Matthew 21:6-11
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
On Saturday night I prayed that Jesus would show Himself to me. Soon I had a strange vision in which He did…I saw what I thought was a dark green forest of trees. When my sight became clear I realized that it wasn’t a forest at all but a wall of waiving palm branches. A large crowd of people were praising and holding their palm branches as Jesus rode before them, on a donkey, through the city. It was Palm Sunday.
Now I never saw Jesus in this vision, only the palms that were waiving before my eyes. They were very thick, rich and freshly cut. Every palm was lush and olive in color though they were all different in shape and in size. They seemed to be alive but I knew that they weren’t for they were cut off; they had no root.
The scene was terrifying because we were missing Jesus’ triumphal entry; the palms were in our way. I was frustrated that the crowd would not put their palms down on the ground where they belonged. Though I never saw Jesus, I knew—I was convinced—that He was on the other side of this lavish emerald façade of palm branches and people. I was compelled to scream, “Put down your branches! We need to humble ourselves to see the King!”
The vision was simple enough to understand. I knew that the branches the crowd held represented praise and that they were unwilling to let it go. They had been smart enough to know that the King was coming and inspired enough to go out of their way to find a beautiful branch in order to praise Him. But they were deceived. They were fascinated with their palm; they would not put it down or let it go or get it dirty. In the end, they praised their praise.
Jesus motioned for His procession to halt. He slowly rode his donkey and stopped right before me. But I could not see Him! I know He was there because I sensed His presence, I smelled Him, I felt His warmth. Right there, He was standing right behind the jungle that blocked my sight. I could not see beyond all the green branches that surrounded me. I could not see above or to either side of all these palms. So I looked down and realized that I was holding a large palm branch right before my face. No matter how hard I tried or forced myself I could not put my branch down. I was holding onto my praise.
And I knew that He was right there…waiting…ready to enter and walk into my city and town and school and Corps but unable because He had no path. He was isolated because he needed to walk on our praise. Not only did He want me to put down my praise so I could really see Him, but He wanted me to walk with Him. He wanted me to follow Him on a highway known as the Way of Holiness.
Isaiah 35:8-9
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not journey on it;
it will be for those who walk in that Way;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Youth Department