Luke 19:29-40 | Psalm 47
For many Christians, today’s passage is so wrapped up in the things of the Sunday prior to Easter (Palm Sunday) that it’s easy to miss the weirdness of the details. Perhaps reading this at the beginning of November will help us see some things differently. Calling this the triumphal entry makes about as much sense as good Friday. There are so many questions to consider:
Why would Jesus instruct his followers to take something that’s neither theirs nor his?
Did the colt’s owners try to say anything further to the disciples or did they just relent?
Was it the disciples’ own idea to throw their clothes on the road or did Jesus tell them to?
What did the scene really look like? Was it truly triumphal? How triumphal could it have been with Jesus riding an ass into town?
Just how big was that crowd?
Why did the Pharisees care what was happening?
What did the disciples think was happening?
Did Jesus think of the cross as he rode in, with all those disciples clamoring praise over him?
What’s the point?
There are good answers to some of these questions. Others perhaps aren’t that necessary. But we are surely meant to consider the peculiarity of the whole crazy scene.
Luke 19:29-40
As Jesus came to Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he gave two disciples a task. He said, “Go into the village over there. When you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘Its master needs it.’” Those who had been sent found it exactly as he had said.
As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They replied, “Its master needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their clothes on the colt, and lifted Jesus onto it. As Jesus rode along, they spread their clothes on the road.
As Jesus approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of his disciples began rejoicing. They praised God with a loud voice because of all the mighty things they had seen. They said,
“Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.”
Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, scold your disciples! Tell them to stop!”
He answered, “I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout.”
Psalm 47
Clap your hands, all you people!
Shout joyfully to God with a joyous shout!
Because the Lord Most High is awesome,
he is the great king of the whole world.
He subdues the nations under us,
subdues all people beneath our feet.
He chooses our inheritance for us:
the heights of Jacob, which he loves. Selah
God has gone up with a joyous shout—
the Lord with the blast of the ram’s horn.
Sing praises to God! Sing praises!
Sing praises to our king! Sing praises
because God is king of the whole world!
Sing praises with a song of instruction!
God is king over the nations.
God sits on his holy throne.
The leaders of all people are gathered
with the people of Abraham’s God
because the earth’s guardians belong to God;
God is exalted beyond all.
Prayer
God,
Often it feels to me like a major problem with our faith today comes in a confusion concerning power and what it actually is. We humans feel most safe when power is in our hands and we use it in ways that don’t flow from your way.
If we can’t have the power for ourselves - I’m confessing, here - we do our best to place it in the hands of others who will look out for our interests. (Yes, I’m referring to government and politics.) And then we all together can make good excuses about using power for the greater good.
But it seems there are fewer and fewer people who are included in the greater good.
Further, you’ve shown us what power is in Jesus, a rather humble man. I do want to be found in his likeness, which is your likeness.
So help me, God.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.