Yet another Palm Sunday approaches. We seek to experience what it might be like for Jesus as he enters the hallowed city of Jerusalem, and what it says to us today. We have sung Hosanna so many times, but might we this year ponder what might be the situation today? For Palm Sunday brings so many questions.
The passage we are directed towards is Matthew 21:1-11, but just prior to that Jesus meets with two blind men. They shout to him as he passes for Jesus to heal them (did he ever heal blind women?). The crowds try to suppress the shouting. Were they trying to silence the cries of potential believers? Do they want Jesus to walk on by, normality can then return? Jesus stops, heals, and continues onwards – with the men, their sight restored, following on. The blind men can now re-enter society, gain work, honour: faith?
Entering the City
Jesus sends on two of the disciples to the town or village of Bethphage (which means “house of un-ripe figs“) to find the donkey and its colt. Upon their return they threw garments over the colt and Jesus sat on it. It was important as the colt, previously unridden, was a way of denoting that the animal is sacred.
The crowd seemingly follow this example, and throw their garments onto the track, or get palm leaves. The city of Jerusalem was in uproar, or at least the bit where Jesus was riding. With passover approaching, I might wish to reflect whether the whole of the city was in uproar due to Jesus’ entry.
Romans?
It is always good to refresh our minds what the Romans would do as they re-entered Jerusalem, this important city under their rule. The people weren’t that supportive, especially after the taxes which were needed to be paid to Caesar, and their dictatorial way of ruling. Democracy…er no. The Leader of the Roman Army would march in on a white steed, and the crowds would cheer – on demand from the accompanying Roman soldiers. Now imagine the contrast with Jesus’s entry into the city. On a colt. People cheering freely. waving Palm branches.
But why go there?
Jesus has been telling his disciples that he will die in Jerusalem. They did not understand, but still they let their messiah – however, they perceived that: politically or militarily – enter. So why do we perceive that the crowds understood anything more?
They were cheering for what? That their lives would get better in some way: would their taxes be reduced with Jesus?; would the Romans leave this fortress city?; could they return to the rose tinted normality of the past? What might we be cheering for? So many questions…
Glasgow?
So what if Jesus were to enter into Glasgow on Palm Sunday? Would he be met with a city in uproar? It would undoubtedly be raining – it is Glasgow, after all. What would the people wave or place under the feet of the – what animal might it be? What would the reaction of the authorities be? or the different churches?
As Jesus enters into the city, and sees the crowds, that’s possibly you and me : what might he see? Notice that (Matthew 21:12) Jesus’ first action is to clear the Temple. What might he do in our church? Ouch, so many questions…
The People
As our eyes meet, what might be our response to him: false hope or the reality of faith? As Jesus looks at us, would he see someone willing to be the change in society, not merely willing God to do it all?
I often ask “How might we be apart of your solution?” in collective prayers. If prayer is knowing the mind of God, not treating God as a divine slot machine for our benefit, can we see Jesus as the way forward, then and now, in society?
I think Jesus will see that our hearts are seeking such a change, one for all, but also notice that we are tired. In the days ahead of us in Holy Week, let us not jump ahead to what we think is the grand conclusion. This is a troublesome week where even the Resurrection wasn’t well understood by those nearest to Jesus. It’s our task to take our understanding and help others to grapple with that, and find meaning in Jesus.