Rabbi! Jesus? I am trying to catch up to you but there are so many people. I am rushing along with the throngs, singing and celebrating and praising You.

I am believing that you are
      My God
      Exalted in the highest place
      The Messiah
      Coming King – Hosanna
      Blessed are You
      that comes in the name of the Lord.

I am trying to catch up to You – surging to and fro with the crowd – I want to be with You in the midst of this joy! I want to go with You. But where are you going? My King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I have heard You teaching, watched in wonder at Your healing touch, marveled at Your wise and powerful life of love. I have walked the many miles in Your pathway and now I want to catch up to You.

I want to know where You are going….Your words have spoken lately of betrayal and sorrow and even death. When You broke the bread, my heart cried “What do you want from me?” I do not want to believe it is You in that destiny, Your eternal destiny. I do not want to believe that You will die and that God, the Father of creation, of man, of me, will turn His lovely face from You. Rabbi Jesus!
      Holy Father God!

I do not want to believe and accept any of that. I just want the parade to continue. But then, You look at me. You make contact with me that I cannot ignore and

You say, “Quit trying to catch up. The parade is over and the Son of Man continues to walk this life of love, for you. Stop running and trying to catch up. Stand still under God and Grace and accept my Gift given freely. This is for you.”

My sin draws a cleaver through who I am and what You desire of me…What do You see in me that I can be? I am left halved—spiritually flayed in my sin and imminent death. You are to be literally flayed and beaten for me—
      Cut and bleeding,
      You will die and be severed
      from Him—Your Father—
Your eyes on me saying, “Stand still and believe me. It is all because I desire to heal you.”

You want to bring the severed pieces of my life into union with You. The parade is over. The palms have wilted and died on the road into the city. It is Thursday now and the intensity of the Sunday celebration has faded into confusion and fear. The shouts now are full of anger and derision.

Rabbi, where are you going? Why did the celebration end? What is going on, Lord? It is beyond my human comprehension that He, Your Father God, will truly let You go from Him and go there, to hell, for me. I cannot fathom it. Father God, how did you bear the grief? Do you truly love me that much?

As I stand this next Sunday, Resurrection Sunday. I will stand
      humbled and
      forgiven
      by the sacrifice
      of Your only Son, for me.
As I stand with my brothers and sisters in faith, I will pray again…
      ask what You desire of me,
      tell me and teach me,
      command me to go and do
      in faith, and under Your Grace
      whatever is Your way and will
      and, Holy Spirit prompt me to say,
      YES!

I’m not trying to catch up anymore.
I am standing still,
      eye to eye with my Redeemer
      forgiven and blessed
      under God and Grace—

The parade is over—but the true celebration is about to begin! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Love and Joy!
Char

To respond to this message, email Char at charforslund@comcast.net.