Well, actually, I don't always love parades. Some of them are just boring. The song by that title came out in the 30's and I think there was a cartoon and movie by the same name. Parades have been going on for a long time. They serve as occasions of celebration for one thing or another. Many years ago, parades were for the return of armies with their captives humbly in tow. In our day we have people driving tractors, fire trucks and old cars. We have Shriners, Bands, Politicians and dancing children. The parade we'll be studying this coming Sunday is often called "The Triumphal Entry." It wasn't very triumphal in reality because that wasn't the purpose. Jesus was a King for sure but He wasn't coming for conquest even though many would have been happy if He had. The first day of the week was the day set aside for the selection of a sacrificial lamb. John the Baptist had forecast Jesus' role in the redemptive plan several years earlier when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." Jesus came to Jerusalem that day as the Lamb of God. His first arrival to earth was for the purpose of redemption, His second arrival will be for triumph. Jesus will indeed have a Triumphal Entry and every eye will see Him! But the entrance to Jerusalem just prior to the Passover Celebration was to provide the once for all sacrifice for sins that had been symbolized by the death of animals for over 1500 years. Peter later wrote, in 1 Peter 1:18-21, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." Our faith and hope are indeed in God and that is something to celebrate! Pray for and cultivate a tender heart for the week before us—remember what has been done to secure your forgiveness and "be ye thankful."