Readings
- Matthew 21:1–11 Jesus enters Jerusalem
- Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29 Open … that the King of Glory may come in
- Isaiah 50:4–9 The Lord wakens and opens my ear
- Philippians 2:5–11 Have the Mind of Christ Together
After three years of teaching, and demonstrating the kingdom of God in signs and wonders, Jesus comes to Jerusalem for his final great work. It is not his first visit to Jerusalem, but this is different. Jesus enters the city not just as one heralding the kingdom of God, but as King.
Crowds and Critics
Crowds herald Jesus’ entrance, though the religious authorities are deeply critical. But before we applaud or boo these ‘pantomime’ heroes and villains, perhaps we should pause.
The crowds had always gathered around Jesus, hungry for something, or just born along with the crowd. Perhaps some where there for the entertainment, some because Jesus touched something in them (a desire for something deeper, or a physical need), and some because Jesus had truly become everything to them.
It would not be long before some in this crowd – gathering in a different crowd – cried ‘Crucify!’ And even his closest Disciples would flee and betray him. The coming days will test the crowd, each one. And even after the resurrection, as a new crowd gathers to witness Jesus ascension, some in it still doubted.
And, when, days later the Holy Spirit fell upon a crowd gathered in prayer and drew in a greater crowd – adding to their number daily – it still did not bring certainty and perfection. This new crowd – the Church – would know argument and disagreement as well as love and generosity. Some would fall away and some, as Ananias and Saphira, would know decisive judgment.
We may stand with our Palms raised this Sunday, to welcome the King. But all of us should find ourselves brought to our knees before the one we call King. Once again, judgement is beginning with the household of God. And, if the righteous are scarcely saved, what will become of the unrighteous? (1 Peter 4:17-18)
Historic Event and a Living Reality
Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, but what is Holy about this week? It is more than a name. In one sense this was a week, historically, in which the Holiness of God was revealed in a way like no other. But now, it calls us to enter into that holiness. It will not be a holy week just because that’s what we call it. We need to enter in.
So, many Christians will live through this week, enacting each day in their prayers and worship, Jesus’ journey to the cross. In part this is an exercise in remembering – just as Communion is commanded to be by Jesus. But, surely, it has to be more than remembering.
When Jesus hung on the cross, he did something no one else could do. Once and for all; he died for our sins, he condemned sin in the flesh and became truly The Way, The Truth and The Life – pioneering the way of salvation for us. It was accomplished.
But it was not all done. On that day, the disciples stood as helpless spectators, but now we are called to enter in. ‘Can you drink this cup’, Jesus asked John and James (Matt 20:22ff). No, Jesus must drink it first, must drain its depths, but yes, they will drink it – in their own way and for themselves they will drink the cup of the cross … and so must we.
What Jesus did, once and for all, we must enter into. We must learn – in Christ – to put sin to death in our lives. In Christ sin no longer has dominion over us (Rom 6:12-14), but we must still unlearn all the ways that we have presented ourselves to it to do its will. If we truly want to be Easter people, we must become Holy Week people, and especially, people of the cross.
Paul was certainly and Easter person, living in the spiritual reality of the resurrected Christ. Yet, when he came to Corinth, he says “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). And he pursued this all his life determined to know the power of Jesus resurrection by sharing in his sufferings, “becoming like him in his death, that by any means I may obtain the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 310-11).
Pilgrim Disciples
And so, Philippians and Isaiah, direct the way.
We seek the mind of Christ (individually, and especially, together); the mind of the one who humbled himself for us all, “becoming obedient, even to the point of death”. And how do we do this? We do it by a lifelong, daily, pilgrimage of discipleship.
I love this passage in Isaiah, in many ways it has been God’s hand on my life. But it is not just for me, or for super saints. This is for all of us.
For too long, church people have been spoon-fed faith; just enough each week to keep them going; perhaps coming to those who lead for something in times of crisis. But we were not meant to be like this. God will raise up leaders and teachers, but he leads his sheep to green pasture so that they may ecah learn to feed on him. To change the metaphor, God wants us all to put down deep roots into his grace (into him).
Scholarship, theology and training, are not an end in themselves. They are useless unless they become the means for Christians to live in Christ; for Christ to be formed in their daily living. God gives grace to each of us in different ways, but we are all called to grow up into Christ; to play our part in the body of Christ, sent to witness to him in this world.
So:
- Each one of us needs to wake up to Christ, each morning.
- Each one of us needs to hear truth as the Spirit opens our ears to his word and renews and transforms our minds and hearts
- Each one of us needs to learn obedience and confront our rebellion against his ways
- Each one of us needs to discover the strength (in him) to confront the hardship and criticism that witnesses to our life in him
And
- Each one of us has to learn to become someone whose words and way of life sustain the weary; building others up rather than just tearing them down
O Church of God, Arise!
Oh, may God stir us again! Let judgement indeed begin with us! If the world goes back to normal after this crisis, it will be disappointing. If the Church goes back to normal, it will be a disaster.
Let us pray for God to do what only he can. And let us offer ourselves to him, in Jesus, through the gift of the cross (his and ours).
Jesus said, “if these were silent [speaking of the crowd], the very stones would cry out” (Lk 19:40). If we are silent, God is able to raise up those who will respond as they should. But in his extraordinary mercy and patience he is still speaking to us. Lord give us ears to hear.