It was Hump Day of Holy Week, the original Holy Week. That was a high time for the Disciples of Jesus. Just three days earlier, the Master had sent a few of them into a nearby town to get a young donkey animal just where He said they would; they told the owner what He told them to say when the owner asked them what they were doing with his donkey. All went well.

They brought the donkey to Jesus, put Him on it, and He rode it into Jerusalem. It was quite a spectacle. Crowds gathered. They broke out in praise – shouting "Hosanna," "Blessed be the name of the Lord," "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord." They threw their cloaks and palm branches on the road before Jesus. His approval rating was through the roof.

It seemed that the Messiah's ministry had reached a tipping point. So, on Wednesday of that week following what is called His Triumphal Entry, all Twelve Disciples of Jesus were filled with excitement about the future, most probably dreaming about their new roles in His soon-to-be established Kingdom. Judas, of course, was on a different course; he was privately working a deal with the Jewish leaders to betray the Master into their hands. His excitement would relate to what he might do with the 30 pieces of silver those leaders were offering him.

For all the faithful Disciples, this day and the days ahead seemed full of glorious promise. They had no idea that in a couple of days their world would turn upside down. They would not merely come down from this mountain, they would fall into a deep valley – a valley of despair, the valley of the shadow of death. They would witness horrific, incomprehensible, violence and injustice – against the One they had pledged to follow and come to deeply love.

Though the valley took them by surprise, it did not take their Master by surprise. He would meet them in that valley, after going through His own – alone. The Faithful One would teach them in that valley. And they would understand His Kingdom like never before. Thankfully, they would assume their roles in that Kingdom. They would again climb a mountain of elation in Jesus' Name. They would launch His Church, but only their valley.

Jesus is Lord! He is Lord of all. Lord of mountains. Lord of valleys. Here is the crucial question: Is He Lord of you? Still today, He has a tender word for you: Come! "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" Jesus, John 7:37).