Palm Sunday 2022

It’s Palm Sunday.  Like many of Jesus’ followers around the world, today at the Baptist church in Mooroolbark we spent time thinking about that first Palm Sunday. 

We remembered how Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, heralded by jubilant followers shouting praises to God. He made his way to Jerusalem under a canopy of palm branches and carried over a ‘red carpet equivalent’ comprised of peoples’ cloaks laid on the path. We looked at Luke 19:28-44.

“We often make a mistake when we read about Palm Sunday in the gospels,” the preacher said. “We interpret it from the perspective of already knowing what was to come. Most of those who were key players on the day had no idea of what would transpire in the days ahead.” 

What were they thinking, I wonder? How did they experience the day? 

Hence this blog post. 

Susanna’s perspective

(According to Luke 8:1-3, a number of women were amongst those who followed Jesus on his travels. Clearly I am attracted to Susanna because of her name being like mine. That’s why I am choosing to try and put myself in her sandals that first Palm Sunday as I write this blog post.)

[Jesus] “… went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.”  Luke 18:11 NIV

“When they came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen.” Luke 19:37 NIV

It’s time. It’s finally time!

We can see the city of Jerusalem from the hilltop right now. We have seen his miracles – one after another after another, as we’ve followed him about this nation. His power is indisputable. We know the Scriptures. And today – right now – we are part of fulfilling Scripture. Can you believe it?! What an honour!

The King has come! King Jesus, the Messiah, is entering his city NOW!

Waving palm branches is our custom when welcoming a victorious king into the city. So of course the young men raced off to gather enough branches for us all to wave about.

We all threw our cloaks on the ground so that he could enter his city on a pathway befitting a king. My cloak was particularly beautiful. It was made of lovely soft brown wool. It wasn’t cheap, and I have always taken good care of it. I was honoured to see the hooves of that young donkey carrying our king clomp right on top of it. 

And now here we are, singing and shouting Psalms and spiritual songs. Children are dancing. Even though a middle-aged woman, I find myself doing a bit of a jig, clapping along. The atmosphere is incredible, with an energy like I have never sensed before.

In only a few days time, we will celebrate the Passover. The first Passover was when God rescued his people from slavery in ancient times. 

God is about to do it again, and permanently this time. His Messiah – this same Teacher whom we have been following about the country – will usher in a period of peace and stability. 

And I’m welcoming him to his city, right here, right now. I can scarcely believe it. 

A Pharisee’s perspective

This is not right. 

In fact, it is downright wrong. 

Blasphemy, it is. How can a mere mortal claim to be God? We cannot allow this. 

Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey, and that judgement would follow. How dare this man manipulate the people by acting out that prophecy. We know what he is up to, setting up symbolism like this, even if the wretched Romans don’t.

See, your king comes to you,    
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9 NIV

He has clearly whipped these ignoramuses into a frenzy. We tried to stop them carrying on in such a blasphemous manner, but they were beyond listening to reason. 

And so my fellow Pharisees and I marched up to the heretic, now seated on that blinking donkey. 

“Teacher, rebuke your disciples,” we said. Politely, we spoke. Voices calm, with the dignity befitting our station. 

His reply was unfathomable. Chilling, in fact, to those of us who know the Scriptures. For he quoted another prophet, Habakkuk, who spoke of judgement. Although Habakkuk had originally spoken of the suffering caused by foreign invaders, we understood that in this context, Jesus was once again criticising us. He has done that time after time after time. How dare he speak a word against the very ones responsible for preserving the righteous standards of God’s people. 

“You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.” (Habakkuk 2:10-11 NIV)

Habakkuk 2:10-11 NIV

“I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out,” he replied.

This man has gone too far……

Jesus’ perspective

Oh Jerusalem. My dear, dear Jerusalem.

My heart throbs as we approach the city. I love the people of Jerusalem. I have loved this city for centuries.  If only … if only … oh, I cannot bear it. My chest constricts, my breathing is shallow and ragged, and all my muscles are as tight as tight can be despite the fact that I’m just sitting here on this donkey.

In my mind’s eye, I can see it already. My beloved city surrounded by enemies, embankments built up against its walls, its people terrified. And then … oh, it is too awful to contemplate. Not one stone left on another. My people slaughtered………

Why, Jerusalem, can you not see that I have come to you this very day? 

Why, leaders of my people, have you rejected me? 

Why has my Father hidden from your eyes the peace that I offer you? 

These followers around me can see it. They are honouring me as king, though there is so much that they don’t understand. 

But there in the city of God is only darkness. 

My heart feels as if it will break. Sobs wrack my chest; my shoulders shudder; tears run down my face; the jubilant cries around me abate as my loyal followers stare in shock at my grief displayed in all its awfulness.

Why, Jerusalem? Why? 

From the perspective of 2022

Three individuals. 

Three very different perspectives.

Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled in part that day, yet not in the way that people expected. With the benefit of hindsight, we can understand more than people of the day did, but I’m pretty sure that we don’t have the full picture yet either. 

Almost two millennia have passed since that day. Throughout the centuries, Jesus’ suffering followers have taken courage from the image of the New Jerusalem that will one day be our home. 

In the meantime, we wait … and watch … and wonder. May I live up to my namesake, that of first century Susanna, who did not understand but wholeheartedly followed Jesus, singing ‘Hosanna’ as he entered Jerusalem. There is a lot that I don’t understand either, but I sing nonetheless, too.

Specifically, today, I am singing the song ‘Shout! Hosanna!’, a song produced by ‘Passion Conferences’. Yes, it was written with the benefit of hindsight. And that intensifies yet further the wonder of that first Palm Sunday.

Our king entered Jerusalem. The people at the time thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. As it turned out, there was much more to come. It would involve not only Susanna of old but also Suzanne of 2022 and a great many more in-between.

What an honour.