A Bird’s Eye View

The bird sat on the uppermost branch of the tree.
A tall evergreen, easily three stories high, was its perch.
There it was on the branch that stuck straight up from the top.
The same branch that would hold a star or an angel on a Christmas tree.

How could this bird sit so comfortably there?
I heard the bird before I saw it.
There it sat, perched high above everything, singing.
Here I was, looking up through the sunlight, listening.

For a moment, I wished that I were up in the tree as well.
I smiled when I thought of the cliche, bird’s eye view.
I now saw first hand what it meant.
From this vantage point the world was clear.

A panoramic view to be taken in and savored.
What would the world look like from that perspective?
Only the bird knew.
How I wished I could experience it, even for a moment.

I thought of the arduous 18-mile journey from Jericho to Jerusalem.
From an elevation of 800 feet to an elevation of 3,000, one would have a bird’s eye view.
I tried to imagine what the weary traveler might have seen as he looked down over the city.
I tried to imagine the sights, the smells, and the sounds in this dry, rugged wilderness.

The day that Jesus entered Jerusalem was lamb selection day.
The day when the Jewish families would be choosing a lamb for their Passover feast.
A male lamb, one year old, without defect would be chosen for their sacrifice.
Reminiscent of the first Passover when the blood of the lamb was put on the doorposts.

The death of the firstborn happened because Pharaoh would not let God’s people go.
The blood of a lamb was to be applied to the doorpost of the houses of God’s people.
The blood covered the people inside the house on whose doorpost it was placed.
The angel of death passed over that house and the firstborn of the Israelites was spared.

Looking over the city on that day, one would have seen a commotion.
People rejoicing and spreading palms on the road; palms that they brought from Jericho.
A man, riding on a donkey, was the one getting their attention.
A simple man, a quiet man, riding on a donkey that was never ridden.

Say to the Daughter of Zion, “See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

The people threw their cloaks on the road so the donkey could walk on them.
Some threw their cloaks on the donkey’s back for the man to sit on.
People were placing their palms on the road.
People were shouting.

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! (Mark 11:9,10)

The people were jubilant.
This is the one who would save them from the Romans.
God heard the Hosanna cries of His people.
This is the Promised One who came to deliver them.

Only from their bird’s eye view, they somehow missed it.
They missed the real reason He came.
They wanted deliverance now.
They wanted to be saved from the Roman oppression by the King that was promised.

Little did they know.

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” “I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet the stones will cry out.” As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace, but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19:39-44)

While the people rejoiced, Jesus wept.
While the people somehow missed it, Jesus knew the reason for His coming.
While the people wanted to be free of Roman oppression, Jesus came to deliver them.
While the people thought of the now, Jesus was also thinking of the not yet.

Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey because He was coming to save.
He was coming to save His people from their sin.
His blood, the blood of the True Lamb, was to be applied to their life in faith.
It was Lamb Selection Day and the True Lamb was right before their eyes.

Jesus wept while they sang.
Jesus, with His divine-eye view, saw what they could not possibly see.
Jesus came to fully save while they just wanted relief from oppression.
Jesus the Gentle King on a donkey will come back as the Righteous Judge on a horse.

From the pages of God’s Word, I see.
From the heart that has been forever changed because of Jesus, I understand.
From the blood of the True Lamb, which has been applied to my life in faith, I am saved.
From the perspective of the now, I wait for the not yet.

If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace, but now it is hidden from your eyes.

A bird’s eye view means nothing without a heart that can really see.

Hosanna!
Oh, Lord, save!