History, with a capitol H, holds all the big dates, but history, with the little h, is what is lived. One is scaffolded on the other. History, big H, is what is taught, but history, little h, is what teaches. It is a combination of the two that creates our reality.
The week ahead of us, holy week, is one of the busiest on our church calendar. If not the busiest. I had to look a few times to make sure I had the right scripture for todays message. Seems there is a bit of a choice depending how you spend your Good Friday. Some churches talk more about the passion of Christ because many do not have a service Friday, even fewer Thursday.
We have done a variation over the years. Often in partnership with other churches. I remember the first time we had a Thursday service which much to my interest was basically the Passover story. There was horseradish which I loved and there was never enough around. I guess it was to remind people of the bitterness of life. To me as a youth it was sweet.
Horseradish is included on many Seder tables as a symbol of the bitterness of slavery and the harshness of life today. Horseradish is also known as maror in Hebrew, which translates to "bitter herb". The tradition of eating bitter herbs comes from a passage in Exodus, where God commands the ancient Hebrews to hold a Passover feast to commemorate their deliverance from bondage in Egypt.
But before we get to this busy week we have the Triumphal Entry of Palm Sunday. A bible written by men might end on this Sunday. This was the end most of the people around Jesus were hoping for, that was their small h history, but there is no doubting the importance of today in big H history.
It may not have worked out easy, but it worked out. The Triumphal Entry was really what leads to everything else. The ground work had been laid. The first 10 chapters of Mark documented a movement that everyone could see. Something like art we know it when we see it. And here we are still talking about it.
Mark 11:1-11 I read from the Amplified Bible - The Triumphal Entry
11 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the [a]village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a [donkey’s] colt tied, which has never been ridden by anyone; untie it and bring it here.
Sometimes things just make sense with a little h and a big H. Both the disciples and the crowds recognized What Jesus was doing with no doubt. A colt that had not been used was considered holy by the Jews and was fit to carry a king.
3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it’; and immediately he will send it here.”
Here we have a wonderful and whimsical glimpse into the workings of our Lord. God to be sure works in mysterious ways, but they are not all so mysterious. Sometimes God puts things on peoples mind. Imagine that person who asks being completely contented with, ‘The Lord needs it.’
I actually love this idea that God can so disarm us as to make us blind. I know that happens because I have come down long trails. As Pastor Wilma says, "Somehow all those people lined up." I know I can be contented at times by the spirit. I don't always know what that means.
You know it is difficult in this life to have a game plan. I like to go with the flow. When I applied to the Peace Corps I told them that I would go anywhere. This strategy I have used often in my life and found miraculous bounty. Well know I have always done things this way so it really is no proof that what I do is the best.
Had I planned for each step I might might be somewhere studying marine animals. Perhaps that was my best self? Well there certainly would have been bounty. It is not life that is bountiful it is our Lord. It doesn't really matter your strategy. What really matters is the faith you can muster to keep moving forward.
It is another of the blessings of having children that I worry very little about this concern. I look to those two and know that there was no other way. We come down certain paths in certain ways, but it is God who brings us through. It is the devil that believes in you. The Lord knows and loves you.
When his disciples heard him asking for a colt that had not been ridden, They did not rebuke or question him. ‘The Lord needs it,’ they knew this made perfect sense. They had also been around Jesus long enough to know he would be right again about what they would find where he sent them.
4 So they went away [to the village] and found a colt tied outside at a gate in the street, and they untied it. 5 Some of the people who were standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”
This a proper response. Yet these people knew the colt and were astonished I am guessing that a Lord would know to ask. This was a different Lord. The type that people have always wanted. A King that could understand because he knew. This colt had not been used and was considered holy by the People there, fit to carry a king.
The Russian Peasants used to believe the Tzar would do better if only he had better information. It is one thing to forgive your leader everything. Quite another when your leader actually knows everything. ‘The Lord needs it.’ was a reasonable request to them. It made sense.
6 They replied to them just as Jesus had directed, and they allowed them to go.
This is what worked: ‘The Lord needs it.’ It is mysterious why this does not always work. God calls to each of us to move forward. We often do not want to do what we must. More often we do not know what we must do. There will be times in our small h history where we should do things that surprise us.
I think those people on the street surprised themselves. ‘The Lord needs it’ - this was music to their ears. There was no confusion who this man coming down the road was. It is big H moment here too. In the capital city of the holy land. A high water mark of the Jesus revolution against Rome. Like any high water moment in big H History: due to the tides and currents of the time.
The Palm perhaps the most important symbol. Witnessed by so many. Spoken of by so many.
7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many [of the people] spread their coats on the road [as an act of tribute and homage before a new king],
These people wrapped up in their small h history did they lose their minds? This colt imagery was agreed upon by all. Suddenly the coat on my back not important as the person in front of me. I have never had an experience like that. So visceral. This day about our reaction and everything good we can be with the grace of God.
Holy week is about something else I think. The Glory of God alone, but today we celebrate this modest man riding into essentially the capitol of our world on the least modest mode of transportation.
and others [scattered a layer of] leafy branches which they had cut from the fields [honoring Him as Messiah]. 9 Those who went in front and those who were following [Him] were shouting [in joy and praise],
This was madness of the very best kind. People responded which is what should give us hope even in the harshness of life today. Luke adds in his narrative: 39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples [for shouting these Messianic praises].” 40 Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!”
People responded which is what should give us hope!
“Hosanna (Save, I pray)!
Blessed (praised, glorified) is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
10“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple [enclosure]; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve [disciples], because it was already late [in the day].
The ending of this story highlights more than anything. That this is not the end. And we are going to be busy with Big and little h history till the next Triumphal Entry.
So why isn't this the end? Well that would be because of what Jesus does the next time he returned to the Temple. In Chapter 12 of Mark - 15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple [grounds] and began driving out [with force] the people who were selling and buying [animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise or household wares through the temple [grounds, using the temple area irreverently as a shortcut]. 17 He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this and began searching for a way to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, since the entire crowd was struck with astonishment at His teaching.
They recognized him on the colt. This Jesus they did not recognize. This is where despair comes from in the world. People did not respond, but the powers that were did. There seems no end to the senseless violence in the holy lands, a robbers' den. If the grace of God was not for everybody I am sure we would already be done.
John 12:15 "Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!"
Let Us Pray
Help us to recognize you whenever you are in front of us
We want the Triumphal
We don't want the despair
The separation
Help us face the life ahead
How you faced this week ahead
Help us to bring your kingdom to all
Make your house a house of prayer for all the nations
We ask in the name of your son Jesus Christ
Amen
Benediction
Let us always respond well before any rock to the glory of our Lord
Amen
3/24/2024 Nottingham UMC
