Hosanna

by Pastor James Bell

Jesus heard the laughter, even the punch line of the joke the greeter was telling some other folks. And it was a funny story, but Jesus had heard it many times before, usually in churches. No one took much notice as he quietly slipped through the door and across the foyer. You simply can’t greet everyone who comes into a service, especially if they all seem to wait until the last minute to arrive.

“Is this your first time with us?” asked a smiling receptionist at the welcome desk.

“Actually, I’ve been here a few times, but not in a while.”

“Well, it’s good to have you back. Be sure to fill out a visitor card!”

“May I ask why?”

“So we can have a record of your visit. Also, the pastor will send you a nice letter.”

Smiling once more, Jesus entered the Sanctuary and found a seat near the back.

“Look at someone and tell ‘em Jesus is alive!” bellowed the service leader. “We’re gonna give him our crazy praise today!”

The band was good. Very good. And the singers could do more than just sing. They were dancing, grinning, vibrant vocalists who never lost eye contact with their audience. The place was rocking. Everything ended with a crescendo exactly 23 minutes later. The pastor smiled his approval. After all, this service was being shot by three cameras and exported to five remote locations. Timing was everything.

After a video of a man asking people on the street why they didn’t come to church, which ended with an obese, unshaven homeless man wiping his nose and saying the preacher’s sermons didn’t make sense to him anymore, the pastor boldly approached the pulpit.

“My message today is ‘Why the Gospel Makes Sense’. If you are the man in that video, blow your nose and listen carefully!”

The congregation roared with laughter. They realized they had been set up, but it was great to be part of a church that was never boring and always so creative. The pastor worked his way skillfully through his power points, streaming from huge screens above his head.

“Even if you didn’t believe in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, just following his principles would change your life for the better”, the Pastor said, “And as your faith deepens, you start to realize that the poor choices you have made are hindering your search for true joy and fulfillment. Look in the mirror! You were designed to be something special!”

There was an impressive response to the call for transformation. You simply had to stand to respond. Many people did. After a prayer of agreement, they were thanked for coming and dismissed. One of the ushers approached the pastor after the service, striding quickly across the altar area and leaning to whisper in his ear.

“There’s a man sitting on the back row. Looks like he’s been crying.”

“Did anyone talk to him? Did he fill out a visitor card?”

“Don’t think so. He has kind of a strange look on his face. Seems like I’ve seen him around here before, but it’s been a long time. Always looks kind of outta place …”

Exiting the Sanctuary, the worship leader walked past the single figure sitting on the back row with one arm across the back of the pew. She smiled at this man with a troubled look on his face. She thought about how you often don’t really know who you are ministering to on a Sunday morning. She remembered that he didn’t seem be very demonstrative in his worship response, especially to the new song she had written, “Dancin’ Throwdown (a Hallelujah Hoedown)”. She consoled herself that he was probably too old school to appreciate cutting edge stuff.

The Sanctuary was quiet and almost empty now. Ushers were cleaning and straightening.

“Could I help you, Sir?” an usher said, walking toward the only person left in the Sanctuary.

Jesus smiled. “I don’t think so, but thanks for asking. And I was just wondering if there might be some way I could help you?”

“Nah, not really. I just gotta straighten up the church and get all the trash and stuff outta here before the next service.”

“I understand. I have a lot of experience doing that myself.”

The usher smiled, sighed, and shook his head, remembering how someone said at the last ushers meeting that this church seemed to attract some really different kinds of people. Reaching the front of the Sanctuary, he turned to get one more look. The visitor was gone.

Our new series, "Where in the World is Jesus" starts this Sunday.

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