Sunday, April 05, 2009

So it was palm Sunday last week. The day Jesus entered Jerusalem and all the peeps thought, 'now we will get some results!' It is thought that many were waiting for Jesus to make his public announcement of defiance or fighting against the Roman tyranny...
Boy were they let down. Instead of entering in a parade on a noble steed with solders and powerful men at his side he entered a lesser used gate to the city on a donkey. A DONKEY! Where was the defiance? Where was the power play? Where was the displacing of the corrupt leaders?

He was riding on a donkey, going to celebrate quietly with his friends the Jewish Passover. A remembrance of when God spared the firstborns while they were slaves in Egypt some years earlier. Ohh how different this passover would be.

He came to Jerusalem to die. Not to rule. He did come to conquer...He came to conquer death...not Rome.

This week as i have been trying to reflect and prepare a sermon for easter i am astounded by the lack of understanding the disciples had about what was to happen, and equally taken aback when i read what they did afterwards through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As yesterday we remembered his torture, his ridicule and finally death today we are left in silence. Remembering a world without Christ. I imagine his followers hanging their heads and walking away. I think i know that feeling. When my preconceptions of who he is or what i thought he would do just do not match up, and i, like them turn away and ponder. What are our misconceptions? What is it we think he should do for us?

Today i encourage you to take a quiet day and think of what he did, to imagine yourself there. To examine your thoughts on what you think he should be or do for you.

And tomorrow....well tomorrow we rejoice when we find out he did more than we could have imagined.