LAYING OUT THE RED CARPET

This week, while studying the Triumphant Entry passages in preparation for Palm Sunday, my thought became ensnared by one integral detail of the narrative—the people’s taking off their outer garments and strewing them before Jesus on the path the donkey carrying Him would travel. What highlights their actions to me is two facts of that time. First, their garments were much to be valued. Check it out in Scripture how wealth was often measured in clothing in an era when textile material was handmade and rare. The second was the mode of transportation and the condition of roads in those times. Roads were not concreted or asphalted. They were dirt. The mode of transportation—donkey, horse, oxen, mule, emitted a form of exhaust that ended on the road and not in the air. Jesus’ donkey did not step off asphalt onto their garments but with hooves filthy from the dirt and animal “exhaust” of the road, that donkey stepped on the valued and needed garments of those who had strewn them before Jesus. They had blanketed Jesus’ path in keeping with the custom of the day of welcoming and paying homage to a coming King or conqueror. It was their laying out the “red carpet.” Some things struck me about these folks’ actions: First, they gave--sacrificially. They had no assurance their garments would not by ruined by hoof and dirt rendering them unwearable or unsightly. Worship cost them something. It still does. It always does. Worship happens when we give of ourselves. Second, they had to step forward out of and away from the crowd. The crowds of people appear to have massed around Jesus. To spread one’s garment in the path would have required pressing one’s way out of the crowd in front of the crowd. Worship entails stepping out from the “crowd,” out of one’s comfort zone, away from the pressure of what others think. Third, they had to bend over. A simple toss from a standup position would not have resulted in the garment’s being spread over the path covering it in a manner that would accomplish the purpose of the gesture. One had to bow down towards the path and, thus, consequently before Jesus. Worship still cannot truly take place without the bowing of our heart, a humbling of ourselves before God. Lastly, having bent down to spread their garment, they then stood back up to praise. And praise they did. Waving palm branches and shouting hosannas they praised Jesus as King and Savior. Standing up and waving and shouting they were conspicuous. The enemies of Jesus disgruntled by the whole proceeding certainly noticed. But, the people were thinking, not of themselves, but only of Him. True worship will be expressed by unashamed, demonstrative praise. It is noted that they got loud with all that praise. Perhaps, it would be well for us and bring honor to Jesus if today, this Palm Sunday, we would follow the garment layers' example in welcoming Jesus among us: Give, step out, bow, and stand up to praise. Layout the red carpet. --Pastor Clifford Hurst