HOLY WEEK

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 40 (Palm Sunday)


Matthew 21:5, 8-9

'…Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey…
' A very large crowd…cut branches
from the trees and spread them on
the road…shouting, 'Hosanna to the
Son of David! Blessed is the one who
comes in the name of the Lord!' (NRSV)

MEDITATION BY Mike Crow


Levi, a follower of Jesus, had heard the stories passed on through the generations about a new king. Imagine with me how he may have seen the events in 33 A.D.

A few days ago, Pilate rode into Jerusalem, placing an extra regiment of Roman troops on the temple porticoes to prevent the violent nationalist uprisings that so often occur at Passover. The walls rumbled as they marched into the city, usurping control of our worship! Pilgrims flooded Jerusalem from every direction. Some joined the crowd as we followed Jesus on a donkey across the Kidron Valley, waving palms—our national symbol—and shouting: “Hosanna! Deliver us, Son of David! Hosanna!”

When Solomon, son of David, was made king, he too rode a donkey across the Kidron Valley. Zechariah told us to rejoice when our king came on a donkey. But the rest of his prophecy stuns me: I will remove the war-horses from Jerusalem and break the battle bows. Could it be? Has the Day of the Lord finally come? The whole city is stirred, urgently asking, “Who is this Jesus?”

Some say he’s the royal son of David who conquered Jerusalem and made it his capital—the ideal leader. Some say he’s a prophet like Elijah who destroyed the pagan prophets of Baal—a religious reformer. Others see him as a great wonder-worker and try to crown him king, hoping he’ll defeat Rome and make Israel a prosperous superpower. Many—who admire the piety of the Pharisees—admire Jesus even more, sparking animosity against him. His exposure of their self-important virtues and aloof condemnation of others’ vices further inflames them. Mocking Jesus, they plot his death. Those who seem most pious resent Jesus the most!

Scattered revolutionaries, styling themselves zealots, scorn Jesus because he does not advocate force against Rome. They confuse loyalty to country with loyalty to God, loving the nation over Jesus himself. The Sadducean high priests, an illegitimate priesthood who collaborate with Rome, guard their status jealously. Known for their elitist abuse of power, they ridicule Jesus and try to erase him from history. The Essenes, a priestly protest movement compiling the Dead Sea Scrolls, ignore Jesus. They are so isolationist and preoccupied with interpreting current events in light of prophecy, they simply miss what God is doing, right under their noses. Others ask, “Where are Jesus’ weapons? War–horses? Soldiers? If Jesus does not fight the Romans with force—the only language they understand—how will he overcome them?”

The responses to Jesus vary widely. Yet each response seems to come from some gut-level reaction, some deep cavern within. It makes me wonder: "Why am I following Jesus?"




REFLECTION


How do people today react to Jesus’ claim to kingship in their lives? Do you see any parallels to the reactions in Jesus’ day?


Imagine yourself in the place of each group mentioned. What obstacle would you need to overcome to be a loyal follower of Jesus?


Take a moment to submit those obstacles to Jesus as your king. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the heart of a faithful subject to his rule.