Palms and Praise ... Passion and Promise

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: MATTHEW 21: 1-11 (THE MESSAGE)

When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: "Go over to the village across from you. You'll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you're doing, say, 'The Master needs them!' He will send them with you." This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet: Tell Zion's daughter, "Look, your king's on his way, poised and ready, mounted on a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal."

The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, "Hosanna to David's son!" "Blessed is he who comes in God's name!" "Hosanna in highest heaven!"

As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, "What's going on here? Who is this?" The parade crowd answered, "This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee."

In our society, for whom do we have parades: politicians, sports teams, community holiday celebrations? Parades are all about celebration. We celebrate winning elections, World Series, Super Bowls, homecoming. You name it and we enjoy celebrating it, especially if “it” involves all of us. So, why do you think the crowds gathered to celebrate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem? Why do they shout, “Hosanna to David’s Son! Blessed is he who comes in God’s name. Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Do you think all these folks had followed Jesus from town to town during his ministry? Or were they just excited to get a chance to welcome the famous (or infamous) Jesus into Jerusalem? After the parade, the celebration subsides and the crowds change their attitude. By the end of the week, there is a different cry. “Crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him.” How could so much change so quickly?

Have there been times in our lives when our celebrations turned angry? Have there been times when we too were excited about the prospect of the future only to be disappointed? Have there been times when we shouted with joy only to have our joy change into sorrow? Where do you think God is in all of this? Is God with us in the celebration and anger, in the excitement and disappointment, in the joy and in the sorrow?

Join us this Palm Sunday, April 17 at 10:00am at Christ Church for service of worship in which the children will gather us for worship and hand out our celebratory palms. Then we will join together in a dramatic interpretation of the Passion narrative. This drama was written by John T. Townsend that has been endorsed by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. This will be a powerful beginning to a truly Holy Week.