John 12:12-19

John 12:12-19 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  One of the lens through which we can examine the Gospels to see if they are historically reliable is what's considered the 'embarrassing factor'.  Basically, it's the question of whether it would be included if you were going to make up the story.  Every instance where the disciples appear bumbling and uncertain would fall into this category -- if they were writing the story, they would appear on top of things and immediately grasp what Jesus was doing, right?  They certainly wouldn't have talked about how they fell asleep when Jesus asked them to stay awake and pray.  And the disciples would have been waiting at the empty tomb, not the women.
  The honesty is refreshing.  Here in the Palm Sunday story, John tells us that the disciples didn't understand what was happening.  They were likely still waiting for Jesus to take over Jerusalem and defeat the Romans, but that was clearly not on the agenda.  Looking back, after the resurrection and ascension, they could piece together that his ministry was about something more than worldly power, but at the time, they were watching their leader ride a donkey into Jerusalem and wondering what was happening. 
  God is at work in your life today.  This very moment, the Holy Spirit is surrounding you and beckoning you forward into a calling where you will grow in faithfulness.   
  If you're like me, you don't completely understand what God is doing.  You're often unsure of your calling and where God is leading, but you try and hope that you'll catch a little more of the vision today than you did yesterday.  If so, you're in good company.  Only in looking back did the disciples understand, the same as we often do.  Trust that God is present, here and now, and take the next step.  The path is often clear only in looking back.