March 28, 1999
On the first day of the week, Jesus did a very surprising thing; he entered Jerusalem and accepted the acclamation of the crowds as they shouted, "Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" He did not stop them as he had been doing the rest of his public ministry. Why did he do this? Why does a man who preaches and practices humility suddenly appear in the limelight in such grandstanding manner?
It is easy enough to understand why he chose this place. He chose Jerusalem, the center of national life, the city of the prophets, the city of David. If anyone in Israel had a claim to make, Jerusalem was the place to do it. I think he also chose it because of Passover. It was during this time of the year that everyone who lived in Israel came to Jerusalem. There were more people in town at that time than at any other time of the year. And one further thing is clear — Jesus did this intentionally.
He arranged for transportation. The disciples were sent to make arrangements and for publicity. And because Jesus knew the Bible, he also knew that he was fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah: "Rejoice greatly, oh daughter of Zion! Shout, oh daughter of Zion! Jerusalem, behold your king who is just and bearing salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey!" Jesus planned his triumphal entry so that his point would not and could not be missed. He claimed to be the Lord of Life whose coming had been prophesied in the Scriptures.
But that does not answer the question: doesn't it seem a little out of character for Jesus? Why does he choose fanfare ? Why the palms? Why do we wear red, the festival color? Why do we make such a big deal out of Palm Sunday? The triumphal entry was a demonstration, not an argument.
Whenever Jesus enters into a discussion with someone who wants to make an argument, Jesus does not bother with an argument, he makes a demonstration. Do you remember the lawyer who asked, "who is my neighbor?" Jesus does not get into a long-drawn-out legal argument; instead he tells the story of the good Samaritan; and there is no room for argument about who is my neighbor.
Other examples come to mind. The man with a paralytic hand — remember him? — whose cure was on the Sabbath. Rather than enter into a debate about the legality of the Sabbath, Jesus simply cures him. He makes a demonstration. And the most unforgettable demonstrations of all are those we remember this week.
When Jesus wanted his friends to remember what a life of self sacrifice means, he does not deliver an address or a sermon. Instead he takes bread and breaks it and says, "this is my body." The he takes a cup and pours wine into it and says, "this is my blood." Jesus conveys the deepest truth through demonstrations. We all know what happens next.
This demonstration on Palm Sunday — perhaps the world's first peace rally — was a tremendous success, but it did not turn out how anybody expected. The enthusiasm and fervor that met Jesus on the way took a turn into disdain and then outright hatred. Everyone understood Jesus' point, some even got it; some stood aside and even crucified him. The choice is clear. Will you welcome Jesus with open fanfare and enthusiasm, or will you crucify him?
So, lets ask another question, one you and I contend with every day — how has Jesus demonstrated his power and his arrival in your life? And rather than bother with a long-drawn-out argument with you, as we are all capable of doing, how has he demonstrated his presence in your life? Let me tell you what he has been up to in my life in the last couple of weeks.
A week ago at this time, I was rolling around in the mud with a bunch of Marines. We went through an obstacle course in which we were assigned to carry a litter, which is a stretcher (we carried sand bags) and at some point in our obstacle course our team got stuck in the mud — literally, we could not move. And try as we might all four of us could not get our act together to get that litter out of the mud. The Marine standing off to the side throwing mud at us didn't help either. Then I heard a voice shouting, "One, two. three lift! One, two three lift!" The voice gave us cadence, gave us organization, gave us a focus, It was God demonstrating his power, and the power of a few to lift such a heavy burden.
And you want to know something even funnier? I realized after we got out of the mud that the voice was my own! I did not realize it at the time — it was only later. Not unlike that first Palm Sunday when people figured it out later.
Now let me tell you another way that God is demonstrating to me in my life. It came about nearly two months ago when my wife looked up to me and said we were going to welcome a new arrival to our family. On October 12, we are expecting a new addition to the Cox household. What will that mean to me and to Katie? I will let you know, for most of you have been there. But just like that first Palm Sunday, it is awesome power — the creative force of life. God showing himself once again as the Lord of Life. Not by any merit of my own, but because God loves us so much that he chose to ride into the city of the Prophets on a donkey and to offer himself in complete obedience to his Father as a full, perfect and wonderful sacrifice, which he offers to you and to me and to the whole world.
Palm Sunday divides the world into two groups — those whose enthusiasm for the arrival of Jesus is short lived, and the rest — you know who you are, who know him as the Lord of Life now and forever.
Amen
The Rev. Sean Cox
seancox@stmargarets.org
28 March 1999