Lenten Devotionals from our DS's wife Robbie Craker

Yesterday on the Christian Calendar was Palm Sunday. Celebration-- Children and adults singing and shouting – waving palm branches – rolling out the red carpet. I wonder what Jesus was really thinking as he rode in humility among the crowds into the City. Was it a respite for him from the looming cross? He’s been talking about this trip to Jerusalem and telling the disciples what would happen to him there. I don’t remember Palm Sunday being on the agenda.

I wonder if He remembered the temptations in the desert three years prior. When He stopped along the road and looked over the City of Jerusalem and wept did He remember the promise of Satan?

“For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, "They're yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours."

When He road through the streets to the Temple was He thinking of the promise of Satan?

For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone."

He’d been explaining all along about what was going to happen when He got to Jerusalem – humiliation, beating, and death. I wonder if He was the least bit tempted to go Satan’s way. Don’t set aside the humanity of Jesus and think these were easy decisions for Him. He was fully human – he experienced pain and sorrow, hunger and thirst, happiness and contentment. He was tempted in every way the same as we are tempted.

So what does He do? He goes to the Temple. He clears the Temple – making way for the crippled and diseased – making way for the children – making way for the Gentiles.

The cross is looming closer and closer, but He doesn’t take the easy way out. He isn’t frozen with fear – He’s active. He isn’t complacent with praise – He’s active.

In this last week of Lent, 2009, with the cross looming closer and closer – let’s not take the easy way out. Let’s allow Him to clear out our hearts. Let’s allow Him to make a place in our hearts for healing, for joy, for openness. Will there be pain and suffering for this to happen? Possibly; but the reward of a pure heart open and ready for service to the King will be worth the pain and suffering.

“Father, You have been so go to us. We don’t want anything to bar Your entrance to any area of our hearts and lives. Clean us – purify us – make us ready for service. We cling to the cross. Amen.”