Thanks for coming anyway.

When you can’t go for you and you can’t go for others, you go for Jesus.

One of my favorite stories in the New Testament is the Savior’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

A few years ago I visited the home of an incredible artist, J. Kirk Richards.

His home was a gallery and the Savior was everywhere.

He let us walk around and stand close.

Some were finished and others were still in the works.

I will never forget how it felt to look at the Savior painted over and over and over.

We headed to his garage last.

He was working on a close to life size painting of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry.

Jesus and a donkey were outlined and the beginnings of onlookers, palm leaves, and garments laid on the ground could be seen.

It wasn’t finished, but I felt like I was there.

Sometimes I think about that painting.

I think about that day and what it must have meant for Him.

The scriptures say the whole city was moved.

I wonder how much Jesus knew about what came next.

Gethsemane.

Calvary.

But He still came.

And the whole city was moved.

Eternity was moved.

I was moved.

Despite the hard and the inconvenient and the unknown, He came.

Isn’t that beautiful? The coming?

I see the Savior in people every day who “come” against the odds.

They come without family support.

They come without friends.

They come without perfect knowledge.

They come with unmet expectations.

They come before promised blessings.

They come anyway.

And I look at them, and I see Jesus.

So to those who come anyway, thank you for coming.

I see you.
​
God sees you too.

And We’re all happy you’re here.