Holy Week Reflections

This morning in church, we began the service with a joyful reenactment of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem in what has become known as Palm Sunday. In those opening moments of the service, as we sang those hymns of praise, I couldn’t help but question the sincerity of the words coming out of my mouth. I knew where the story was leading. Just a few minutes later, in readers’ theater style, we read the passion narrative. In unison, the congregation – those of us who had just sang his praises – recited the words, “Crucify him!”

The passion narrative is not a story we simply read, but one in which we all participate. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” The following account is how I might tell the story, as I reflect on the songwriter’s words, “Ashamed I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.”


Jesus: not the king we were expecting (or want)

Every year at Passover time, King Herod enters Jerusalem’s east gate in a triumphal parade. He rides a warhorse and is escorted by an entourage of soldiers. He wants to let everyone know who is king. He wants to demonstrate his power, which is an expression of Caesar’s even greater power over the city and throughout the empire. He wants to make it known that any challenges to Roman domination will be suppressed.

But Herod is a joke – a puppet king. He may pretend to be great, but he is still under Rome’s control. What we need is a king who will restore the Jewish nation – a king who will defeat the Romans. A king of the Jews.

On the first day of this week before Passover, another king entered Jerusalem. He didn’t ride on a warhorse, but on a symbol of peace – a donkey. He wasn’t escorted by guards, but by disciples. But we recognized him as God’s anointed one – the Messiah (or Christ), the son of David.

“Hosanna,” we shouted, which means “Save us.” Deliver us from the Romans who rule over us. Restore David’s Kingdom. “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David” (Mark 11:9-10). We waved palm branches and laid our cloaks on the ground for the donkey to walk upon. We wanted to welcome our king.

But as the days went by, it became apparent that this Jesus was not who we thought he was. He was not here to overthrow the Romans. “Pay taxes to Caesar,” he instructed. That legitimized Rome’s control over us. He was more concerned with caring for widows and the poor than for renewing the kingdom of David.

The religious leaders tried at every turn to trap Jesus in his words. With the help of Judas, one of the Twelve, they arrested him and determined amongst themselves that he should be executed for blaspheming. Since they couldn’t execute him, they handed him over to Pontius Pilate, charging that claimed to be king of the Jews.

It was a serious crime to claim to be king of the Jews. It was rebellion against Caesar – lord of the empire. But this man Jesus? He hardly looked like someone who was about to lead a rebellion. What was Pilate to do?

Eventually, after stalling as long as he could, Pilate turned to the crowd, a crowd not that unlike the one which had welcomed him into the city. Stirred by the religious leaders, instead of shouting praises to the Son of David, we now called out “crucify him!” He was not the savior we thought he was. He’s not going to overthrow the Romans.

Pilate brings out a prisoner, a man named Barabbas, who was an insurrectionist and a murderer. “Who do you want released to you – Jesus or Barabbas?” Pilate asked.

“We want Barabbas,” we shouted. He was an insurrectionist. He knows how to fight Rome. This Jesus tells stories and wants us to forgive our enemies rather than fight them. Give us Barabbas.

So Pilate granted our request. He gave us Barabbas because he is the one we wanted. Then they led Jesus away to be crucified.

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Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy on us.