One of the great riddles of being human is what to do with all the waiting.
We wait for the seasons to change.
We wait for our hurts to heal.
We wait for our children to grow up… then wait for them to return home.
We’re all waiting for something, and as my favorite rocker, the late Tom Petty, liked to remind us, “The waiting is the hardest part.”
Pay close attention to what’s happening in Luke 19, and you’ll see that while Christ’s followers were celebrating His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, they were waiting too. Verse 11 reveals, “As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away” (emphasis mine).
The crowds were following Jesus, expecting Him to bring an end to their waiting. They thought He would enter Jerusalem, exile the government that had been oppressing them, and establish the glorious kingdom He’d been telling them about. This is the moment, they must have thought, when all the waiting—for freedom, for peace, for victory—will surely pay off.
But Jesus wasn’t about to stage a coup. He was marching toward the cross. The crowd’s hopes and dreams for the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth would have to wait. (At least for the kingdom the way they had expected it).
Fast-forward to today. You’re still waiting too. So am I. We want to see God move in our lives. We want to watch Him come in power and abolish everything that causes us pain. Instead of wringing our hands and pacing the floor, what can we do while we wait?
“The whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen” (v.37). Though at this point the crowds still assumed Jesus was going to lead a military victory, they were right to rejoice over what they had already seen in anticipation of what was still to come.
The greatest indicator of what Christ will do is what He has already done. In every season of waiting we can join with the “multitude” of saints in declaring the victories He’s already given. The disciples had no way of knowing they were watching a preview of a future celebration of Christ’s triumph, when He will one day return in glory:
“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with justice… The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen… And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:11,14,16).
Celebrate every promise you’ve seen Him fulfill, every victory He’s ever secured, every blessing He’s every poured out. They are the down payment for the moment when all of our longings will be fulfilled. May we worship while we wait.
Erin Davis is an author, blogger, and speaker who loves to see women of all ages run to the deep well of God’s Word. When she’s not writing, you can find Erin chasing chickens and children on her small farm in the Midwest.
Leave a Reply
31 thoughts on "The Triumphal Entry"
Making a list of my/our many blessings! Wonderful exercise and a reminder of God’s provision and faithfulness in our own lives.
Well said, Bessie! Thank you
“While I’m waiting, I will serve You” are lyrics to a cherished song of mine. I loved the reminder in the devotion that the disciples didn’t get what they expected. They wanted the long exulted without the Savior sacrificed. The prophets of old couldn’t see the valley of the church between the mountains of the two advents. While I wait here on this earth, I must serve Him and His kingdom
The last verse in our reading today jumped out at me. “So whoever knows the right thing to do and doesn’t do it, for him that is sin. “ James 4:17
I’ve been pondering the reading yesterday about the rich young ruler. In thinking about what God wants me to give up I thought about why Jesus told him to give up everything he had and give it to the poor. Jesus knew that this young man valued his possessions more than he did following Jesus.
I have to admit to you that I had become addicted to watching the news. It seemed innocuous enough to just have the news channel on during the day in the background to see what was going on. I felt God telling me to turn it off and focus my thoughts on Him. I didn’t want to. I resisted and even argued my case that it was okay. Finally I turned off the TV. It has been so freeing and not even all that hard. My point is that watching the news isn’t wrong. It was just wrong for me because it was taking time away from my Lord and focus in on other things.
Whatever takes our time and focus off of God and puts it on other things is wrong for us. I am realizing that if we become too focused on what to deny ourselves of we can become legalistic and proud. Maybe even too self focused. If there is something that God is calling me to give up He will make it abundantly clear. What I feel called to do is to spend less time time thinking about that and more time praising God and loving others.
Thank you all for helping me puzzle through this. You are all such an inspiration to me!
What to do with the waiting?
Remember what He’s done for me
Work – use my “minas” – talents, gifts, resources to be about Kingdom work
Be thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of His kingdom work
Worship and praise God for who He is, for what He has done, and for what He’s going to do.
Yes – trying to recognize the blessings I receive and be thankful for them. Something that seems wrong, bad or inconvenient at first look, was it a blessing when I look back? Was I thankful for it at the time, thankful later or never gave thanks?
James 4:17 – how many times have I seen someone in need and was “too busy”, “too broke” etc to help? Or have ignored an opportunity to show kindness?
Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
While He is away, my job is to use what He has left me with for Him.
When He comes, I will pave the path with praise.
Jesus weeps for what we do not know, because He knows great love.
Jesus is zealous to cleanse all sin from within us, where He lives.
He makes those strong who are wholeheartedly devoted to Him.
As the Lord wills, I will serve and love Him.
Good Morning SRT sisters!
Today’s reading hit home hard! I know i feel like I’m always waiting on something !
We must give thanks and prayers for the blessing or down payments already received!! (Which are MANY). Gotta keep sight on the end game, Gods Eternal Kingdom ! Love you guys! Have a blessed Friday!