We've all anticipated an event sometime in our life.  It may be the completion of a major project, the release of a book or movie we've been "dying" to read or see on the big screen, family or friends visiting whom we haven't seen for awhile, or the vacation of a lifetime that we've been planning for months.  In the past eight days, I've had the opportunity to recognize the birth anniversaries of both my niece and nephew.  Celebrating their life also spurs the memories I have of the announcement I was anticipating for months, the call from my dad that my sister had given birth.  Though each announcement of the news was different, I was excited to find out that I had a niece or a nephew that I would be blessed to watch mature physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Today, in churches throughout the world, the arrival of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem is being recognized.  Congregation members are waving palm fronds and singing songs of "Hosanna" as they anticipate the arrival of their king, similar to what the pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem did around 2000 years ago.  However, our celebration today has a totally different focus from that first Palm Sunday.

Thousands of pilgrims were on their way into the city to celebrate with family and friends the Passover, one of the three yearly trips made to Jerusalem.  As much as they anticipated the time spent in the "big city," I don't think any of them understood the significance of Christ's triumphal journey along the path from Bethany into the city.  They had their eyes set on a different prize, the arrival of a king, an earthly king that would relieve them of the political oppression they were currently experiencing.   We can probably identify with them as every four years we too anticipate what the next political cycle will bring.  We look forward to the fulfillment of all the promises that have been made during the campaign, making our existence on earth a little more prosperous.

Christ, however, came into Jerusalem on Lamb Selection Day, the day set aside for pilgrims to purchase the Passover lamb to redeem them from their sins.  He was making a statement to the people that He was the King, the heavenly King they had been anticipating since His Father's announcement to Adam thousands of years earlier.  He was the one who truly was the Son of God!

However, this King rode into the city in the humble nature of a servant, on the back of a donkey!  Not a grand horse or surrounded by armed guards.  But on the back of a donkey, accessible to the people whom He had taught and shared His life with for the past 30 years.

I am thankful that my life has been blessed with the events that I've anticipated over the years, but I am even more thankful for the arrival of a king who was anticipated for centuries.  And I anticipate His arrival again, as He takes me and all believers in Christ with Him to the place He has prepared for us.  

  Enjoying the ride,