REFLECTION
Linda Cowan
Today is Palm Sunday, when we rejoice in the excitement of Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem. The people shouted, “Hosanna to the King.” Palm branches were pulled from the trees and waved in the air. Branches and clothing were thrown on the ground in front of Jesus, riding on a donkey. It was a day of celebration, a day when it seemed the Jewish people might be starting to realise that Jesus could be the Messiah. But this realisation was the cause for huge concern among the temple officials and Jewish authorities. This man and his followers were a huge threat to established law and order. This man had to go. And thus unfolds the drama that over the following week led Jesus to Calvary and beyond. It was to be a week of huge despair, anguish, a great sense of hopelessness until it came to the wonder and joy of Easter morning. Who then were the players in this drama of Holy Week?
The disciples played a critical part.
Peter was the impetuous one, the one who often spoke before he thought things through, but who was totally loyal to Jesus, at least as loyal as he was able to be. During this week, Peter was to face great challenges. He slept in the Garden of Gethsemane, but when the priests and the soldiers arrived, he quickly drew his sword and went in to attack in defence of Jesus, his master. Later in the week, he followed Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, a courageous act in itself, but then, when challenged, he denied knowing Jesus, not once but three times. And the cock crowed – a reminder of Jesus’ words to him. Even so, he was the only disciple that we are aware of who was in the courtyard. Were the rest hiding? Probably.
James and John were there too. Earlier, they had requested the highest positions at Jesus’ right and left hands when Jesus came into his kingdom. Of course, they didn’t understand what this kingdom was to be, not a physical one, but the kingdom of God, characterised by justice, mercy, and the love of God. It’s likely that they were feeling confused and bewildered. Jesus had said there would be no kingdom as they understood it, and yet here he was being hailed by the crowd as King.
Of course, Judas was there too. What was he thinking? Was he frustrated that Jesus had not declared his hand as the Messiah? Was he trying to force Jesus to do this when he went to the priests and Pharisees, offering to hand him over? Was he totally confused about who Jesus was? There is some suggestion that he had been pilfering from the common purse. Did he see the kingdom of God as a physical, material entity rather than a spiritual one? It seems likely. Yet when he had betrayed Jesus, it appears he realised, in part at least, the enormity of his action and took his own life.
Among the disciples were women. Because of the way the gospels were written, we know little about them. Were they among the crowds on Palm Sunday? They were certainly there at the cross, showing to the end of Jesus’ life their loyalty and commitment.
There were Pharisees in the crowd on Palm Sunday. These were leaders in the temple, and probably very worried about how the Romans would interpret this popular procession. Could this lead to Roman intervention at this time of the Festival of the Passover? Some of their religious festivals had been banned by the Romans because of the potential for riot and civil unrest. The Pharisees did not want this to happen for this very important occasion marking the beginning of the journey of the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Pharisees tried to close down the procession, speaking to Jesus: “Teacher, command your disciples to be quiet.” Jesus replies, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”
Were the Roman soldiers there? They may have been there in the background, but they were unlikely to act and stir up potential conflict. But it wasn’t the Romans who had Jesus arrested. It was the temple soldiers, acting under the orders of the chief priest. The Romans were reluctant participants in this whole affair. Pilate did not want to be caught up in this domestic affair, sending Jesus back to the priests. Herod, too, the king and Roman puppet, could see no cause for Jesus to die. It was the Jews who wanted Jesus’ crucifixion.
The crowds who on Palm Sunday cried, “Bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord,” were among those who later in the week were to shout, “Kill him! Set Barabbas free for us!” We marvel at the fickleness of the crowd, but have we any right to judge? International politics right now would suggest not.
Among the crowd on Palm Sunday, there must have been some who knew more about Jesus and weren’t just carried away by the moment. Could there have been someone who had been healed by Jesus or witnessed his miracles? They would know for sure this was no ordinary teacher. Could there have been among those cheering someone who had shared in the feeding of the five thousand people and heard the parables that spoke to their hearts? Were they excited on this Palm Sunday that Jesus was being recognised for who they believed him to be, possibly even the Messiah? Where was their voice later in the week? Were they too scared to speak?
Of course, the main player in this unfolding drama was Jesus himself. Jesus was heading for Jerusalem. This was important because the Jewish tradition was that Jerusalem was the place where the Messiah would be recognised. He knew that this was what God required of him, but he knew also that to go to Jerusalem was potentially fatal. He rode into the city on a colt in fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy. (Zechariah 9: 9 – 10) He celebrated the Passover with his disciples. He must have known, with a certain amount of inevitability, that his life was drawing to a close. It was unlikely that his death would be anything other than agonising. He was also to know the anguish of being rejected by his followers and condemned to death by his own people, the Jews. He must have wondered if his whole life and ministry had been in vain.
So, where do we stand in this drama of Palm Sunday and the events of Holy Week?
- Are we Peter, a follower of Jesus, but often lacking the courage to stand alongside Jesus and serve with our whole being?
- Are we James or John, not really understanding what God’s kingdom is all about and what it really means to follow God’s way of justice, mercy, and love?
- Are we Judas, one of those who finds the following of Jesus too costly?
- Are we one of the women, serving Jesus quietly and true to the end?
- Do we stand with the crowd, happy to accept the joys, but not willing to take on the hard bits? Are we willing to make a stand for God’s way in our daily lives, or are we fickle like the people of Jerusalem?
- Do we stand with the Romans, doing what is needed for a quiet life?
- Can we identify with the Pharisees, committed to the current order, and opposed to anything that would cause disruption?
Do we stand with Jesus? Do we understand Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who came to show God’s way, who taught that the little ones, the children, the weak, the poor, have the highest status in God’s kingdom? Are we willing to travel with him on the road to Calvary?
Trusting God, we make this commitment, knowing that we can look beyond the events of Good Friday to the joy and surprise of Easter Sunday.