April 11, 2019
“Celebration and Confusion”
This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week. It is a reminder that we don’t always understand what God is up to; sometimes it is easy to get confused.
But the crowd following Jesus didn’t seem to be confused. They lined the streets and waved palm branches. They cried ‘Hosanna’ and declared that Jesus was the one who had come to restore the kingdom of David. The air was thick with messianic expectation and hopes as Jesus rode into the great city. The crowds were anxious with excitement and anticipation as Jesus approached the temple. Could this be it? Could this be the day they have all waited for, the time foretold by the prophets?
Jesus entered the temple, looked around and sized up the situation. I would imagine the people were almost holding their breath with excitement. And then…he leaves and goes back to the hotel. Back out to Bethany. What an anticlimax for those people who were so full of hope and excitement.
The crowds had yelled ‘Hosanna’, save us! But he came and walked away. Do you suppose they were confused, even disappointed? Could this have been why they cried ‘away with him’ and ‘crucify him’ only a few days later? I can’t help but wonder: were they looking for a savior who was more like a superman than he was like a suffering servant? I could understand if they were confused.
Blessings,
Pastor Mike
“Celebration and Confusion”
This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week. It is a reminder that we don’t always understand what God is up to; sometimes it is easy to get confused.
But the crowd following Jesus didn’t seem to be confused. They lined the streets and waved palm branches. They cried ‘Hosanna’ and declared that Jesus was the one who had come to restore the kingdom of David. The air was thick with messianic expectation and hopes as Jesus rode into the great city. The crowds were anxious with excitement and anticipation as Jesus approached the temple. Could this be it? Could this be the day they have all waited for, the time foretold by the prophets?
Jesus entered the temple, looked around and sized up the situation. I would imagine the people were almost holding their breath with excitement. And then…he leaves and goes back to the hotel. Back out to Bethany. What an anticlimax for those people who were so full of hope and excitement.
The crowds had yelled ‘Hosanna’, save us! But he came and walked away. Do you suppose they were confused, even disappointed? Could this have been why they cried ‘away with him’ and ‘crucify him’ only a few days later? I can’t help but wonder: were they looking for a savior who was more like a superman than he was like a suffering servant? I could understand if they were confused.
Blessings,
Pastor Mike