Bow Low

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It started out as a normal Sunday morning.  Coffee, reading an actual newspaper and church.  It was Palm Sunday and we expected the waving of a few palms; however, what we were not expecting was to be fully engaged as actors in the Holy Week story.  

The opening scene was one filled with uplifting music and a parade of palms, which involved many of those gathered.  The joy, laughter and celebration was contagious and uplifting.  The shouts of Hosannah through song were glorious.

As the service continued, we found ourselves immersed in the full reading of Matthew 26-27, with reading parts.  These verses in Matthew reflect Jesus' last week on earth. Our active roles in a parade of palms quickly became new roles of disciple, bystander and spectator.  Some of our speaking parts were:

Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you
Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you
The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him
Greetings, Rabbi
He deserves death
I do not know the man
I do not know what you are talking about
I have sinned by betraying innocent blood
Barabbas
Let him be crucified
Truly this man was God's son!
(Individual phrases from Matthew 26-27)

In the span of a very few minutes on Sunday, the shouts went from 'Hosannah' to 'Let him be crucified.'  The transition in the service was fast and highlighted to me what must have been tremendous emotional, intellectual upheaval in the last few days of Jesus' earthly life.  Again, the time frame was less than a week - from Hosannah to Let him be crucified.  How quickly does this happen in my life?  How quickly do I move from praise to denial and doubt and accusation?


The experience left us feeling and thinking about Holy Week in a fresh, honest way.  And I've been reminded that not only did the spectators, disciples, religious leaders hear all the words but so did Jesus.

And yet, we find him a few days later in total humility and anguish crying out to His Father, the Lord.  When he could have accused, He prayed.  When he experienced disappointment from his friends, He cried out to the One.  When he was soul sick about the future, He bowed low and chose the better way, he chose His unconditional loving Father.  The same One we have the option to choose.

🎵I don’t want to profit off Your presence
I don’t want to build what You’d tear down
I don’t want to bring half-surrender
I just want to be the first to bow
Low, low
I bow down low, low

This is not an empire, it’s Your kingdom
I’m sorry that I tried to be the King
I didn’t even realize You were missing
From now on let my posture be
Low, low
I bow down low, low

Down on my face
Under the weight
All I can say is You are holy
I can’t look away
Ever by the same
All I can say is You are holy
Low, low
I bow down low, low
I bow down low, low
Writers: Kory Miller, Mitch Wong, Mia Fieldes, 2024




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