"Look who's coming!" are words that still make my heart skip a beat.  When I was a child living on our family farm, I was much younger than my siblings, so it was very quiet at home.  And whenever a car came down the road towards our place, I always wanted it to turn up our driveway.  When a car did drive in, it was a special occasion.  Sometimes it was a neighbor looking for my Dad, or it was an aunt coming to visit my Mom.  "Look who's coming!  It's the Watkins man."

          But once in a very special while, it was someone coming to visit me.  And on those times, my mother would say, "Look who's coming, Bobby - it's your friend Harley," or she'd say, "Look who's coming - your cousin Melanie."  And what special times those were, for it meant someone was coming just to visit me.  And then we would have chased each other taking Dad lunch in the field, or maybe we'd feast on fresh bread Mom had just taken from the oven that morning.

          "Look who's coming!"  Those are still magic words.  Until you see who it is, it's exciting.  Your imagination runs the gamet:  Is it a friend, or the UPS man bringing a package, or someone we haven't seen for a long time?  Or if it's preceded with "Oh, oh - look who's coming!" then we might wish we weren't home.

          When Jesus rode into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday, people noticed.  His disciples and the people cheered and spectators joined the parade.  "Hosanna!" they shouted.  "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"  Matthew records that some people asked, "Who is this?"  The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matthew 21:10-11)

          "Hosanna in the highest!"  Those words were not the idle prattle of children.  Nor were they words of joy.  Rather, they were more like fighting words.  "Hosanna" was a political word like, "Freedom!" or "Justice!"

          In the hearts of friend and foe alike, "Hosanna!" accompanied by waving palm branches had much the same effect as recent marchers in American cities waving Mexican flags and shouting slogans about America.  "Hosanna!" was not a happy word - it was loaded with much emotion.  For some it meant release from oppression, and for others it meant raising dust, shaking things up - and needlessly.  People never like change when they believe it will be change for the worse.

          But that day one thing was certain: Jesus knew who He was and where He was going.  He was the Son of God and He was going to the cross to save the world from sin.  And a second thing was certain: through the ages, all who would trust in Him will follow Him to heaven.  Jesus' parade into Jerusalem was a moment of joy followed by suspense and treachery.  His death on the cross was a short triumph for the forces of evil, followed by Satan's defeat.  Palm Sunday set the stage for sadness and burial, but also centuries of victory and joy as God's people claim eternal life because of Jesus.  Our Lord knew who He was and where He was going, and so can we.

          In January 2000, Dr. Billy Graham was invited to a luncheon in his honor.  Dr. Graham initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease.  But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a sermon.  Just come and let us honor you."  So he agreed.

          After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the podium and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century.  Einstein was once traveling from Princeton, New Jersey, to Boston on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger.

          "When he came to his seat, Dr. Einstein reached in his vest pocket.  He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket.  It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase, then he looked on the seat by him.  But he just couldn't find his ticket.  The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are.  We all know who you are.  I'm sure you bought a ticket.  Don't worry about it.'

          "Einstein nodded appreciatively.  The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets.  As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around at the door and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.  The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are.  No problem.  You don't need a ticket.  I'm sure you bought one.'  Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too know who I am and that I bought a ticket.  What I don't know is where I'm going.'"

          Having said that, Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing?  It's brand new.  My family has been telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age.  I used to be a bit more fastidious.  So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.  You know what that occasion is?  This is the suit in which I'll be buried.  But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to remember the suit I'm wearing.  I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where I'm going."

          You and I and all of us need to know where we are going.  Jesus said in John 6:47, "He who believes HAS eternal life."  Note that Jesus didn't say, "He who believes WILL HAVE eternal life," but, "He who believes HAS eternal life" - right now.  Eternal life doesn't start when we die, but when we believe.

          To all here today, and especially all the young folks being confirmed, today is the first day of the rest of your life.  We in the Lutheran Church observe the Rite of Confirmation for youth once a year.  To "confirm" a person means we affirm the faith God started in Holy Baptism.  Confirmation means that faith has now been strengthened, solidified by formal instruction.  Confirmation is the chance for instructed youth to say "yes" to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.

          For some, Confirmation has meant dull classes or sermon summaries, or writing an essay.  But for your parents and all fellow church members, it means you have grown up a little, that you confess Jesus is your Savior, and that you know more about the Bible and the Church and how they apply to life.  You don't know it all - none of us does - but you know more, and we hope it will help make you active members of our congregation.  Confirmation is not graduation.  It's not the end, but the beginning of a new part of your life in Christ.

          So it's true:  today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Confirmation means growing up in your faith.  Parents are still an important part of this, but now the youths must step up to the plate and grow in faith.  Each one of us must take responsibility for our spiritual growth.  For some, Confirmation is the end, not just of study, but also of attending church.  But if one chooses to stop worshipping, the loss will be theirs.  The church can live without us, but few of us can keep faith alive without the church.  It is not wisdom to live without Jesus, but folly.  David said in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God."  One soul alone is easy pickings for the Devil.  But with many others, he or she is strong, and can resist Satan's temptations.

          So, guess who's coming!  Jesus of Nazareth!  To each here today I ask, do you know who you are and where you are going?  The Son of God entered Jerusalem in order to die on a cross, and He did that for us, "that all who believe in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

          Zechariah said, "Rejoice, for your king comes to you on a donkey."  Jesus could have ridden in a golden chariot or been carried in a king's chair by a hundred slaves.  But He chose to come on a servant's animal.  That's because Jesus is our servant, for "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ranson for many." (Matthew 20:28)

          And one day may others say of us, as we enter the heavenly gates, "Look who's coming!  It's Jacob, it's Matthew, it's Joe, it's Rikki, it's Randi, it's Lauryn, it's Madisen, it's Kaija, it's Torin, it's Melanie, it's Caitlyn, it's Allie, it's Andi, it's Bobby!"  Amen

Copyright © 2006 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.