Attend any wedding celebration and anticipation is consistent. Guests and family members are seated; the presiding minister and groom are in position in front of an altar or backdrop of an arch decorated with flowers and flowing bands of fine fabric. The music shifts from soft background melodies to something worthy of announcing the most important person at the wedding–the bride!

Guests rise to their feet as if on command. All heads turn to face the rear of pews or chairs to get a “first glimpse” of the bride as she makes her appearance at the top of the aisle, face veiled, arm intertwined with her escort, usually her father.. All preparations leading up to this day now pale in comparison to her arrival, for this is “her” day; she is the focus of attention in every aspect wedding celebrations offer.

This weekend Christians around the world celebrate Palm Sunday, the day marked as “Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem”. The prophet Zechariah recorded hundreds of years earlier this very moment when he wrote: “Rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Zion! Shout out loud, daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, and he is victorious. Yet he is humble–he’s riding on a donkey, yes, on a lowly colt.” The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all confirm Jesus’ entry into the holy city. Along with their witness material, they wrote about the people lining the road waving palm branches, paving the roadway with palms, hailing Jesus with shouts of joy and exaltation as their “king”. All eyes were on Jesus in those moments.

As the lenten season comes to an end for yet another year since Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to face trial, public execution, in another week Christians will celebrate history’s most powerful event–resurrection of a sacrificed savior which changed and challenged every Jewish tradition, grafted in gentiles as part of God’s kingdom, established that kingdom on earth through his life and ministry. 

In New Testament writings there are many references to the “church” being referred to as the “bride of Christ”, making Christ the groom. In Revelation 19: 7 we read: “Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his Bride has prepared herself–fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear.” When John wrote Revelation he described many future events that will happen, fulfilling yet more and more prophecies. Among those is the second coming of Christ, yet “another” triumphal entry. Revelation 19: 11  “Next I saw heaven opened, and there before me was a white horse. Sitting on it was the one called Faithful and True, and it is in righteousness that he passes judgement and goes to battle”. It’s in this very moment of Jesus’ powerful return that “every eye will see and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!” (Revelation 1: 7)

I’ve stood in that area in Israel that is named Megiddo. It is believed this expanse of ancient ground and ruins is where scholars project the final conflict between “good and evil” will take place, commonly called Armegeodon. I’m not schooled enough to say whether this area will be where Jesus touches down, still astride His horse, but I am confident in scriptures’ descriptions to believe He IS returning, and words will escape trying to describe those events!

Weddings are privy to only those who are invited. Likewise, relationships with Christ are similar by responding to a divine invitation sent from God. Although John wrote that “every eye will see and every tongue will confess”,  it doesn’t mean everyone is automatically united with Christ to be included in Paul’s description as the church being His Bride. As simple as sending an RSVP to a wedding invitation, we all bear responsibility to respond one way or another to God’s invitation for salvation of our sins which is ONLY by accepting Christ’s sacrificial gift of going to a Roman cross, events we humbly honor on Good Friday.

On that triumphal day some 2,000 years ago the crowds lauded Jesus under the guise He would rise and overtake the Roman government, establishing Himself as a King. Their joyous cheers and accolades soon changed to jeers and shouts to arrest and kill HIm because He didn’t fulfill their humanistic desires. I often think to myself “if only they knew….” but then it’s part of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.

So, a wedding is being planned. The Bride–the church–is getting herself ready. Millions of invitations to attend are being sent. The Groom–Jesus Christ–awaits for the moment He will take His position to welcome His Bride. Are you ready? Have you responded to God’s invitation to the wedding of all weddings? Many men and women have tried to determine the date of Christ’s return. Matthew gives us pretty strong insight regarding that quandary…”But when that day and hour will come, no one knows–not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father.” (Matthew 24: 36)

Palm Sunday is the beginning of ushering in the events of Holy Week. This day will be celebrated in many ways in our churches, but one thing remains its focal point. All eyes and shouts of praise will be directed on one person, a divine king seated on a mere donkey, making His way towards events that will change the world for all of eternity.