’s time to start practicing our celebration. The “Grand Entrance” of Jesus has happened and is yet to come, and the King Who conquered death will lead in His train all us released captives, forever to be in victory with Him!