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May 07, 2024 06:00am

Our Good, His Glory

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When my dad was younger, he played football for a short time. He would often tell us the story of playing on the same team as Jerry Lawler, one of his many claims to fame. One year, as the story goes, according to my dad, the coach had the whole team take ballet. The boys were not happy about this, as you can imagine.

Why? What on earth was he thinking? What good could possibly come of this? As my dad would tell this story, I could imagine the teenage boys leaping in leotards above the heads of their opponents.

While the boys didn’t understand it then, they soon began seeing the benefits on the field. Their footwork had never been so good. Looking back, the boys could see why the coach had suggested it and the benefits it offered to improving their game.

John 12:12-16
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”

Why would Jesus ask them for a donkey to ride into town on? Everyone was gathered for the Passover, and many came to see Him. They were waiting to welcome Him into the city with palm branches, ready to hail Him as their King. Isn’t this what they had been waiting for? Shouldn’t they get a horse that would show Jesus as the King, ready to overthrow the government and take His rightful place?

But no, He asked for a donkey.

A lowly, humble animal that showed peace, not war.

Jesus told them they may not understand it now, but one day, they would.

And that’s exactly what John shares with us in verse 16.

They didn’t understand at first, but they did after His resurrection. It all made sense then. He didn’t come to be their King on this earth but was already the King of Heaven. He was the peace they had searched for, not in the political or religious arena, but within their souls.

And what a beautiful picture it was!

I don’t know what you’re going through right now, but I promise you, God does. It will not be wasted. We may not understand why all these things are happening, but God will use them for good, our growth, and His glory. We can be sure of that! One day, we will reflect on this time or situation and say, “Lord, now I see it. Now, I understand. And it’s beautiful!”