“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”
Amos leaned on his shepherd’s staff several days ago as a Man on a donkey and His entourage had entered the city gate at Jerusalem. What a sight! Palm branches waving through the excited crowd, shouting and dancing, and in the center—the Man on the donkey. Smiling and waving, he rode with the sway of the animal. Frantic men around Him tried to keep the crowds at bay.
“Who is He, Father?” Asked Amos’ teenage son, Jacob.
“I’m not sure, Son. I need to watch and think.”
The next day, the Man turned over the money tables in the vast court of the temple. Merchants dove for their scattering coins and birds and animals escaped their cages. All the time, the Man shouted, “It is written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of thieves!”
Amos and Jacob had already bought their doves for Passover sacrifices. They planned to be home by Passover to celebrate with their family. Amos couldn’t help but be glad they hadn’t lost their offering. Not only did he want to be sure their sins were covered for another year, but the doves cost him plenty of precious coins.
Wide-eyed, Jacob asked, “What does He mean, Father? Why does He call the temple His house?”
“I don’t know, Son. Let’s follow Him as He teaches. Maybe God will enlighten us.” Amos led the way from the court, tapping his staff as they went. His feet and legs hurt today and it was an effort to walk on the hot stones.
They did follow the Man through His temple discourses every day that week and Amos could not stay away. Jesus’ words were like no other and grabbed his heart. With each healing – blind eyes to seeing – withered hands straightened—useless legs walking—a growing conviction pulled at Amos’ heart.
“My son,” Amos put a hand on his boy’s shoulder one afternoon as Jesus was teaching. They sat in the shade towards the back of the crowd. “Do you remember my telling you about the angels that announced to your grandfather, myself and all the other shepherds on the hills that a Savior had been born?”
Jacob nodded, his eyes never leaving Jesus.
“I am beginning to believe that this Jesus may have been the baby in the manger that night. Perhaps He is our Messiah.”
Jacob shifted to gaze into his father’s eyes. “Truly, Father? You think so?”
Amos, too, shifted—this time uncomfortably. Should he have spoken his thoughts to Jacob just yet? What if it wasn’t true? Had he just placed a thought in Jacob’s head that might cause him harm? They had observed the debates between Jesus and the Pharisees all week. Every time they approached Jesus, the tension sliced through Amos’ head. What would happen?
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