Today marks the beginning of Holy Week. The most important week of the church calendar. I didn’t grow up in the church so I learned about what Holy Week is later in life. When I attended Princeton Seminary (grad school for people who want to be pastors), I realized that many of my classmates, although they had grown up in the church, didn’t have a clear understanding of Holy Week either. For them, it was a week when their families would attend extra worship services with even more beautiful music that led up to Easter. And yes it is all of the above, but to know why we have extra worship services and special music makes those worship services even more special. I’d like to take a moment to reflect on why this week is so special and why it is holy.
The beginning of Holy Week is today, Palm Sunday, when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to much fanfare. It’s known as Jesus’s “Triumphal Entry.” There’s great excitement in the air with people yelling “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” A reference to Psalm 118, which would be sung by pilgrims who traveled to Jerusalem for important Jewish holidays such as Passover. Luke adds in “King” to signify that Jesus is the savior and rescuer, the Messiah that all of Israel has been waiting for. Many laid down their cloaks (for some the only cloak they owned) before Jesus to show that they held him in such high regard they didn’t want the colt he rode on to touch the ground.
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus shares the Passover meal which is to be his last meal (or last supper) with the disciples. It’s at that meal he introduces the sacrament that we call the Lord’s Supper. On this night he also washes the feet of the disciples to show that while he is the king, he came to humbly serve his people. Maundy Thursday is also when he is betrayed by Judas and handed over to the authorities.
Good Friday is the day when Jesus is tried, found guilty, is crucified, and dies. At the time, those who followed Jesus didn’t realize it was a “good” day. We call it “Good Friday” because we have the gift of 20/20 hindsight as we see that Jesus’ painful and violent death led to redeeming everything in creation, including all of humanity. The darkness of Good Friday led to the light that is Easter when we celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
But let’s get back to Palm Sunday. I thought these pictures would give us an idea of what Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem may have looked like.
In this artist’s rendition, people are laying down their cloaks before Jesus and waving Palm Branches. While it’s very much a joyous event it’s a simple one. Jesus is riding in on a donkey instead of a majestic stallion. He doesn’t wear a crown or any special garb. Now let’s contrast this photo with another type of processional.
This artist’s rendition is of a “Roman Triumph,” which is a processional giving honor to a highly esteemed general or the Emperor himself. The man at the center is not on a donkey or an impressive warhorse. He’s in a grand chariot pulled by a herd of impressive war horses. He’s flanked by intimidating Roman soldiers who lead the processional. There’s a lot of gold and armor involved here. Not a shabby cloak to be found.
The earliest of these “Roman Triumphs,” according to historians, were held to celebrate a Roman general as he returned with prizes of a recent victory. In front of the soldiers could be a display of jewels and other exotic valuables of the latest people group that Rome had conquered. Also in this processional were citizens of those conquered territories who were now prisoners of Rome. Such individuals were made slaves at best or executed at worst. Such processionals were to display the unstoppable power and greatness of Rome.
This is from the relief on the Arch of Titus (which still stands today in the Roman Forum). This shows what Titus and his army took from the Temple when they captured Jerusalem in 70 AD. They carried menorahs, sacred trumpets, and other valuables they looted from the temple, now displaying them during Titus’s triumphal entry into Rome. This image is part of an arch that functioned like a billboard today displaying the power and strength of Rome. To make Roman citizens proud and to intimidate anyone who tried to get in the way of Rome’s greatness.
Whereas Roman generals entered Jerusalem with much fanfare, Jesus did not. Jesus did not conquer anyone or anything so there was nothing to show for any sort of “victory” in his processional. Yet we still refer to this event as Jesus’s “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. It’s triumphal because Jesus is one step closer to fulfilling his mission on earth.
We know that this joyful crowd, including most of the disciples, will desert Jesus as he is crucified. Before we judge the people of Jerusalem for being fickle in their faith, we too have to admit that we are just as fickle. There are times when we welcome Jesus into our lives with open arms and times when we, like Peter, deny we ever knew him.
Perhaps people deserted Jesus because they were disappointed in him. Disappointed that he wasn’t the King they were expecting. He wasn’t a great military general such as Titus who would finally overthrow those who exploited and oppressed Israel. Which to be honest is understandable especially if you can’t make ends meet due to unfair taxes, and you’ve seen friends and family suffer in the same way.
While Jesus was not the military general many Jews had understandably hoped for, this did not mean that Jesus ignored the fact that they were suffering. How Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem shows how God chooses to bring about hope, healing, and justice. God’s power is not shown through military and imperial might, but through the ordinary and the lowly. As the seemingly ordinary and lowly Jesus, God will save those who are suffering. God’s ways are not our ways.
The scene of Palm Sunday is how God made a way for the true King. Jesus, however, is not the image of the all-powerful King that comes to mind. We may not expect Jesus to arrive in a chariot pulled by mighty horses as some did in Jesus’ day, but we do expect a more impressive resume. What top tier university did you attend? What’s on your resume? What other accomplishments can you share with us, Jesus, to show that you’re worthy of our allegiance?
Jesus’ resume includes: befriending lepers, tax collectors, prostitutes, and calling out hypocrites. He’s not exactly what we think of when it comes to being successful, accomplished and powerful.
There are those who think we now live in a world that is hostile to Christianity. I’d argue, however, that we’ve always lived in a world that is hostile to Christianity. The Bible says a lot more and is clearer about caring for the poor and warns against the pitfalls of wealth than anything else. Historically, this has proven to be highly offensive. I remember being very uncomfortable as an 18-year-old who grew up in an affluent suburb of Seattle, whose parents could afford the latest and greatest for their girls, when I read the words: “Blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
I was slowly convicted to not look down on the poor or to make assumptions about them. I was also convicted to not see my wealth as making me more deserving of God’s blessings than those who had less. Not that wealth in itself is a bad thing, but wealth and power does make it easier to lose sight of Jesus.
What’s going to catch our eyes first? A great Roman chariot pulled by mighty stallions or a donkey carrying a carpenter?
As we begin Holy Week a good question to ask ourselves is whose processional will we follow? Will we follow the humble king who rides in on a donkey or the great general who displays the spoils of his victory? Will we be guided by the values of God’s kingdom or the values of earthly kingdoms?
Are we ready to lead and serve as Jesus did? Are we willing to be a part of how God continues to bring God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven? To do so will come at a cost. There’s a cost because it means going against cultural norms of what and who is successful and powerful. It may even mean losing friends and possibly family members. Let’s be honest and admit that this is difficult. But the Christian life was never promised to be an easy one.
We aren’t alone, however, in answering the call to follow Christ. God has given us one another and most importantly he gives us himself. Through Christ’s resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to carry out what we’ve been called to do. Since we have been freed from sin we are now free to love and serve others more freely. Serving those in need within our community. Listening to, learning from, and helping those who feel oppressed. Speaking out against unjust or corrupt systems. These were the very things Jesus said and did and we’re called to do the same.
Jesus’ lowly entry on a donkey that led to his victory over death gives us hope. Hope in the midst of all that is hard and wrong in the world and ourselves. Hope that we aren’t alone in the midst of all that is hard and wrong in the world. Hope that God continues to bring a kingdom of peace and love despite wars that continue to rage and our deeply divided nation. Hope of the promise that Christ will return again and make all things right. In the meantime, God asks us to be a part of the healing he continues to bring into the world. We can do so by not just waving our palms today, but by following King Jesus wherever he leads us.
