Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We give thanks to Rev. Dr Joseph Wood, Principal and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Church History, for writing this devotional.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ 4 This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
5 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ 11 The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’
Devotional
On the 5th of September 2009, Kat and I got married. After a lengthy engagement, lots of planning, and plenty of help from friends and family, we said our vows to each other in front of a loving group of people at the Church of the Nazarene in Bolton, England. Choosing the entrance music for the wedding party was one of the many decisions we had to make for the day. I can’t remember how long it took to decide, but eventually we agreed on a choral song.
Our choice for the entrance music was “Benedictus” from Karl Jenkins, The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace. Written in the year 2000, this choral piece, “reflects on the passing of the most war-torn and destructive century in human history and looks forward in hope to a more peaceful future.”* As a conclusion to the work, “Benedictus” leads the listener in a reflective prayer of hope. It is beautifully dynamic, marked by a loud and memorable crescendo near the end.
It was the crescendo that drew us to this piece. We envisioned each of the bridesmaids walking through the entrance door of the church sanctuary as the music played softly in the background. It would be calm, peaceful, and serene. And then, after all of the wedding party found their place in the front, the loud crescendo would boom through the speakers, the doors would open up, and the bride would be revealed for the first time. On the day, it worked perfectly. The timing was right, the cadence of each member was on point, and the crescendo made the impact we dreamed of. Kat walked down the aisle, and we proceeded to get married.
So why am I telling this story of our wedding day? Well, it is because of the song we chose. The lyrics for this brilliant piece come straight from Matthew 21: Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis. (Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest). On that day in Jerusalem, a crowd was gathered. Hope was stirring. Years of oppression, violence, and injustice seemed to be coming to an end. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”, they sang! This is the one. He will save us. He will overthrow the Romans! Let the crescendo ring out! HE IS HERE!!!
As I read this story again and reflect on the purpose of Jenkins’ composition and the atmosphere it created for our wedding, I cannot help but think of how hopeful those people must have been. What a day that would have been for them. A king like no other king, arriving on a transport like no other king, was here to save us like no other king. I think it is important for us to sit with this for a while this week. As post-Easter people, we often speed through Holy Week because we know what is coming. But maybe this year, place yourself with in the crowd, listen to Jenkins’ song, and sense the hope stirring within you. The King has arrived. This is going to be great!
Prayer
As we place ourselves in the crowd on that day in Jerusalem, we pray Lord that you would speak hope into our lives. Whatever it is we are facing today, may we spend this moment resting upon the promise of hope you bring to us through Jesus, our Lord and King. Amen.
To listen to “Benedictus”, click here (the crescendo is at 5:50): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6ftbs0CgZo
Grace and peace,
Rev. Joseph Wood, PhD (Principal and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Church History)