Into Jerusalem -- A Message for Palm Sunday 2022

 

Luke 19:28-40

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 

As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 

“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 

If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 

As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 

As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer for Understanding

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the scripture are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

            We hear the phrase “the hero riding in on the white horse” every once in awhile. The hero is here to save the day, to make things better, to correct the wrongs.

            In ancient mythology, white horses are associated with exceptional magical properties. Sometimes they have wings (like Pegasus from Greek mythology) or have horns – like unicorns.  

            In Ancient Roman times, leaders recognized how symbolically important it was to ride into town on the back of great horses. In Israel, when the Romans ruled, just before religious festivals began, Roman leaders rode into Jerusalem on the back of a big, Calvary horse. The horse was often white. The Romans wanted everyone to know they were in charge – their rule would keep the peace and keep everyone in line. They wanted the common people to see them as their leaders and heroes – even though they were in reality foreign despots.

            Jesus and his followers lived under Roman rule. They were familiar with the Romans – their posturing – their proclamations – their strategies to control the population. Oppressed people living under the rule of a foreign force learn about their over-lords.

            Jesus and his friends knew Pontius Pilate would ride into Jerusalem on the back of a white, regal horse just before the Passover festival.  He had to assert he was in control of the colonized people of Israel.  

            But, we know who was really in charge….

            Jesus, the true Messiah, God incarnate in man, took the anti-hero tact. Instead of riding in on the back of a great, white horse, Jesus told some of his disciples to bring him a young horse….a colt…a colt that no one had ridden. Jesus made quite an entrance when he arrived at Jerusalem for the Passover festival – but instead of parading in like a ruler or king on a great white horse, Jesus came into town riding on the back of a weak, young horse.

            Despite the modestly of his mode of transport, Jesus’ friends and followers heralded Jesus like a king. The tore off palm branches and waved them. They placed their cloaks on the ground to cushion the colt’s feet. And, they praised God and shouted: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” and “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Jesus and his disciples knew who the true ruler of Israel was – it wasn’t the Roman Caesar. It wasn’t Pontius Pilate. It wasn’t King Herod.

            God ruled Israel. Jesus ruled Israel. And, our God is the true ruler of our earth.

            The Palm Sunday events were political theater. Jesus came to town in riding on the back of a colt, the opposite of the way the Roman’s paraded into town. The people in charge of Israel did not understand who Jesus was…the Romans, the appointed Jewish politicians, the Temple leaders just knew that Jesus was a threat to them. They were afraid Jesus would incite the common people to rebel against them and their leadership. Their power was much less secure than perhaps even they themselves realized. Jesus was a threat to them and to their rule.

            Jesus and his followers knew who Jesus was – they understood Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus didn’t need to behave like a worldly leader to show off his powers…he didn’t need the white horse…Jesus didn’t need an army to defend him….Jesus didn’t need to wear a purple robe and a golden crown….Jesus was God incarnate in the flesh of a human.

            It is easy for people to look to other people for guidance. Our culture admires celebrities and film stars. We read the words captains of industry and tech moguls on Twitter. We want to believe in the expertise of our elected officials and our government leaders. We look up to university presidents and famous ministers and Instagram influencers. We want these impressive people to be role models…people we can turn to and imitate when we are working to be better.

            Yet, people get things wrong. Celebrities make mistakes. Even Warren Buffet has made a few bad investments. Prince Andrew hasn’t always acted very princely. Will Smith failed to remember the Preschool lesson of keeping his hands to himself. Martha Stewart went to prison. People make mistakes, sometimes very public and big mistakes.

            We are followers of God. We are followers of Jesus. We are the people of the Holy Spirit of God.

            And as God’s people, we can rely on God.  God doesn’t need to pretend or posture. God doesn’t need the great, white horse. God doesn’t need an army to defend him. God doesn’t need to utilize Twitter to get our attention.

            In arriving to town on the back of a colt, Jesus demonstrated that the ways of the world are just plain silly. The most powerful person who ever walked the earth didn’t need to show off his powers. He just was.

            As we reflect on the Palm Sunday events, we are reminded that our role model should be Jesus. Jesus didn’t make mistakes. Jesus didn’t need to show off his power or gain wealth to be important. Jesus didn’t need to adopt the trappings of royalty or military might to communicate with us. Jesus kept it simple.

            Jesus emphasized that God wants us to love God, to follow God, to treat each other with compassion and love, and to share. Pretty simple instructions.  Jesus knew that we somethings overcomplicate things – he knew we sometimes get so wrapped up in following the rules we don’t make compassionate exceptions. Jesus knew we make mistakes – we follow the wrong leaders (like the Romans and the insecure Temple authorities) – we are threatened by the wrong people (we crucified Jesus who was here to save us) – we get t things wrong. And, despite that, Jesus wanted us to know, to know in the core of our beings, that God loves us, understands us, knows we mess up, and still loves us.

            On the first Palm Sunday, Jesus’ friends and followers got things right – they celebrated that Jesus had arrived to Jerusalem. They praised God and proclaimed Jesus the Messianic King. They welcomed the true king of Israel to celebrate the Passover in God’s Holiest City.

            Let’s follow Jesus and get things right!

Amen.