By David Faust
During a visit to Israel, our tour group met with two church leaders from Galilee—one in his 30s and an older man in his 60s. We listened intently while these two ministers described the difficulties they face as they try to spread the gospel in their unique corner of the world.
We wanted them to videotape a short message to share with friends in the United States, but the older man, Saleem, hesitated. “I don’t look presentable,” he objected. These men are tentmaking ministers who work other jobs to support their families.
“I spent the day leading 150 students on a long hike,” Saleem explained, “so my clothes are sweaty, and I have mud on my shoes.” Eventually he relented and allowed us to make the video. Before the meeting ended, our group prayed over these brothers in Christ, asking the Lord to strengthen them as they serve in the land where Jesus walked.
Afterward, a friend of mine who was part of our group said, “Dave, that’s how I want to live my life.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“At the end of my life,” he explained, “I don’t need to be all cleaned up and polished. I want to go out sweaty, with mud on my shoes, because I’ve been serving the Lord and serving others.”
Cloaks on the Road
In the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry, several details stir my curiosity. For example, Jesus chose to ride on a colt “which no one [had] ever ridden” (Mark 11:2). Most people couldn’t ride an unbroken animal, but this untamed colt responded to the hand and voice of the Creator and calmly obeyed the Prince of Peace.
And did you notice that people in the crowd “spread their cloaks on the road” (Mark 11:8)? We know the Lord was met with palm branches that day (John 12:13), but in this spontaneous parade, the excited crowd not only laid tree branches on the ground, they also carpeted the dirt road with their garments. Imagine doing that with your own sweater, jacket, or sport coat! Would you put your garment down in the mud so a donkey could walk over it?
Cheers, Tears, and Jeers
At first glance, Palm Sunday seems like a happy occasion. The crowd joyously welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. But for the Lord, the triumphal entry was a time of tears. He wept over the city (Luke 19:41), and a few days later, a crowd jeered him and shouted “Crucify him!” Viewed a different way, Palm Sunday reminds us that sometimes honoring Jesus means laying our garments on the ground—putting pride aside and getting down and dirty for the kingdom’s sake.
Serving the Lord isn’t always a fun parade. If you take the time to listen to someone who’s hurting . . . if you befriend unbelievers, share their pain, and try to answer their questions and relieve their doubts . . . if you sit with those who are sick or dying . . . if you devote your life to loving God and loving others—it may leave you sweaty and tired. But at the end of the day, you’ll know your efforts were worthwhile.
In the process of honoring Jesus, it’s OK if you get some mud on your coat.
Personal Challenge: What has following Jesus cost you? How has it blessed you? What have you given up to honor Jesus? Have you ever had to “lay something on the ground” in the process of serving the Lord? What will you do this week to honor him?
Author: David Faust
David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years.
Would those who picked up their stomped on coats wore them home or washed them thinking of the king, the Messiah, the one who called Lazarus from the grave, remember the joy of serving the one called Jesus.