By Rachel Kramer, an Alliance international worker who serves in Taiwan
As I prepared for our church’s Palm Sunday worship service, a parade of idols and their worshipers passed our home in the rain. In their path were large boxes of firecrackers waiting to be lit.
Loud booms and a haze of smoke filled the air as the worshipers proceeded down the road. Later, the wet street was littered with mushy, scarlet debris.
A Jerusalem Parade
More than 2,000 years ago, a parade came to Jerusalem. The people cheered for their King, waving palm branches and spreading their clothing on the path before Him.
The happy, excited “Jesus parade” ended long before the Messiah reached His ultimate destination. Jesus knew exactly where He was going.
He had purposed to complete a different procession—the road to Calvary. Only He was qualified to make the trip, to pay the price, to satisfy the requirement. He was the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Jesus knew the parade ended at the cross.
Hoping
The parades in our Taiwanese village are composed of people seeking a blessing from their idols. Participants conclude the procession at a large, elaborate temple, where they burn incense and make their requests. Often they go from one temple to another, year after year, hoping—always hoping.
Jesus walked His parade route—only once. “But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26b).
What’s left over after the parade?
For most Taiwanese, it is fear and uncertainty, not knowing if they’ve done enough to appease the gods they serve. Have the idols been placated? What else needs to be done?
On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” Nothing else is needed. When Christ rose again, triumphing over death, He gave hope to all humanity for complete salvation for those who receive it.
This is HOPE—and so much more. May the full impact of Jesus’ parade to the cross come alive in our hearts this Easter.
Pray
Join the Alliance family in praying for our workers in Taiwan and worldwide, who are taking the good news—in word and deed—to some of the most spiritually dark places on earth. Use the weekly Alliance Prayer Requests to assist you.