REFLECTIONS

Stories from the Golden Gate

Peering across the Kidron Valley from the summit of the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem’s Golden Gate grabbed center stage. Jerusalem’s eastern wall housed its shell. Sealed in 1511 A.D., an outline of the Golden Gate still marks the place of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem astride a donkey and to cries of Hosanna! Hosanna! I wondered what it felt like to be in the crowd; and I wondered if the Gate could talk, what stories would it have to tell.

Across from my place atop the Mount of Olives, the frame of the Golden Gate faced me. Its outline cast a proud smile for the opportunity to greet Jesus into the City. The choice of entry likely related to its proximity to the Temple. I pondered the stories of Jesus’ entries through it; and I wondered if a personified gate might have its own views of those stories to share with me.

I wondered what the Gate might have seen when Jesus sent two disciples into the City in search of a donkey. I pondered what a personified gate might wonder about the people standing there asking the disciples “What are you doing, untying that colt?” And the people allowing them to take the donkey after a brief explanation. (Mark 11:5)

I wondered how the gate might have felt watching Jesus descend the Mount of Olives on the donkey to cries of “Hosanna!” / “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9, 11) And for the whole city to be stirred to ask, “Who is this?” when Jesus entered Jerusalem the next day followed by the crowds’ reply, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Would the gate express surprise by Jesus’ entry into the temple area [driving] out all who were buying and selling there; [and] to overturn the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.'” (Matthew 21:12-13)

And how touching might it have been to watch Jesus observe the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. And then also to watch a poor widow put in two very small copper coins, and hear Jesus explain, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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