What We See at the Gate

🌿 Monday Manna 🌿

Rev. T.J. Lucas

For the Fifth Sunday in Lent, we stepped into the story where Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.” But what we saw in that story wasn’t just about Lazarus. It was about sight. Everyone in the story was seeing something real… but not something whole. The sisters saw sickness and loss. The disciples saw danger. Thomas saw death. The crowd saw grief. And Jesus saw something else entirely. He saw glory where they saw endings. He saw timing where they saw delay. He saw life where they saw death. And that’s where the story presses on us, because the problem isn’t always that we believe the wrong things—it’s that we are seeing through the wrong lens. We talked about how following Christ is not just adding belief onto the life we already have. It is a surrender. A shift. A letting go of our version of reality so we can step into God’s. Because Jesus doesn’t just promise resurrection someday—He stands in front of what looks finished and says, “I am.”

As we turn toward Palm Sunday, the crowd gathers again, and once more we are invited to pay attention to how we are seeing. They line the road with palms and praise, shouting “Hosanna,” believing they are welcoming a king who will fix things quickly, restore power, and meet their expectations. And yet, even in their celebration, they are still seeing only part of the story. They see triumph, but they do not yet see the cross. They see arrival, but they do not yet see surrender. They see a king, but not the kind of king who comes riding in humility. And if we’re honest, we often do the same. We praise God when things look like they are going our way, when hope feels visible and near, but we struggle to recognize Him when the path leads somewhere we did not expect. Palm Sunday reminds us that we can be close to Jesus, even celebrating Him, and still not fully see what He is doing.

Spend some time this week with the scriptures for the upcoming Sunday through our weekly spiritual practice of Dwelling in the Word.

Dwelling in The Word

Instructions

Set aside a regular time and place during your week where you can sit quietly with God’s Word. It does not need to be long, but it should be intentional. Choose a space where you can slow down and give the text your attention.

Select one of the scriptures for the week and read the same passage each day. This practice is different from Bible study. In church or group study, we focus on history, theology, and proper interpretation. Those are important, but Dwelling in the Word is more personal and prayerful. Here, we are listening for how the Word is speaking to us.

Read the passage slowly. You may want to read it more than once. I suggest reading it once quietly, pausing, and then reading it again out loud. Pay attention to the word, phrase, or image that stands out to you. Sit with it. Let it stay with you. Write it down or underline it.

Ask yourself simple questions as you read:

• What word or phrase is drawing my attention?

• What is bubbling up in me as I sit with it?

• Why might this part of the passage be standing out today?

Return to the same passage each day and notice what changes. Another phrase may stand out, or the meaning may deepen as the week unfolds. The goal is not to master the text, but to let the Word dwell in you and shape the way you see your life.

Scriptures:

Isaiah 50:4–9a: The suffering servant who listens and endures

Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord

Philippians 2:5–11: Christ’s humility and exaltation

Matthew 21:1–11: The triumphal entry

Prayer for the Week:

Lord Jesus, as we wave palms and lift our voices, slow us down enough to truly see You. Not only in the moments of celebration, but in the path You choose to take. When we expect power, show us humility. When we expect quick answers, teach us trust. When we look for victory on our terms, open our eyes to the deeper victory You are bringing through surrender and love. As we dwell in Your Word this week, reshape how we see. Help us recognize You not only in the triumph, but also in the road that leads through the cross. Form in us the mind of Christ, that we may walk with You faithfully, even when we do not fully understand. Hosanna in the highest, and Hosanna in the quiet places of our lives. Amen.