Thursday, February 3, 2022

Palm Sunday – Part Two

Palm Sunday – Part Two

February 3, 2022


Matthew 21:6-11, NIV - 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!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

Imagine being an average Jerusalem resident that day – one of the people who asked, “who is this?”  You’re not a supporter of Jesus.  You never heard of Him.  You are of course aware that the city is overrun with people because it is Passover.  This is the week where even going to the market for a loaf of bread is a tedious and jostling chore because the pilgrims from all over Israel and some even outside of Israel pack the streets.  The regional governor, Pilate, is also scheduled to arrive today because he always shows up to keep a close eye on the tens of thousands of visitors and keep the peace.  The last thing he wants is to lose control of the city and attract the attention of the emperor far away in Rome.  He always arrives with a stunning display of force – war horses, chariots, and centurions with spears marching in formation.  Though they are unwelcome guests, the procession is always an impressive spectacle..

                So what’s all this ruckus coming from the east, through the Golden Gate, no less?  There’s a lot of shouting and people are waving branches.  What’s that they’re shouting?

                “Hosana! (Save us!)  Son of David!  He who comes in the name of the Lord”

What if Pilate finds out about this?  There’s going to be a showdown.  But this guy’s on a donkey and has no weapons.  Who does He think He is? Why does anyone think HE’S going to save us?  The Romans will put Him down in a second.  This is crazy. So you ask one of the hysterical shouters, “Who is this?”  Their answer is not all that impressive. 

                “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

A prophet? From Nazareth?  Am I supposed to be impressed?  How is a prophet from Nazareth going to do anything to save us? 

                Nearly two-thousand years later, unknowing people are still asking these questions.  What makes this Jesus guy so special?  How can He save anyone from the capricious powers of this world? In the final chapters of Matthew, these are the questions that the gospel writer seeks to answer.  It’s the real purpose behind Matthew writing the whole thing.  But on Palm Sunday, at least one thing’s clear.  Whoever Jesus is, He isn’t going to save us from the evil empires by force.  He’s going to have to do it differently.  The invitation in the coming reflections is see Jesus again as if for the first time. 

 

Question: How does Jesus “save us?”

 

Prayer:  Jesus, cut through our rehearsed answers to the questions people ask about who you are.  Help us discover anew the revolution that was brewing on that first Palm Sunday.  Show us once again why we should be laying down our coats and waving branches wildly for you. Amen.

 

Prayer Focus: Pray for God to give you a new perspective on your faith that opens up new possibilities.

 

Dave Matthews – Cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”

https://www.facebook.com/davematthewsband/posts/10157835409495910

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