I Love a Parade: Following the Savior from Death to Life
by the Rev. Walter Snyder

Today we stand and watch the Easter parade, but not one defined by pretty bonnets or carefully
pressed suits. This churchly parade has carried us "up to Jerusalem" with Christ as we have followed
the procession from Advent and Nativity to Palm Sunday. It seems that someone was always
following Jesus. Shepherds came at the angel's invitation. Wise men came because of a star. Herod
the Great also followed---not to worship, but in a vain attempt to kill him.

Even Jesus' own family chased after him. Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem to look for him
and found him in his Father's house. Later in his life, some of them went looking for him again,
hoping to take him away, since people were saying that he was insane (Mark 3:21).

During Jesus' ministry, his disciples followed him across the land. People flocked to receive or
witness miracles and to hear the authority of his teaching. Sometimes people dropped out of the
parade, as did the rich young ruler (Matthew 19) who trusted his wealth more than he did the Savior.

Yet as some fell out of the ranks, others were gathered in. Even Samaritans and Gentiles joined the
parade as they found forgiveness and peace in his words.

After Lazarus was raised (John 11), enthusiasm peaked. Yet his closest disciples knew that as Jesus
drew closer to Jerusalem, he also drew closer to his own death (John 11:16). Lazarus' resurrection
didn't only draw people to follow Jesus, celebrating his entry into Jerusalem with palms and coats
scattered and songs raised; it also triggered the final, successful plot on his life (John 11:45ff).

The earthly parade was important, for as they followed, people were also nourished and taught by
Jesus' words. Yet it was secondary to another solitary procession. Of all those who were there in
Galilee and Samaria, among all who witnessed the feedings and the healings, out of everyone who
bore testimony to the power of God displayed by Jesus in raising Lazarus, none was in the final
parade. Jesus would go out in the company of soldiers and convicted felons to a place called
Calvary. There, the grand and glorious parade would end in shame and death.

Scripture and the eyes of faith, however, record and see still another parade. As earthly fame was
vanishing in torture, blood, and death, God was assembling a procession stretching back to the dawn
of creation. Quoting and completing Psalm 68:18, Paul writes in Ephesians 4:7, "When he ascended
on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." The freed captives are all who are saved
from sin's bondage by Christ's blood, who believe, and who follow him. Christ's route didn't end on
Calvary or in the tomb, neither does that of the faithful. We are paraded through Christ's own death
and tomb in Baptism (Romans 6:3--4) and are raised to live and walk in new life. Even though we
might lie for a time in our own tombs, we will be bodily raised to walk in God's presence forever.

In the meantime, God doesn't demand gifts, but gives them through Jesus. Paul continues, "And his
gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure
of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-13)"

Those who lived with Jesus on earth received forgiveness and new life from his mouth. These gifts of
pastors, evangelists, and others are given so that more will be brought into the procession and that
Christ's redeemed people will continue to hear, know, love, and follow the One who set them free.
Finally will come that great Day of the Lord, when "the Lord Jesus Christ  . . .  will change our lowly
body to be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20--21)" At last the parade will draw to a halt before
the throne of God (Revelation 7:9--17) and the victory palms will wave forevermore.

To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email to
askthepastor@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book
"What Do Lutherans Believe."

Ask the Pastor is copyright (c) 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced  in totality,
including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said
republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note
the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural
injunctions concerning the property of others.