April 12, 2011

Reading for April 11-15
Preparation for Holy Week
Tuesday

Palm Sunday - The Sunday Before the Crucifixion

"Hooray! God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David. Hooray for God in heaven above!" Mark 11:9-10 (CEV)

Pastor's Reflection

Like those who witnessed Jesus' victory parade into Jerusalem, we have expectations for what we think God should do to make life better, safer, and more enjoyable. We are like excited spectators, we can't wait to see suffering stopped, injustice corrected, and prosperity begun.

However, in just five days Jesus would be crucified just like the other seven or eight would be Messiah's of the first century were crushed.

This time it was different. Jesus had predicted his death. He rode in on a donkey, a symbol of humility and peace. He chose death over violent revolution. He chose to absorb violence, hate and insults rather than to seek revenge. Jesus taught us what it would look like NOT to go down swinging, yet end up on top. For he was resurrected from the dead.

One interesting historical note: all ancient cultures practiced human sacrifice. Human sacrifice, and eventually animal sacrifice held societies together, including Roman society. Jesus overturned the entire practice by becoming a sacrifice. Historically speaking sacrifice was ended in Rome with Constantine and has been virtually eliminated world wide and Jesus's sacrifice for us was the turning point.

Has anger, violence, and threat ended in your life as a means to "making things right?"