The Beginning of The End?

John 12:12-19

“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

‘Hosanna!’

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

 ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;

see, your king is coming,

seated on a donkey’s colt.’

At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.  Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.   So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’ ”

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Palm Sunday, for me, is always a bittersweet day at church.  We start out the worship singing praises for Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. But, as we progress through the readings to the Gospel, we move into The Passion; the recount of Christ’s betrayal, arrest, mock trial, torture and death.

But, many Christian faith traditions jump right from the joy of the parade to the celebration of His Resurrection.  Not a huge deal, in the scheme of things (they are both awesome!), but there is plenty to experience between these two Sundays.  What are you going to do?  Will you make the time to participate in a ceremony of foot washing, as Jesus did for His friends, and a celebration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday?  Will you hear the last words of Christ on Good Friday?

In our talks that we give Monday nights at the county jail, one of the topics we cover is “Who is Jesus and Why Did He have to Die?”.  Although an important area to discuss with new Christians as well as those looking to refresh their faith, the second part of the question is pretty important for all of us.  Why did He have to die?  Couldn’t Jesus have just gotten to the point of being hung on the cross, then, using His infinite power, destroy His persecutors?  Maybe even before that, at His trial or being beaten by the Roman centurions; or even at the Garden when being arrested.  There were many points when He could have stopped the events leading to His death.

But, in order to defeat something, it cannot be run away from.  It must be engaged and embraced.  Jesus could not defeat death without experiencing it first.  Similarly, are we truly able to experience the full joy of His resurrection without living with Him through the last meal with His disciples and His death on Good Friday first?

Dear God,

You provide us with so many ways to experience the fullness of blessings You send into our lives.  But it is up to us, Lord, to accept the gift of these experiences.

Provide for us, the spirit to immerse ourselves in Your Word during the days of this coming week, which proceed in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.

We thank you for the opportunity to renew our life in you. 

All this we ask and offer in the name of Jesus,

Amen.