Pastor Chuck DeVane
Special to The Sentinel-Record
Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
-- Matthew 21:8-9, ESV
The original Palm Sunday was an uplifting moment near the end of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ. All four Gospels record it as a high and holy day.
It was high time for the Lord. Jesus' popularity was high. Jesus' elevation was high, a rider among walkers, and from His perch He could look down at the people as they lifted up praise to Him.
It was a holy time for the people. As the Lord looked at the path before Him, some strange things were lying at His feet. People had paved Jesus' way with "cloaks" and "branches," with their very own clothes, and with leaves from palm trees.
The Galilean pilgrims who accompanied Jesus into the city for the Passover were largely poor. They had scant more than the meager shelters they left behind and the clothes on their backs, the outer garment of which they laid at Jesus' feet. In other words, they gave their all to the Lord.
I find it interesting, the things you find at Jesus' feet -- poor people's coats and palm tree branches. Things represent the people, people giving their all to Jesus, people praying for peace. Here the end matches the means, as the Gospels record many troubled and transformed people who can literally be found at Jesus' feet.
Hurting people are found at Jesus' feet
Jesus healed the people placed at His feet because He loved them. God is love (ref. 1 John 4:8) His love knows no bounds, and it is especially effective for people who bring their hurts to Jesus' feet (ref. Psalm 34:18).
Theologically and cosmologically, the primary source of hurt in the world is sin. The vicious cycle of sinning and being sinned against will not stop until Jesus makes His second spectacular trip to earth. But if you are hurting because of some sin done to you, or convicted concerning some sin you have done to hurt others, the balm of forgiveness can be found at Jesus' feet?
Desperate people are found at Jesus' feet
It is one thing to have a wound of your own. It is quite another to look upon the wound of someone you love. It hurts worse. Only three times in the Gospels do we see desperate family members bring the death of a dearly departed loved one to Jesus, who promptly raises them from the dead.
When desperation puts you at the bottom, there is nowhere to go but up. If you take your desperation to Jesus, it has the potential to elevate immediately. I cannot promise the Lord will raise your dead. But if you are desperate due to your own death, and by that I mean your spiritual death, your separation from God, your lostness, then bring your desperation down to Jesus' feet.
Sinful people are found at Jesus' feet
Luke 7 records a more hurting and desperate person simple referred to as "a sinful woman." That's right, she had no name no one knew. People in town might say, "There's the rabbi," or, "There's the carpenter," or, "There's the banker," but when she came into view they simply said, "There's the sinner."
How would you like to be called that? Well, you are, and me, too. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (ref. Romans 3:10). We should do with our many sins what this sinful woman did with hers, lay them down at Jesus' feet.
Godly people are found at Jesus' feet
Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, was changed at the beginning of Jesus ministry and, like all truly changed people, persevered to the end. At both ends she can be found in Scripture sitting at Jesus feet.
Jesus left Mary's house in Bethany, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, then took a weeklong walk to the cross. He died there on a Friday, rose again on a Sunday. Jesus gave His all. Jesus accomplished our peace. And when Jesus was seen outside the tomb by a few of His faithful followers shortly after the resurrection, look at where they were, fallen at His feet.
This is where you want to be. Give your all to the Lord. Ask the Lord for peace. Find yourself at Jesus' feet.
Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. Call him at 501-525-8339 or email [email protected].