The call of Lent:

The Call of Lent is the Crescenta Valley Sun’s Lenten series on the messages of Christ’s death and resurrection as interpreted by local religious leaders.

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Before there was an Easter, before there was a Good Friday, before there was even a church, there was Palm Sunday.

Some were mad, many were glad. But who could be sad to see King Jesus enter Jerusalem that Sunday?

This day the prophecy was fulfilled. Zechariah the prophet had predicted more than 500 years earlier that the holy city would receive her king: “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey — riding on a donkey’s colt” (Zechariah 9:9 [NLT]).

The Gospels record the happy, holy ruckus. The streets of Jerusalem were packed with worshipers shouting, “Hosanna, (which means save) blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Children were running along and shouting the refrain. The donkey did not walk on dusty streets, for all along the parade route, revelers had spread their coats and palm branches on the road.

The clergy were indignant. They called on Jesus to silence the children and his disciples.

Jesus replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” The children caught what the clergy missed. The long awaited Messiah had finally come, now the city was ready to party.

Later in the week would come betrayal, arrest, denials and execution. But this day, this one day, a special day the Lord had made, on this holy day heaven and earth met together to witness a King riding a donkey.

It was the day Jesus got what he truly deserved.

As Christians look forward to Holy Week and all the serious traditions that surround the Passion of Christ,

I’m glad to remember that this monumental week began with happy children, shouting their praise.

JON T. KARN is pastor of Light on the Corner Church in Montrose. Reach him at pastorjon@charter.net or pastorjonkarn!sbcglobal.net.