Enter Like Jesus

“Could you pass the butter?” “Sure,” I replied, and I passed the butter to the woman a couple seats away from me at the luncheon. It was one of those fancy gatherings at a nice club, so I was dressed in my Sunday best. I thought I was careful to avoid “wearing” the butter, but a few minutes later I looked down and to my horror, saw the yellow stuff all over the bottom of my sleeve and down the front of my jacket. How did that happen? This wasn’t anything new. I often relate to the Peanuts character “Pig Pen” who always had a trail of dust following him. No matter how hard I try to clean up, there’s generally a wrinkle or a spot or a hair out of place. I think it’s one of the ways God humbles me.

Wearing the butter was not my choice, but humility, rather than pride should be a choice.

When Jesus made his final entry into Jerusalem, he did not enter as a conquering king, although that is what the people desired. When they waved palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna” over and over as Jesus made his way down the streets of Jerusalem. They were belting out “Save us,” “Save us.” They didn’t want Jesus to save them from their sins, which he was about to do. They wanted him to save them from the oppressive Roman rule. They desired a warring king, not a humble, suffering servant.

But Jesus’ last days on this earth were filled with humility. Instead of entering on a brilliant stallion, he chose a peaceful donkey to ride through the streets of Jerusalem. Later, before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the impulsive disciple, Peter, cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus rebuked Peter, saying “Put your sword back in its place. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” There are about six thousand in a legion, so Jesus is saying he could have called on 72,000 angels to defend him at that moment.

Instead, Jesus chose humility.

When Jesus allowed himself to be crucified on the cross, it is speculated that many of the same people who shouted “Save us” were the ones shouting, “Crucify him.”

How quickly we turn. The humble Jesus was not what people envisioned.

In Proverbs 8:17, God says, “I hate pride and arrogance…” We tell our children that “hate” is a strong word. God is using strong words to let us know he really does not like it when we exhibit pride.

Instead, when we enter a room, we need to enter like Jesus.

Humble.

Like a servant.

Giving.

Peaceful.

I know I am guilty of being prideful at times but I want to eliminate pride in my life, don’t you?

I want to enter like Jesus.

Lord, help me to bury my pride, even if it means wearing butter on my sleeve, 24-7. LBW