The Triumphal Entries of the King (Mark 11:1-11)
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the Passion Week is highly symbolic and significant and all, but the way we commemorate and highlight this event in the Gospels has always been a bit mysterious to me.
It is a strange scene. Not because of the symbolism, which is understandable, but more because of the crowds. There is no reason to assume that this was a huge event. Jesus attracted crowds and caused a sensation everywhere He went, but one could assume that Jerusalem, the big city, may have been harder to impress. It could have been as simple as the people who were traveling with Jesus shouting the hosannas. It almost certainly wasn’t the same people who would later in the week shout for Jesus to be crucified.
That being said, I sometimes wonder where I would have been in the moment. My hope is that I would not have been one of the onlookers joining in the excitement, the herd mentality. I would have liked to have been one of the people who were following Jesus into the city, a part of the procession. Even they however, were not really up to speed with what was going on. They were destined to run and scatter in fear just a few days later.
God and God’s ways tend to defy our expectations. When we think we have a good handle on what God is doing, we might ought to stop and ask ourselves if we really have a clue. Jesus is scheduled to return some day, much in the same way He came on the scene that week in Jerusalem only on a much bigger, cosmic sort of scale. Many think they are excited to see that happen in their lifetime, but one thing is for sure. No matter where you stand in relation to God on that day, it will be nothing like what you are expecting.
Once again, I hope to be amongst those arriving with the King on that day, not so much one of the observing crowds joining in the excitement from this end. That perspective looks like it will involve a lot more stress and uncertainty.
It is a strange scene. Not because of the symbolism, which is understandable, but more because of the crowds. There is no reason to assume that this was a huge event. Jesus attracted crowds and caused a sensation everywhere He went, but one could assume that Jerusalem, the big city, may have been harder to impress. It could have been as simple as the people who were traveling with Jesus shouting the hosannas. It almost certainly wasn’t the same people who would later in the week shout for Jesus to be crucified.
That being said, I sometimes wonder where I would have been in the moment. My hope is that I would not have been one of the onlookers joining in the excitement, the herd mentality. I would have liked to have been one of the people who were following Jesus into the city, a part of the procession. Even they however, were not really up to speed with what was going on. They were destined to run and scatter in fear just a few days later.
God and God’s ways tend to defy our expectations. When we think we have a good handle on what God is doing, we might ought to stop and ask ourselves if we really have a clue. Jesus is scheduled to return some day, much in the same way He came on the scene that week in Jerusalem only on a much bigger, cosmic sort of scale. Many think they are excited to see that happen in their lifetime, but one thing is for sure. No matter where you stand in relation to God on that day, it will be nothing like what you are expecting.
Once again, I hope to be amongst those arriving with the King on that day, not so much one of the observing crowds joining in the excitement from this end. That perspective looks like it will involve a lot more stress and uncertainty.
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