Our worst failures become the high platform from which we dive straight into our merciful Father’s embrace. Our transparency then whispers hope to those who feel desperate. Our mistakes are instruments of honest transformation. When we stop pretending and release control, God takes over. His power is made perfect in our weakness. When we feel we have wasted our lives, when we humbly return to the Father, He embraces us.

The Triumphal Entry occured according to God’s timing – Jesus received praise as Messiah and King in the Father’s perfect timing. He entered publically with humility. It was on a deliberate day, and at a time when thousands of pilgrims came to Jerusalem for Passover. Note how Jesus carefully planned and then carried out the Father’s perfect plan.

On that day, Jesus no longer told people to keep quiet about who He was and what He would do. He deliberately planned a great event. Jesus comes to us deliberately – at special times, in hard seasons, for His purpose filled reason. There is a sense in which He is with us all the time, but there are other times when Jesus deliberately, with great care, says to us “Here I am – recognize Me in this time and place.” The crowd that day might have expected that Jesus would come secretly. He was a wanted Man and in a lot of danger – but He came publicly. They might have expected that Jesus would come walking; that was how He normally traveled, yet He rode a young donkey. They might have expected that He would come on a warhorse; many people longed for a Messiah to conquer the Romans. At times, we are so set in our expectation that Jesus must  arrive once we are all cleaned up. Jesus says come to Me, all who are weary. He often surprises us in the midst of our grief, our darkest hour. Do not miss His triumphant entry into your broken heart.

Jesus entered Jerusalem royally. He fulfilled the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9, saying Israel’s King would come on a young donkey. Receiving the titles and hosannas fit for a king, Jesus presented Himself to Israel as royalty. God is a Father, a Creator, a Shepherd, a Husband, a Judge – but don’t forget He is a King, and we owe Him royal honor. When King Jesus comes to us, we can’t simply say, “Can you please come back as a Shepherd? I’m far more comfortable with that.” No, honor and serve King Jesus. Receive Jesus deliberately.

Our Father runs towards anyone who returns to His loving kindness. On the cross, Jesus cried out “forgive them for they know not what they do” This was the King of kings death bed plea for us. He continues to make Himself available 24/7. Many of us are perpetual sinners.  We return for another eternal dose of His mercy and grace.

In this broken world, we mess up and doubt God’s capacity to forgive and love us. Only BELIEVE in His faithfulness. Cry out “Father God, do NOT forsake me, but forgive me.” Luke 15:20 “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and RAN, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Our Father does not care about our social status, or what we have done. Our Father rejoices when we return and He forgives and welcomes us home. Our Father denies NONE who come to Him.