PALM SUNDAY
I guess we all know that its Palm Sunday, don't we. And I suppose that some of us may have differences of opinion on the meaning of this day, or of how to observe this day. And since this is my blog spot I guess I am free to express my views of this day.
Most of the time Palm Sunday is observed in our churches by the call to express our exuberance and joy by waving palm leaves and singing joyful songs and shouting "Hosanna," and sometimes marching. That's the way they did it on the first Palm Sunday, right?
In stopping to reflect on the term "Hosanna" we learn that it meant "Lord, save us," a cry for deliverance from the tyranny of Rome. That puts a bit of a different slant on what this might have been about. For when Jesus did not replace Pilot, or Herod, by establishing himself as rightful ruler of the Jews, the Jews turned on him and shouted "crucify him, crucify him."
My take on this day and this event is to look at it from Jesus' perspective. Jesus knew what lie ahead, and for him it wasn't anything to shout about. Instead, he wept when he looked down on the city of Jerusalem. "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes." Jesus goes on to prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem and the total annihilation of their worship center and the killing of many people, including children - "because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." This was indeed a very sad day for Jesus the Christ.
Somehow for me Palm Sunday represents the beginning of the end, the bitter end for Jesus as he faced the cross. That's one of the reasons I like to participate in the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. It helps me keep what I think is the right perspective on what is commonly called "Holy Week."
Was Jesus a king, as the crowds proclaimed (Luke 19:38)? It was all right for them to proclaim that, but unfortunately their understanding of what that meant was erroneous. During his trial Pilate asked Jesus if he was indeed a king, and his reply was, "Yes, it is as you say" (Luke 23:3). And in John, Jesus adds, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. 'You are a king then! said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (John 18:36,37).
And so on Palm Sunday I see Jesus going into a situation that he knew would result in his death. Jesus' heart was filled with sorrow and grief because of the rejection of him as God's promised Messiah and King - "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him" (John 1:11).
My heart grieves also when I see the rejection of Jesus the King by our world at large today. And many who proclaim to be his followers also have not as yet accepted him as their king in the here and now, some still looking for Jesus to come sometime to establish a throne in Jerusalem. I grieve for them as well.
That's my take on this day. Comments are welcome, as always. And I remain -
Pilgrim on the way
Most of the time Palm Sunday is observed in our churches by the call to express our exuberance and joy by waving palm leaves and singing joyful songs and shouting "Hosanna," and sometimes marching. That's the way they did it on the first Palm Sunday, right?
In stopping to reflect on the term "Hosanna" we learn that it meant "Lord, save us," a cry for deliverance from the tyranny of Rome. That puts a bit of a different slant on what this might have been about. For when Jesus did not replace Pilot, or Herod, by establishing himself as rightful ruler of the Jews, the Jews turned on him and shouted "crucify him, crucify him."
My take on this day and this event is to look at it from Jesus' perspective. Jesus knew what lie ahead, and for him it wasn't anything to shout about. Instead, he wept when he looked down on the city of Jerusalem. "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes." Jesus goes on to prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem and the total annihilation of their worship center and the killing of many people, including children - "because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." This was indeed a very sad day for Jesus the Christ.
Somehow for me Palm Sunday represents the beginning of the end, the bitter end for Jesus as he faced the cross. That's one of the reasons I like to participate in the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. It helps me keep what I think is the right perspective on what is commonly called "Holy Week."
Was Jesus a king, as the crowds proclaimed (Luke 19:38)? It was all right for them to proclaim that, but unfortunately their understanding of what that meant was erroneous. During his trial Pilate asked Jesus if he was indeed a king, and his reply was, "Yes, it is as you say" (Luke 23:3). And in John, Jesus adds, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. 'You are a king then! said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (John 18:36,37).
And so on Palm Sunday I see Jesus going into a situation that he knew would result in his death. Jesus' heart was filled with sorrow and grief because of the rejection of him as God's promised Messiah and King - "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him" (John 1:11).
My heart grieves also when I see the rejection of Jesus the King by our world at large today. And many who proclaim to be his followers also have not as yet accepted him as their king in the here and now, some still looking for Jesus to come sometime to establish a throne in Jerusalem. I grieve for them as well.
That's my take on this day. Comments are welcome, as always. And I remain -
Pilgrim on the way
1 comment:
Thanks for your comments. We, too, are learning things in our church classes about the triumphal entry that cause us to be saddened.
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