Ride On, King Jesus
Arranged by Edward Boatner
Amalia Goldberg, soprano
Mary Kay Burton, piano
Ride On, King Jesus
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on, King Jesus;
Ride! Ride! Conquering King!
I want to go to heaven in the morning!
If you see my sister (brother) tell her (him) for me:
I’m going to ride my horse on the battlefield;
I want to go to heaven in the morning.
Imagine: it’s Palm Sunday, and you are standing in a Jerusalem street, a palm branch in your hand. You’ve heard that this exceptional man, Jesus, is soon to appear. Surely he will be carried on some grand conveyance - maybe an ornate chair supported by his disciples? But wait...here he comes!
The Son of God...riding a humble donkey?
This is Jesus showing himself to be one of us - the people. By showing the way - riding a barnyard animal - we are reminded to take courage as we too navigate the “battlefield”of earthly life. Jesus says if we believe, no matter our earthly circumstances, we will all spend our forever-life in heaven, where we will see our sisters and brothers and all those who have gone before us. “I’m coming” - the spiritual says - “tell my loved ones when you see them.”
This spiritual makes me think of another: “Soon I Will Be Done with the Troubles of the World,” the last line of which is “goin’ home to live with God.” No more pain. No more suffering. No more enslavement. No more doubt.
Jesus, the “Conquering King” will lead us to “live with God.”
Take heart!
Prayer for the Day:
Show me, Jesus, that trouble doesn’t last forever. Touch my heart to let me know that the earthly “battlefield” is not forever, for YOU have overcome them for us, and lead the way to eternal life in heaven.
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