“Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple, and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve” Mark 11:8-11 (NRSV).
When I was first getting acquainted with God’s Word, I was curious: would the Lord ever be glorified on this earth as He deserves? It all felt so unfair—God is omnipotent, chooses not to use that power, and isn’t honored as God.
When I came across the verses above, I rejoiced like a kid who had found or been given back their long-lost toy.
Every time I encounter these lines, I remember miracles that God has performed in my life, because after every miracle I want to shout so loudly that the whole world hears, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
I’ve seen so many miracles that I could write a whole book about them; I’ll tell you one – a resolution to my husband’s paperwork problem.
Now let me explain: my family came here from Ukraine to escape the war and we have had a hard time navigating all the paperwork involved in our immigration process. It has been especially hard in my husband’s case.
At first, they said there was an organization that helps financially disadvantaged families. We were praising God and saying, “Hallelujah, God took care of it!” But then it turned out the program had ended and we were too late. It was devastating. But then, the very lawyer who delivered that bad news, ended up paying the sum.
After that, the word was that the government was demanding proof, from almost everyone, that the house you were living in no longer exists and the area you came from is too dangerous to return to. However, even those with that very proof were getting their requests denied. In the end, they didn’t ask us for that proof.
Today, my husband has received the necessary paperwork, in contrast to many others who applied as early as last June.
All I can say is, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
But what about when the triumphal entry doesn’t happen and God doesn’t answer the way we had hoped?
These verses also remind me of something my mother used to say. “Let me be spread at Jesus’ feet.” To be honest, I didn’t understand what she meant.
Years later, I got it! My mother meant that she was prepared to lay her life down at Jesus’ feet, instead of robes and palm branches.
And today I ask myself, “What am I prepared to spread at Jesus’ feet?”
And you, dear reader, what are you prepared to lay at Jesus’ feet?
Angela Hakobyan Shevko is married to Slav and is mom to Vira and Paul, who attend La Sierra Academy, where she is grateful to work as well.