Matthew 21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ 4 This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ 11 The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’
My first car was the family Mustard Yellow Chevette with Bright Red vinyl interior. Please don’t misunderstand me, I was grateful at sixteen to have a car to drive to school, work, and play. Many young people my age were not able to have a car; so, I was thankful to have a car. But, the bright yellow color of the Chevette stood out among all the other cars in the school parking lot. While some were driving more expensive, cooler cars, I was driving a humble one and at times ashamed to claim it as mine.
Perhaps then we can understand the story of Palm Sunday a little more when we realize the significance of Jesus riding a donkey. When armies return to the capital city to celebrate the victories of conquest, the general rides in on a chariot or perhaps a warhorse. Jesus is riding a donkey. Donkeys were beasts of burden, to carry supplies from place to place. They were neither glorious like the highly decorated chariots nor imposing like the finest horses bred for war. Jesus enters Jerusalem in humility.
But the significance of Palm Sunday lies not just in the donkey but in the armies he leads. Jesus does not enter with the Roman Legions, or the Greek Hoplites, or Persian Immortals, or Scythian Cavalry. Jesus enters Jerusalem with crowds of people, perhaps too poor to throw flowers, so they cut branches from the trees and place them on the road. They throw their cloaks, perhaps not able to afford cloth. Jesus leads a victory parade of poor, weak, and ordinary people, shouting Hosanna or “save us.” Not an army coming in victory or conquest, but crowds of people needing freedom and power. Jesus enters Jerusalem in humility.
But of all the details we are familiar with this story, the most important is that the crowds believe Jesus to be the Son of David. Now David was the great king of Israel after God’s own heart. To be a Son of David is to be a blood descendent and heir to the throne of David. The crowds believe Jesus to be King, protector, provider and shepherd of the people; and he is. But he arrives on a donkey, among an army of needy people, to save and deliver, to be crowned with thorns and to ascend to a tree as a throne. Jesus enters to be coronated as king: in humility.
And here is what scandals us; we stumble over that humility. Thankful for a savior, but why did it have to be a donkey and not a Abrams Tank? Grateful for mercy, but why an army of needy, poor people and not an army of Marines? Appreciative for grace and freedom, but why a Cross for a Throne? Not a Son of Man and Son of God that we can be proud of, but one that comes in humility to destroy the power of vanity and arrogance. This is why the world and many people cannot accept Jesus as King and Lord, because He does not dominate, conquer, or compete. He is dominated, destroyed in total Crucified failure. And that makes all the difference in the world. Jesus enters in humility to serve and by this obedience creation is forgiven and all things can now be made new.
Friends, as we once again hear the story of Holy Week, may we look at the story through a new perspective. Not a piece of our history to be ashamed of as a Mustard Yellow Chevette with Bright Red interior. Not a scandal to hide and be ashamed of, but as the one perfect act of the one perfect person to procure our freedom and our life. Let us not be ashamed of the Crucified Jesus, but let us come to bear witness in public of His Cross and His Victory: in humility. Amen.
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