Celebrating Easter.Sample

The Choice to Save Our Lives

By Mark Hayes

As a child, I was not naturally willing to help around the house. I would often grumble the phrase, “Do I have to?” My parents would remind me of my responsibilities as a member of the household, and I would pout my way through the inevitable chores.

The Palm Sunday narrative gives us a joyful account of the praise Jesus received before He took on a task no one else would, or could, sign up for.

“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and put Jesus on it. (Luke 19:30-35)

As Jesus is preparing to travel through Jerusalem and receive the praise of the crowd, He tells His disciples to get a donkey for Him to ride. He tells them where to find the donkey and simply instructs them to say, “The Lord needs it,” when asked by the owners what they're doing with their colt. Those words will be enough to satisfy the owners.

This reminds me of when Jesus was arrested and asked the Roman soldiers who they were looking for. When they said, “Jesus of Nazareth,” Jesus said, “I am He,” and the soldiers fell to the ground at His very words. Jesus easily could have defended Himself against the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers, but He did not defend Himself. That was a choice. He made a determined choice to save our lives at the greatest possible cost—His own life.

As the Lord of all, Jesus didn’t have to save us. Yet because of the depth of love in His own heart, He did save us. He was determined to finish the work He came into the world to do. And before He made the trek up the hill where He would breathe His last, He accepted the praises due Him in order to energize Himself for the road ahead. We can’t help but join in those praises. When we think about what He did for us, we simply must…help...in a good way.

Prayer: Dear Lord of all, you knew all along how Your life would end when You entered this world to save us. With incredible love and determination, You never veered from that choice. As we deeply contemplate what You sacrificed to make us yours, instill in us the yearning and need to be near You. Create in us the desire to praise you throughout our entire lives. Amen.