Tip of My Iceberg

The six of us were in a meeting, preparing a presentation and talking about our values. All very significant things.

We looked outside and saw a Sand Hill Crane sitting in our friend Ren’s golf cart, an unwelcome visitor with a short temper. He wasn’t as docile as he appears–he’d just spent the better part of half an hour pecking at the windows of the room we were meeting in. We knew he couldn’t get it, but his constant rapping was annoying. One of our gals was nervous; her back was to the window, and she jumped each time he pecked,

It was all good fun until the big bird got in Ren’s golf cart. Ren is the gentlest, kindest person I know, but when he left the room to save his cart, there was steel in his eyes.

Once out there, he got in but didn’t look at the crane. The bird just sat there and stared at him.

Until he turned the key in the ignition. The crane made his move; he wasn’t staying for the ride.

We all have chosen modes of transportation, and passengers may or may not be a bonus. I can remember driving bunches of young girls to soccer games. The way there was loud with talk and laughter, the anticipation of the game uppermost in their minds. The way home was always quieter, smellier, because of stinky soccer cleats and socks and the exhaustion of leaving it all on the field.

We have a significant number of BMWs, Teslas, and Mercedes-Benzes on the road as I drive to and from work. When I see those, I wonder if they’re trying to make a point, a “look at me, see what a fancy car I drive” kind of attitude. Frankly, I’d never want to drive anything that fancy; I’d be terrified that I’d be the first one to get a ding on it.

I don’t care much for status.

Kind of like the Sand Hill Crane. He settled for a golf cart, not a Tesla.

Jesus wasn’t too concerned with appearances of grandeur either. We just had Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, the day He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey’s colt. This was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 made about six hundred years before this occurred. “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.”

This was also a symbol of peace. In ancient Near Eastern countries, kings rode to war on horseback, whereas riding a donkey signified coming in peace. The Jews anticipated their Messiah to be a powerful King who would save them from the Romans; they weren’t prepared for a spiritual kingdom of love and forgiveness. It also demonstrated His humility and the lack of needing to prove Himself, a posture that spoke volumes to the poor of Jerusalem.

Jesus confused many. He didn’t come to defeat the Romans and free the Jews from their control. He didn’t come to force Himself on anyone. He came offering a gospel of peace, grace, and love. He offers to take us with Him on His road of eternal hope.

Unlike Ren’s Sandhill Crane, Jesus cares about His passengers. The road may not always be smooth, but the destination is assured.

We can’t always say that, even with an expensive car.