The Easter Parade by Pastor Walter Snyder A little boy growing up in southeast Kansas... sitting atop Dad's shoulders... watching a parade... wishing to be part of it.... Grand and glorious... beautiful floats... bright costumes... flags and horses... thundering bands. Why can't I join the marchers? Years later I realize that I was already in the grandest, most glorious parade this world has ever known. Palm Sunday through Easter---these days reveal Christianity for all to see. Christ parades through this world; do we ignore, watch, or join? All Scripture centers on these eight days. Christmas angels sang "peace" because the Baby lying in a feed trough came to remove sins and make peace with God. God became flesh so He could suffer and die. Likewise, Pentecost's wonder wasn't because Galilean fishermen spoke in different languages. Rather, in those languages they proclaimed Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Savior of the world. Jesus' assigned path was laid out from all eternity. He came to earth not as entertainment for those standing by and watching, but to save sinners and lead them to heaven. He refused to be tempted from this path either by Satan or His own desires. He couldn't be threatened or bullied from the route by religious or secular authorities. A parade for God Incarnate should be glorious, yet much of it was hideously ugly, grotesquely violent. This week---"Holy Week"---displays the lowest and the highest points of Christ's entire life on earth. To human eyes, Palm Sunday topped Jesus' life. The crowd sang praises---"Hosanna! Save us, we pray!"---cheering the One they thought their King. So He was, but not in the way expected. The crowds thinned; Jesus and a few disciples stayed on the route. Around a Passover table, He made his New Testament, establishing a new Israel of faith, giving His holy body and precious blood for His Church's nourishment. Then came betrayal, torture, sentence of death passed by Pilate at the rulers' bidding. His parade left the city. No longer carried (on donkey-back) and cheered, He carried (his cross and our sins) and was jeered. The disciples abandoned Him. His lonesome highway ended at a place called Skull. The soldiers lifted Him up and nailed Him to the cross. The parade was down to One; even His Father abandoned Him. The voices stopped saying "save us." Now they taunted, "He saved others, He cannot save Himself. (Matthew 27:42)" The skies darkened. The earth shook as he stayed on the cross until His last breath left him. It looked like His parade was over; even He said, "It is finished. (John 19:30)" Yet more happened than human eyes observed: In dying, He rained on Satan's parade. He interrupted the devil's schemes to lead all humanity to hell, fulfilling His Father's plan to lead His people to heaven. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus slipped back to the end of the parade route and took the fallen Hero to His burial place. On the third day---miracle of miracles!---the parade resumed. Jesus was raised from the dead. Those who killed him, those who stood by watching, and those who abandoned Him were forgiven. So are all people everywhere. Our chains are broken. God pardons Satan's prisoners, freeing them to follow joyfully where Christ Jesus leads. The death march becomes a victory parade: "Therefore it says, 'When He ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' (Ephesians 4:8)" Countless numbers join this formerly Lonely Marcher as the Holy Ghost creates faith in their hearts. Songs of praise are the marching music; Christ's beautiful robes of righteousness, given in Baptism and His Word, are their uniforms. Everyone who believes in Him as Savior and who is baptized in His Name travels His route with Him. We are "buried with Christ by baptism" into His death; we are raised through that same baptism into life eternal (see Romans 6:1 11). His death puts our sinful natures to death. His resurrection raises us to new life. See who He brings into his ranks: Ahead of you marched Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Moses, David, and Elijah. Peter, James, and John left all they had and followed Him. Look closer, now, at faces less familiar. People throughout history and from around the world take up their crosses and follow Him. Perhaps also we recognize parents, grandparents, children, brothers, sisters, other family, and friends---all believers in the One who died and now lives. See, there you are, too... and there am I. Heaven stands open before us, the true end of this parade route. God answers our Palm Sunday "hosanna." Christ saved us. Now the alleluias of Easter ring out again: "Praise the Lord!" The host of captives is free and is marching home, bearing Christ's gifts. Christ still gives his gifts in His Word and through His Church. God grant that through them Holy Week brings you even closer to your Savior. Scripture quotations are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2003 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. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."