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!
