2024_08_02 Insight Post- Michael Thayer

Before the service, we all received palm fronds (exotic to me, as there were no palm trees on the nearby shores of Lake Erie, and I had yet to meet my beautiful bride from palm frond-blessed Trinidad and Tobago) to wave and lay on the red carpet of the sanctuary, as the attention-commanding trumpet blasts of Bernie Sanchez announced the arrival of our Lord and Savior.  I could clearly picture Jesus on his donkey. Hosanna! we would shout and sing.  Hosanna in the highest!  It was a wonderful and heady experience that I remember well.  All this to reenact the triumphant arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem, foretelling his crucifixion and triumph over death for ALL of us.

Just before that passage, John 11 recounts Jesus’ miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead.  Verse 25 reminds us that all who believe in him shall not die but have eternal life. Lazarus was physically raised from the dead. My study Bible notes that “Jesus not only is life but conveys life to believers so that death will never triumph.”  Jesus sacrificed, defeated death, and won everlasting life for us.

We hear a lot about winning these days, especially as we enter this election cycle (are we ever not in an election cycle?).  As followers of Jesus Christ, we know what true winning looks like. Jesus modeled the ultimate win.  He sacrificed and won for all of us.

As the news cycle spins and spins, and sides are taken, I need to regularly remind myself of this truth.