A Public Decisiveness
April 2, 2023 - Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-17 | Psalm 98:7-9 | Gospels in Lent Track: none today
Jesus is pretty much always decisive. Even what sometimes appears to be inaction - his “delay” to Bethany in John 11 or his silence in front of Pilate - we actually now know to be intentionality. Other times (and quite often), his decisiveness is unseen or private.
But not today.
His entrance into Jerusalem is a bit of an outlier for Jesus. Rarely does he accept such fanfare or allow such a public spotlight. And then to enter the center of worship and tell people what’s up - this is a departure from “Don’t tell anyone about me.”
It is on here. Jesus is fully determined to center the justice of God, even as upside down as it will seem to pretty much everyone.
Matthew 21:1-17
When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that their master needs them.” He sent them off right away. Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, Say to Daughter Zion, “Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey’s offspring.” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them. Then he sat on them.
Now a large crowd spread their clothes on the road. Others cut palm branches off the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” they asked. The crowds answered, “It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Then Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It’s written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you’ve made it a hideout for crooks.”
People who were blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and legal experts saw the amazing things he was doing and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were angry. They said to Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” he answered. “Haven’t you ever read, From the mouths of babies and infants you’ve arranged praise for yourself? ” Then he left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
Psalm 98:7-9
Let the sea and everything in it roar;
the world and all its inhabitants too.
Let all the rivers clap their hands;
let the mountains rejoice out loud altogether before the Lord
because he is coming to establish justice on the earth!
He will establish justice in the world rightly;
he will establish justice among all people fairly.
Prayer
God,
You brought your son Jesus into Jerusalem to show people the radical grace of your love.
Show us this grace, and give us eyes to see your goodness.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.