Remembering

³⁵ And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ³⁶ And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, ³⁸ saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” ³⁹ And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” ⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Luke 19:35-40 ESV.

I think back to the year 1963 and my confirmation. It was a very important time in my life, for come that September, I would go to Concordia St. Paul, Minnesota, to study for becoming a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. I remember two gifts that I received on my confirmation day; one was a Thompson Chain Reference Bible, and the other was an Olympic Portable Typewriter.

I remember the day itself as we were questioned during the first service. Because I was enrolled at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, we had the hard questions to answer. In the second service we confirm our faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. On the following Thursday, Maundy Thursday, we received our first communion. I remember the day as being April 13. I also received my own Lutheran Hymnal. These gifts I would use as I began my study in what I thought I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Think back now of your own confirmation. What was it like? What was important to you? How was it done? I know confirmations are done differently in the different denominations. As I began my life as a student in High School and College, I thought I really knew something. How about you? I discovered that my learning and living the faith had just begun as a Christian.

I remember setting up an early communion class. This changed the order of things, but I believe it helped demystify confirmation.

Take time to read over Luke 19:35-40 again. What is really happening here? Do you see Jesus, the Son of God, entering Jerusalem, the city of the King? Here we see another role of Jesus, the King. This is the way the kings of Israel from David’s line would enter Jerusalem. In short Jesus was doing exactly what was done before Him.

A couple of days earlier Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. This word had spread throughout Jerusalem. As Jesus answered into the city, the people worshiped him as the one true God; Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Of course the Pharisees had their own take on all of this. They were threatened by the possibility of a riot. In that case they would lose their power for there had been a bargain struck between the Romans and the Church Leaders. As long as the Jews would be non-rebellious, the church leaders could keep their power.

I believe everyone finds what Pharisees said to Jesus very interesting. They wanted to shut it down and said, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”. Why would Jesus even consider doing this? He fulfilled prophecy made in the Old Testament time and time again. I believe Jesus’ answer would quiet anybody as he said, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” We witnessed these events happening on Good Friday. The graves were opened, and people came forward telling the Jews of the city the good news that Jesus had died for their sins, the final sacrifice.

Walk in the glory of the Lord as Jesus walks with us each day.