Matthew 21:1-11
“When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:
”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.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!”
When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.””
I read and reread today’s passage in preparation to write our devotional. “The people laid down their coats on the road.” I couldn’t get this sentence, this act, out of my head. Stop and consider: I assume people in that time had one coat. It likely cost a lot, and it was a vital piece of clothing. I also assume roads were very dirty. Roads now are dirty and consider the difference. Livestock traveled the road, and they are not clean. And yet. The people are laying down their coats to cover the road for Jesus on his donkey. Their coats were going to get very dirty. How did the people think to do this? What propelled them to do this? What about this man Jesus pulled them to act in such a sacrificial way?
The people present that day were aware of Jesus, aware of his kingship and had a desire to make the dirty road something more for the king. But I also believe they were aware of Jesus not because God somehow instilled in them this knowledge that Jesus is a king to be revered, but rather Jesus was irresistible in his humanity. Jesus loved the people as a fellow human on the path of life. Jesus looked like them, worked like them, ate like them, and traveled like them. Jesus was born like them. And that humanity from the king drew the people in for more. The people wanted to be near Jesus, to catch a glimpse of his eyes, full of humility and love, to take note of the compassionate way he cared for the donkey, to see his power as he fulfilled the prophets. By laying their coats down, the people jumped in to participate in his ministry, as well as bear witness to his kingship and his humanity.
I pray as we close in on Christmas that the God who came to be with us has been irresistible this Advent season. I hope you see God’s love in the eyes of a small child gazing at you with love. I desire the joy of God’s presence to break through the noise of Christmas commotion.