Yesterday was Palm Sunday. The choir at church sang about the trimphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It's always seemed strange that it is called "triumphal." Wasn't He coming into Jerusalem so He could be crucified?
Yes, it's true that people spread garments on the road and waved palm branches, shouting
"Hosanna."
But a few days later He would die a horrible death.
How can anything that bad be triumphant?
Here's the life of Jesus in a nutshell:

Born in a dirty stable and placed in an animal's feed trough.
Parents flee to Egypt to protect Him from Herod's death threat.
Grows up in poverty and ignominy (some doubt about His parentage)
Misunderstood and viewed as a little crazy by His family and country-men
"no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him" (Isaiah 53:2)
"the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him." Isaiah 53:5)
"For He was cut off from the land of the living. . . " (Isaiah 53:8)
"He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in His death." (Isaiah 53: 9)

Do you ever feel as if your life looks like that, too? Lots of hard knocks strung out on a short continuum of time. You're a follower of Christ, but wouldn't it be great to know that all this life-gunk is leading somewhere glorious?

Look at the end of Christ's story:

Hundreds witnessed Him alive just days after His death (I Corinthians 15:5)

Jesus Himself said, " "I am the first and the last; I am the living one: I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!" Revelation 1:19)

And finally:
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.. ..On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Jesus was accompanied by a whole host of others, also riding white horses. Christ's followers. Are you going to be one of those riders?
His final triumphal entry can be yours as well.
His story is your story!