“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'"

(Matthew 21:8-11)

The triumphal entry is a moment that gathers the people to celebrate Jesus’ ministry, and the promise of His coming as the Messiah (though the people were a bit confused by what that actually meant). It is a time of great joy because many believed this would mark the end of the Roman occupation and it would bring hope and liberation to the Jews.  

This past weekend we celebrated the graduation of our Class of 2021 (pushed back due to COVID shutdowns).  They recently completed their national exams, academic requirements and our Senior Leadership Program that included climbing Mt Kenya. Mercy, a young woman I met nearly 16 years ago as a little girl, is experiencing the joys and celebration of achieving this milestone of graduation.

Mercy has been through a lot in her life. In her time with us, she has lost both of her parents, was living with an aunt and eventually moved in with her older sisters, who did their best to support her schooling, but struggled to simply put food on the table. Mercy has seen and been through so much in her young life, but she has come to this place of celebration in achieving academically, completing her primary and secondary education. I'm so proud of Mercy and all that she has done and of the young woman she has become.  

When I think about Mercy’s life, the turbulent highs and lows, it reminds me much of this story of the triumphal entry.  The people were riding this high, yelling ‘Hosanna’, as Jesus entered the city,  but things quickly turned from that joyful atmosphere when Jesus entered the temple.

“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’.”  (Matthew 21:12-13)

Triumph often comes with turmoil. The celebration does not generally tell the whole story, because when we achieve something, it most often means we have overcome something. The worship and adoration of Jesus entering Jerusalem was misleading. The Messiah had, in fact, come, but not for the purpose people anticipated.  He didn’t enter the Roman authorities’ headquarters in Jerusalem and flip their tables, he entered the Jewish temple and flipped theirs. The triumph was coming, but not in the way the Jewish people expected.  

We celebrated our students this past weekend for all they have achieved. Yet, each teacher, board member, director, and even student that spoke at the graduation didn’t focus their time on the achievement, they focused on what was to come, what that achievement and effort afforded them.  There was a focus on service to God as they moved forward, regardless of what they encountered. Too many of us look at achievements and view the celebration through the lens of what has been completed. We should celebrate what has happened, to understand what that achievement allows in going forward. The achievement is a moment of celebration and gratitude for what has been done, in order to approach what is to come.  Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem should have been celebrated, but it was simply a preparation for what was to come. So, while this past Saturday was a celebration of each student and all they had been through - the challenges and difficulties, and what they accomplished, it was an even greater celebration of what God has done and prepared them for and will do in and through them as they move forward.