Lent 2024 | Day 36

By Janet Nygren
Day 36 (Tuesday, Mar 26)

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.¹

Pause and pray.

“When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”(Luke 19:37-42)

Think about it.

Jesus enters Jerusalem. It’s Palm Sunday. It’s a glorious moment. Is Jesus seeking glory? As we focus on following Jesus, it seems like an important point to clarify. Some say it’s the disciples rousing the crowd, the same crowd who is incited later in the week by the Pharisees to shout, “Crucify him!” Regardless of whose side you are on, the disciples or the Pharisees, Jesus weeps over the misunderstandings of Jerusalem regarding what Messiah has come to do. From yesterday’s passage it is clear that Jesus is not seeking glory, he goes to Jerusalem knowing the death he is facing, dying for the very people who betray him.

Consider.

Seeking glory is not the same as seeking God’s affirmation for doing the right thing. Jesus tells us that creation itself will cheer him on if the crowds are silenced. From the time we are little, we long to hear, “Well done!” from those who can gauge our progress and encourage us. There’s nothing wrong with that. But we cross a line when our self-worth is at stake, when we become what I call a “glory hog,” as opposed to affirmation that we headed in the right direction. As we consider dying to glory, it’s important that we don’t take on a false humility that pushes against the encouragement of those who can help us stay on track as we fix our eyes on obeying God.

Pause and pray.

Jesus, help me humble myself and trust in your glory, not my own.

“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17)

Notes

1.  Prayer used daily in Lectio365 found at https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/