St Mathew 21: 1 – 11
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Reflection
This is a reading normally associated with the start of Holy Week, and yet we are still six weeks away.
So away from the febrile atmosphere of that day, what does this event tell us about Jesus, about the crowds and the bystanders?
Well Jesus certainly knew his Scriptures – he knew the implications of fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah, here was a man riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, could he be the Messiah?
Was this a deliberately provocative act by Jesus? Was he finally admitting, in a very public way what some had suspected and what he had already admitted to his disciples – he was the Messiah, the one longed for for centuries?
And what were Jesus’ expectations? Was he expecting this hero’s welcome to continue or was his eye always on the Cross?
As for the crowds I wonder how many of them actually realised what they were doing. I’m sure some of them must have understood Jesus’ actions, perhaps that’s why they turned so quickly from ‘Hosanna’ to ‘Crucify’, as Jesus did not meet their expectations. Some perhaps were simply caught up in the festival atmosphere and followed what others were doing. Others still looking on with scorn, ‘This is no Messiah, just another wannabe’.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the end (although with hindsight it was most certainly not the end), what follows will be exciting and tense, it will cause Jesus’ closest friends to scratch their heads in puzzlement before fear and tears take hold.
I wonder, if we had been there that day, what would we have made of it all? Would we have gone home elated, knowing we had witnessed history; would there be questions over what happens next, this man put on a good show, but will he follow through?
Would we too have gone from Hosanna to Crucify?!
Prayer
Through the ups and downs of life,
through the joys and sorrows of following you,
Jesus, King, Messiah, humble servant,
help us always to praise you as we sing,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Amen