# The Opening Ceremony
## This is in the Bible in [Luke 19:28-38](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019%3A28-38&version=NIVUK)

The Bible says that to know Jesus and live with Jesus as our king is like running a race.  And this week we are thinking about how we run that race and who qualifies for it.
But first we need the opening ceremony.
This true story is in Luke’s gospel chapter 19.  It was a busy time of year and everyone was crowding into Jerusalem. 
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and He wanted everyone to know that he was God’s special King.
So Jesus told 2 of his friends to go into the local town, find a colt tied that no one has ever ridden, untie it and bring it here to Jesus.   
So Jesus friends found the donkey just as Jesus had told them and they took it to Jesus.  
They threw their cloaks on the colt’s back and helped Jesus onto the donkey.
As Jesus rode on the donkey the crowds of people all put their cloaks down on the road in front of the donkey
They knew Jesus was special and putting their coats on the ground was like us rolling out the red carpet for King Charles III.
The people knew Jesus was God’s king.  
In fact 500 years earlier God had spoken to a man called Zechariah and told him God’s king would come, riding on a young donkey to Jerusalem.  And that God’s king would bring peace and not war.
So Jesus is letting people know he is God’s king! That’s amazing!
As Jesus got near to Jerusalem there was a huge crowd on the road and they were really happy when they saw Jesus.  They too knew Jesus was God’s king.  They began shouting praise to God for all the amazing and powerful things they had seen Jesus do.
“God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord” and “God bless the king!”
The people were so excited and everyone was praising Jesus.  
Well not quite everyone.  Some religious leaders and teachers were really angry.  
But Jesus is still God’s king and he wants everyone to know it even us today.  I guess that’s the question we need to ask ourselves – do I know who Jesus is?

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