By Beth Bontrager, administrative assistant, Mennonite Historical Library

Scripture: John 12:12-16 (NRSV)

The memory is strong. I was only twelve years old, but the televised image of the man, his wife and their nine-year-old daughter walking one and a half miles to their new home made a big impression on me. What an entrance. And one that had not been done in the event’s 200-year-old history. Jimmy, Rosalynn and Amy Carter walked the pavement of Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, demonstrating Carter’s desire to make the president available for all citizens and to breathe new life into the presidency and (from his diary) that he wished to convey his “confidence in…the people of our country” and “a reduction in the imperial status of the president and his family.”

Almost 2000 years before, another “imperial” leader entered a city in humble fashion. And the people shouted and praised his name, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Now Jimmy Carter is not Jesus, but I think their entries into a new segment of their public lives have parallels. Riding on a donkey into the Holy City of Jerusalem is a pretty powerful statement of standing with people and being an accessible leader. Walking the streets of Washington D.C., shaking hands and relating to those shouting and cheering is a pretty powerful statement of standing with people and desiring relationship with them.

Jesus is a King. But he was also human, and in that humanity, humble and self-sacrificing. Carter’s work and service since his presidency is also that of humility and Christian service.

Though the Son of God, an exalted king, Jesus is accessible, generous with love, grace and kindness. As children of God we are all royalty: but be accessible to one another in Christ-like humility and service. Walk hand in hand with your brothers and sisters regardless of status through the darkness, and the light.

Scripture: John 12:12-16 (NRSV)

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!” ¹⁴Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ¹⁵“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” ¹⁶His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.