John 12:12-16 (GNT)
The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the Passover Festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, just as the scripture says,
15 “Do not be afraid, city of Zion!
Here comes your king,
riding on a young donkey.”
16 His disciples did not understand this at the time; but when Jesus had been raised to glory, they remembered that the scripture said this about him and that they had done this for him.
Good News Translation (GNT)
Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society
Here he comes,
the one who will change everything.
Here he comes,
riding to bring freedom,
triumphing over fear.
I cheered
and shouted,
waved whatever I could find
in anticipation
and excitement.
He’s coming,
how different everything will be now.
But it never occurred to me
that he might change me.
I thought it was ‘them’
that needed changing.
The powers,
the rulers,
those who held our lives
so tightly.
But it was me
who would be challenged:
my ways questioned,
my commitment,
what I really was shouting for.
Cheering,
shouting ‘bring it on’,
wanting this to happen.
If I’d realised,
would I have been so keen?
Thrown in my all?
Shouted for more?
More than excitement,
today is about challenge.
Where do I stand?
Who do I support?
Am I with Jesus –
all the way to suffering?
Lord,
as I shout
may I be open to listen;
as I seek change
may I hear what you want of me,
what you want to be different.
May I not just make the noise
but take the journey
with you.
