Jesus’ entry into holy city mirrors our lives
Scripture reading: Matthew 21:1-11. Text: “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'” Matthew 21:9-11. As a historical event Christ’s entering into Jerusalem was a local affair; the Jews – who came to Jerusalem to commemorate the great deliverance from Egypt which happened about 1,475 years before – being in a festive mood had offered an enthusiastic welcome to the “man” who recently had become well known through his teaching and signs. Jesus’ arrival at Jerusalem was the promise that this Passover will be different from the previous ones. But from spiritual viewpoints his entry into the holy city became not only important and unique but also an example for everyone since we enter the future day by day and are heading toward our final hour inevitably.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ARRIVE?
– It means the end of a successful journey. The journey could have been long in both ways, in terms of time and distance. How long did it take for Christopher Columbus to sail to the New World and return?
– It means a happy reunion. Finally, those who love each other can be together again and all the waiting, anxiety and worry are over.
– It means a promise for the future. Since the journey was successfully finished even more can be achieved in the future with the experience gathered and knowledge obtained during the trip.
THE TOMBSTONE TELLS IT AS IT IS – OR AS MANY PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT IT.
Often a short sentence on a tombstone can sum up sincerely and honestly how a person felt about his or her life. Such an opinion is philosophy in a nutshell. These few words engraved into a tombstone reveal disappointingly the ideas of a deceased person and in many cases of those who are still alive:
– I came but do not know where from?
– I go but do not know where to?
– I will arrive but do not know when?
None of the holidays is more suitable to respond to this disillusioned statement than Palm Sunday, when Christ silently and triumphantly entered Jerusalem.
CHRIST’S ANSWER AS SPELLED OUT BY HIS SPEECHLESS AND RESOLUTE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.
Our Lord saw beyond the physical horizon and made it clear where he came from:
“I came from the Father and entered the world; …” John 16:28 and also: ” … I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.” John 8:42.
How many of us would be able to face our destiny with such certainty as Christ had done? “Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the 12 disciples aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!'” Matthew 20:17-19.
Even the time was sure for Him: “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.” John 7:33.
THE WRONG EXPECTATION AND THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
Which one of us would be able to proceed so quietly and definitely as Jesus had done on Palm Sunday? He was completely aware of the tragic days ahead yet without hesitation he walked on the road that he had accepted.
None of us can expect that the Lord will finish our course instead of us. None of us can ask Christ to change the world around us for one person’s sake. None of us can demand that Christ should inform us about upcoming events.
But all of us know about Easter and resurrection. And as far as our spiritual life is concerned, we know through Him; from where we came, where we go and when we will arrive.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4.
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.