"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
Colossians 2: 13-15
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on a donkey, he was popular! The people formed a parade and shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." The Pharisees grumbled amongst each other: "Look how the whole world has gone after him." (John 2:19)
When I was a kid in school, I longed to be counted among the popular kids, but never had what it took. It would have been easy for Jesus to go off on this ego trip, accept a crown and crow about it. Yet, if he had, we'd only had a king for a short term in an empire that has since fallen. The name of Jesus would have been buried in obscure historical annals.
Perhaps, later that week at Golgatha, these same parade-goers who waved palm branches were at the foot of his cross, tsking and shaking their heads. What may have looked like weakness, lack of prowess or a poor decision to some actually became the salvation for many as Jesus completed his mission. By the cross, Jesus disarmed all the powers and authorities singlehandedly, for all eternity. His seeming "fall from grace" provided grace for a sinner like me, thousands of years later.
Jesus, from my heart I thank you for nailing my failures to the cross. You have triumphed over my foes; I cling to your mercy!
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