Honored with Splendor or Humbleness - Kelley Barton
When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”
So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’
“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” Esther 6:6-11
Danny, my fellow scripture reader from last Sunday, commented on the parallels between how Mordecai was lead through the city on a horse, and Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. I chewed on that this week, thinking about the two different, yet similar, events.
Mordecai was about to be impaled by Haman. Jesus was hung on a cross. Mordecai was dressed in fine robes and lead on a fancy horse, a symbol of authority. Jesus dressed plainly and rode a donkey, sitting on cloaks from his disciples, a symbol of peace. Both humble servants of God.
It wasn’t long ago we celebrated Palm Sunday, described here.
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, “If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:1, 3-9 NIV
Mordecai was honored with splendor. Jesus with humility. Both were God’s plan. Both filled an important role in a plan to save lives. Mordecai the human lives of the Jews. Jesus the spiritual lives of humanity.
You might be thinking “Okay, that is interesting. But how does that apply to me?”
Many of us have had faith leaders imprint into our brains that we must always be humble, that to be honored with splendor is a sin. It clearly is not, as we see in the book of Esther. Don’t get me wrong, there is also value in humble honor. It just doesn’t have to be one or the other for us, as followers of Jesus.
Maybe reflecting on this today will help you break free from that mindset and allow yourself to soak in being honored with splendor, when the occasion arises, and not feel guilt or shame. And if you are honored in a more humble fashion, to find joy and value as well.
Perhaps you can feel free to honor others with splendor or humility, finding what is the best choice for the moment. Because God clearly has a wide and varied way of letting us know when we have pleased Him, served others and done well. Don’t let anyone take that away from you. And don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate others when you see it in them.
Being honored is good. Being loved is a goal. Honoring and loving others can be our calling. No matter how grand or small.