In case you missed me, I’ve been on a health dictated hiatus from writing for about four months. This came in the wake of a medical diagnosis of a progressive condition that will impact me for the remainder of my days. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments to my life. It also came at a time when my wife and I are in the midst of making a move back to the east coast. In a few weeks we will depart South Dakota, our home for nearly 10 years, for a new life in Maryland. By the end of the month I hope to resume writing. In the meantime I would appreciate your prayers. See you soon!
Zack
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, Matthew 21:1-11
The dominance of Rome
As a retired Army Officer, I find Roman history fascinating. The Roman Empire’s territory in Jesus’ time completely enveloped the Mediterranean Sea. Roman society was very militaristic. The military played a central role in the empire’s territorial expansion, governance, and social structure. Rome aggressively employed its strong military capabilities to conquer new territories and maintain control over its sprawling empire. Military prowess was a key aspect of Roman cultural identity.
The Roman Senate sometimes granted a festive procession through the streets of Rome to pay tribute to a general who was victorious in battle. Called a Triumph or a triumphal procession, it was a grand and elaborate ceremony designed to celebrate and publicly recognize the military achievements and conquests of the general being honored.
A Triumph was a blend of religious, political, and social elements, showcasing the glory of Rome. The general being honored wore a special ceremonial toga. He rode in a chariot drawn by four horses, followed by his troops, prisoners of war in chains, strange animals from the conquered lands and wagons filled with the spoils of war. Adoring citizens lined the streets, cheering as the different elements of the Triumph passed by them. The air was full of the sounds of music and chants, creating a jubilant, reverent atmosphere. The Triumph not only honored the general but also reinforced the power and splendor of the Roman state.
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem
In Jerusalem a large crowd of Jews gave Jesus an impromptu Triumph of His own. His triumphal entry into Jerusalem is described in all four Gospels: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19. Each provides a slightly different perspective on the event, but they all highlight the significance of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem as the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus’ triumphal entry, in Christian tradition, marks the beginning of Holy Week. It sets the stage for the events leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection, which are central to the Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God.
According to the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey (or colt), fulfilling a prophecy found in both Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9. As He approached the city, a large crowd gathered, spreading their cloaks and palm branches on the road before him. They shouted “Hosanna” (loosely translated as “save us” or “help us”) and praised Him as the “Son of David” and the “King of Israel.”
The atmosphere at Jesus’ triumphal entry was one of celebration and anticipation, as the jubilant Jews who were present believed him to be the promised Messiah, who they supposed would be a military leader who would free them from Roman oppression. However, in stark contrast to a Triumph for a Roman General, Jesus’ humble entry into Jerusalem symbolized the peaceful role of His mission as Messiah, the humble King of Israel who fed the hungry, healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, prayed for His enemies, and washed the feet of His disciples.
Sadly, most of the Jewish people and religious leaders failed to recognize Jesus as Redeemer, the sacrificial Lamb of God who would suffer and die under the orders of Pontius Pilate and after three days gloriously rise from the dead, conquering sin and death once and for all. Jesus freely sacrificed himself for the sins of the world and offers eternal life to all who believe on Him and profess that He is the son of God. We all need the Most Holy Redeemer of the world. Jesus Christ is the Triumphant God.
Prayer to the Most Holy Redeemer
(Anima Christi)
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, embolden me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within thy wounds hide me.
Never permit me to be parted from you.
From the evil Enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me.
and bid me come to thee,
that with your saints I may praise thee
for age upon age. Amen.
2 Corinthians 2:14 – “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession…”
* All Bible quotes are ESV
Bing Copilot AI was used to assist with the historical research used to write this piece.
My home is in heaven. I’m just traveling through this world. –Billy Graham
I served 24 years of active duty in the US Army. For my entire career my sweet wife stood by my side, sacrificing her own career in order to accommodate my needs. I was gone a lot, but somehow along the way we managed to birth and raise two children. We moved over a dozen times during my career. More than once we moved three times in a single year. This was done so that I could attend short, specialized training courses and schools between my permanent changes of station.
We lived in some wonderful locations, saw some incredible things, and had some great times. One thing we never had, however, was a place to call home. The idea of a place called home is almost magical for some people. Recall Dorothy’s most memorable line in the Wizard of Oz as she yearns to return to friends, family, and a little farm in Kansas, “There’s no place like home.” Or as American pioneer and writer Laura Ingalls Wilder said, “Home is the nicest word there is.
Then there’s this from Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., “For there we loved, and where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” Home means different things to people, but a common thread is the thought of being in a safe, comfortable place surrounded by those we love the most.
Unfortunately, many people yearn for home during their lives, but never find it. Saint Paul often spoke of heaven as every believer’s true home. In Corinthians 2 5:1* he says:
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”
Here, Paul compares our temporary physical bodies to a tent and contrasts it with an “eternal house in heaven,” highlighting the permanence and divine nature of our heavenly home.
In Philippians 1:23-24, Paul writes:
“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”
And in Philippians 3:20, he writes:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This verse emphasizes that our true citizenship is in heaven; it reinforces the idea that our ultimate home is with God.
The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” — Maya Angelou
Taken together, the preceding passages from Paul show he understood that while we live on earth temporarily, our true eternal home is in heaven with God. And like the prodigal son’s return to his father’s house, our Father in heaven eagerly awaits the day when all his children will return to their heavenly home. So, if you’re a believer with an unquenchable ache to go home and be at peace, rest assured in the knowledge that the Father is eagerly awaiting your return and will run to embrace you when you come home to your rightful place in heaven at His appointed time.
I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger Traveling through this world below There is no sickness, no toil, no danger In that bright land to which I go I’m going there to see my father And all my loved ones who’ve gone on
I’m just going over Jordan I’m just going over home
My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. –Psalm 45:1*
A large portion of my wife’s family tree is rooted in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Lancaster County is Amish country. Having rejected the modern world, these plain Christians, the descendants of Swiss-German Anabaptists, struggle to maintain an 18th century existence in fast-paced, 21st century America. The county has well over 30,000 Amish residents today.
The Amish are farmers and craftsmen. Stout work horses pull their plows through the fertile fields. They build their own houses and barns and heat them with stoves fired by wood and coal. They make their own furniture. Their houses have no electricity. They have neither television, radio, cell phones, computers, cars nor tractors. They educate their children in one-room schoolhouses. They hold church services in private homes. They know their neighbors and help them when needed. They revere God!
While I’m not ready to give up 21st century conveniences, I must admit there’s a part of me that envies the simple existence of the Amish. Inspired by Amish simplicity, I began writing this Divine Simplicity blog in September 2011 as a Christ-inspired self-help guide on simplifying one’s life.
My blog has evolved considerably over the years, with the topics growing ever broader, but all the while aiming to maintain a focus on Christ and scripture. When I started this blog, I never figured I’d still be at if after a decade. I don’t have many followers, which led me to question the blog’s value. Why I should continue to write it at all. After considerable thinking on this, it all boils down to three things.
I endeavor to ensure that every entry I write honors and glorifies Jesus.I write prayerfully, hoping to inspire serious thought and holy conversation. Billy Graham had this to say:
“Our dress, our posture, our actions should all be for the honor and glory of Christ. Much of our talk as Christians is secular, not spiritual. It is easy to fall into conversational conformity of the world and spend an evening discussing politics, new cars, and the latest entertainment. We often forget that we are to edify one another with holy conversation and that our conversation should be on heavenly, and not exclusively on earthly things.”
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. –Psalm 51:10
I also write for my own spiritual renewal. Writing a blog entry almost always causes me to search through the Bible, seeking relevant passages supporting the topic I have chosen. For me, searching and studying scripture is cathartic. It draws me closer to God by shifting my thoughts from earthly cares and concerns to Godly thoughts inspired by the Holy Spirit. Writing about the scripture passages I discover reinforces what I learn from them.
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. –1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Finally, I write to sow seed containing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Perhaps if I, through my blogging, can plant a seed with the Gospel message in a reader’s heart, then maybe another will water it so that God will make it grow. I did some rough math and figure that during the course of nearly 13 years I’ve spent around 1,500 hours researching and writing this blog. If it has helped even one person find his or her way to Christ’s salvation, then I’m satisfied that it has done its job. Soli Deo gloria.
Whatever subject I preach, I do not stop until I reach the Savior, the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things. –Charles Spurgeon
I recently read a book that poses the question, “What about your life before you were a Christian has changed since you became a Christ follower.” I can think of so many responses, but two stand out. First of all, as a Christian I have a profound sense of personal sin that wasn’t previously there. Note that I speak of “sin,” not “sins.” My personal sins are a countless laundry list of bad, harmful things I have done during my life. Many people are repulsed by being called a sinner. Yet sin (without an “s” on the end), is a condition we all live in. Martin Luther described it eloquently in a letter to Philip Melanchthon on August 1, 1521:
“Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2 Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that through God’s glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins? Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.”
My second response to the question is that as a Christian I have a tremendous sense of gratitude that God has forgiven all my sins through Jesus Christ. Before becoming a Christian, I didn’t recognize my need for forgiveness. Now I understand that Jesus suffered, bled, and died on the cross as an atonement for not only my sins, but the sins of the entire world. Hebrews 9:15 tells us that Christ’s blood inaugurated a new covenant. Through His sacrifice, He became the mediator between God and humanity. The old system of blood offerings through sacrificing animals could only cover sin temporarily, but Christ’s blood provides complete forgiveness. His death on the cross bridged the gap between the holy God and fallen humanity. Jesus the risen Lord is now seated at the right hand of the Father, where he intercedes on our behalf, our great High Priest.
The process of forgiveness begins with repentance. Acknowledging our sins, we turn to God, seeking His mercy. Acts 2:38 stresses baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. More than a mere ritual; it symbolizes our identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. Through faith in Jesus as the risen Son of God, we receive forgiveness—the slate is wiped clean and our sins are remembered no more.
As the season of Lent winds down and Easter approaches, let us all consider Christ’s atonement for our sins. Through His death on the cross, Jesus atoned for the sins all mankind, satisfying God’s demand for justice, and accomplishing reconciliation for all who seek redemption through Him. The obedience and selfless sacrifice of Christ, who felt human emotions and pain just like you and me, serve as the foundation of our salvation. The shedding of Jesus’s blood on the cross symbolizes the ultimate atonement, restoring us to God’s favor and demonstrating the Father’s divine love and mercy. Jesus willingly gave His life for our sins, bridging the gap between humanity and God. His sacrifice on Calvary’s cross paid the price for our transgressions, conquered sin and death, and brought about the resurrection from the dead, not just for Jesus, but eventually for all of His followers.
God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’ –Billy Graham
This piece was originally posted to my blog on February 26, 2019. The church season of Lent in 2024 runs from Ash Wednesday (February 14) to Easter Sunday (March 31).
Divine Simplicity 
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