Palm Sunday 2023
Let’s start
with the last part first – Passion Week. Many often think about this as in ‘what
was Jesus passionate about?’ or ‘what is the passion in this week?’. I think to
get to this a bit more, it’s important to look at what does passion
mean? People often equate it with a strong feeling towards something. And that
is part of it. But it seems there’s something more going on here. In this case,
specifically historically speaking, ‘passion’ as in the Passion of Christ,
referred to Christ’s suffering. But, it doesn’t stop there; nor does it start
there – it’s not just his arrest, trial, and execution. It is part of a larger
story that cannot be understood without understanding the whole story. The one
that starts with today – Palm Sunday.
A few years back, I read a book during this week called The
Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. These two scholars did a
deep dive into the events of this week, as per the gospel of Mark. Mark is the
only gospel to examine in detail this last week … almost day for day. And, in
this reflection on this narrative as well as a thorough understanding of the time
of the events, there are some amazing things that come forth. I will occasionally
refer to this over the thoughts I will write on this coming week.
Today – the Procession.
Growing up, I remember Palm Sunday as the day everyone was
happy. Everyone got a palm frond as they entered the church … what you did with
it varied from waving it in the air to bugging your brother who sat on the
other side of Mom. I can’t remember if there was a use for it as part of the
service, but we each had our own little palm frond to take home with us after! …
which likely ended up in the garbage within the week. On rare occasions, we got
little crosses that were woven with palm fronds … those lasted a bit longer.
But, this procession, this waving of the palm branches, had
much more significance than holding up this leaf in the air and shouting ‘hosanna’!!
It had to do with an ‘in-your-face’, thumbing your nose, at the power establishment
of the day. What?? Yes. It had to do with an ‘anti-establishment’ political
action that the Roman power could not dismiss. They knew something that we
seem to have forgotten. The fact is – there were TWO processions on that day.
One, the imperial power and authority of Rome – Pontius Pilate,
Caesar’s representative, came into Jerusalem from the West in all his might dominance
during the Passover, the celebration of the Jewish people of their release of
oppression from the Egyptian people … at the time of their oppression under
Rome. Caesar knew this time was a tinderbox and had the potential for serious problems
(there had been riots in the past) and it was his opportunity to remind them of
who had power – him. And his mighty armies. And, in this procession – of horses,
and garrison armies, and banners waving, - Caesar reminded his people of the power
he had over them. He showed that there would be no patience, no compassion, no
tolerance.
The other … another procession. As different as day is from
night! The same day? Another day? Not certain … but very likely in close
proximity to each other, so the message would be clear. Pilate came in on his magnificent
battle horse and Jesus? On a donkey (predicted in Zach 9), lower than a mule;
the lowest hierarchy as possible. This will be the ‘conqueror’?? mightier than
Pilate? No, Jesus is making a point to Rome as the highest imperial power, that
they might have the sword, but they don’t know what true ‘power’ is. Their
violence … in opposition to his non-violence.
Let’s stop here and take a quick look at the two types of
power we have here …
|
Roman Authority (Pilate’s Power) |
God’s Authority (Jesus’ Power) |
|
Entering on a
war horse |
Entering on a
female donkey |
|
Surrounded by
his armies, his employees, his clerks, his servants, hundreds of people!! |
Surrounded by
??? his disciples?? |
|
Banners waving,
uniforms of the government |
Palm fronds
and clothing of a wanderer |
|
The people
watching were reminded to be incredibly afraid of what might happen if they
stepped out of line. |
IF people
were watching … would they even understand? Fear? Not at all. Maybe smile? Or
not notice at all? |
|
An act and
demonstration of imperial authority and rule of their power over the Jewish
people. |
Act of
political theater, an anti-imperial demonstration designed to mock the
obscene pomp and circumstance of Rome. |
|
Remind
the people that Rome was in charge |
Communicate
to Rome that they don’t know what real power is. |
|
Armed heresy
on horseback |
Embodied
truth on a donkey |
|
Pilate’s power
came from Rome |
Jesus’ power
came from God |
|
Pilate’s power
was one of might and fear. |
Jesus’ power
was one of love and compassion |
We now can see just how different the kingdom of God is compared
to the Kingdom of Rome. Or any other governmental authority, for that matter.
Just because power can demonstrate with weapons and might does not mean they
have real power. Oh sure, power in the ‘natural’ sense … but not one in the ‘supernatural’
sense. We now can make the comparison … provided we understand that there were
two processions and what the meaning behind that is.
You see, in the supernatural world – the world that exists
beyond time, it is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. The Roman world rose
and fell. Every natural kingdom will rise and fall. That is part of nature. But
in God’s Kingdom, lead by love and compassion for all, there is no end. We are
all equal, regardless of the colour of our skin or the thoughts in our head.
God knows all that and God has a way to make all things equal. I am not God so
I not only do not understand it, it is also not something I need to worry
about.
It was on this day that Jesus put his stake in the ground
and said …
People! There is another Kingdom than this one you see!
Rome! You have no idea what true power is!
People! Come follow me and I will give you rest!
Rome! You have no authority over that which exists outside
of time!
And that’s how this week began.
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