Jesus' Entry

The events of Holy Week dramatically commences with Jesus' Entry into the city of Jerusalem. The setting was the seven days of Passover when the Jews, then and now, commemorate God's miraculous rescue of their small Semitic tribe from slavery in the land of Egypt. God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. Furthermore, that through that nation all the nations of the entire world would be blessed.

Nothing about this story seems probable. We have a man Abraham and his wife Sarah who were childless during their youth. They long waited for an heir to be produced and then further complicating things Sarah went through menopause. We have a Hebrew nation dominated and enslaved many times throughout their history. Is this really the nation that will bring blessings to the whole earth? Yet, this is indeed how God works. In the overcoming of these seemingly impossible odds God's greatness is shown.

Themes connecting to Exodus and improbability continue as Jesus makes His entry into Jerusalem. Many people were beginning to feel that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah who would come to save Israel from yet another overseer, this time the Roman empire. These folks expected God's mighty hand to invoke a miracle as when He parted the Red Sea and destroyed the soldiers trying to pursue the escaping Hebrews.

Yet, here Jesus comes riding in on a humble little donkey. There was no powerful steed, nor chariot of fire, not even an angel army! Many were disappointed by this. So, when it came time later to support one Jewish criminal for the annual Passover pardon from the Roman Governor, the people thought the revolutionary Barabbas would be the best choice to bring salvation from the Romans. They thought when the Messiah or the Anointed One would arrive that it would be with pomp and military options.

They were right and they were wrong. Jesus did come to bring salvation, but as He said, His kingdom would not be of this world. Some people failed to recognize the spiritual salvation that Jesus brought. As Jesus and the Jewish people readied themselves to celebrate the Passover feast a new Passover was coming. And, just as the blood of the lamb smeared over the door saved a family from the Angel of Death, the blood of Jesus spilt on Calvary can save us from the eternal consequences of our actions.

When mankind has an opportunity to pick a leader the strongest option is often chosen. When the Jews could have God as their leader, they instead choose the tall, strong and handsome man Saul. How often do we still choose the wrong leader because we fail to know what is really important? We still pick leaders based on superficial things such as looks, or smooth talking presentations.

So it was, as Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem failed to produce the instant gratification longed for by many that the tumult began. From waving palm branches and welcoming Him with chants of Hosanna (Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord), we end with an arrest warrant being issued and a death sentence being imposed. As we contemplate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem who do we say that Jesus is? Is He just some historic figure? Have we went from saying Hosanna to rejecting him because we have not seen the miraculous signs and wonders that we were dreaming of? Can we see a deeper meaning to this Holy Week story?

Played against the backdrop of humanity in all its' confusion and sin, Palm Sunday begins to shed light on the deeper meaning of God's plan. The salvific wheels first set in motion in the Garden of Eden are now rapidly resulting in a solution to the problem of sin. As the events of Holy Week unfold God takes humanity to a whole new level of healing through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross.

This came as a shock to everyone witnessing these events on that first Palm Sunday so long ago. Many could not accept the changes that were occurring so quickly in God's plan. It still shocks people today. We are still scrambling and debating about who Jesus really is and what He did. Sometimes you miss the forest for the trees. Let's not miss who Jesus really is. He is a servant to all. He is a healer. He is a mighty God. He is the Savior of you and me!