GRAND ENTRANCES – TWO
Today, I want to look at the text differently than Christians normally do.
I want us to look at what I am calling “two grand entrances”. Let’ look at Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, and Jesus’ entrance into the Temple.
I am doing this as a way to perhaps look at Jesus in a new light.
The entrance into Jerusalem begins with Jesus summoning a colt, in fulfilment of yet another prophecy. He is quickly surrounded with crowds clamoring. Yet if we peer into the scene, if we look for Jesus, what do we find?
He, in Matthew’s Gospel, is muted in his presence. He has directed the disciples. He has motivated the crowds. Yet we have not heard from him. Looking at Luke’s Gospel, we read that Jesus weeps.
Jesus’ mood is not one of jubilation. Certainly, our Lord is determined. He has set his face towards Jerusalem. Most folks think he is crying over Jerusalem and its people. It is not just the people of Jesus’ day who have so often misunderstood God’s intentions, it is us, it is me.
He enters next the Temple. The place where, in Old Testament times, God’s people came to both offer sacrifice and too commune with God. In our modern-day parlance, we would say the Temple is the place where people come to be in relationship with God.
As Jesus enters this place, His place. He is confronted by what he calls a “den of robbers”. What are they stealing? Money through shady deals? Perhaps.
Perhaps they are stealing from people their opportunity of encountering God. Now that, that would really anger Jesus. He has come to remove all the obstacles, including the ultimate obstacle, sin.
His “two entrances” reveal to him the necessity of the Cross, perhaps through the Cross people will finally understand God’s love.
There is a hymn that is sung on what many churches call Palm Sunday.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Hear all the tribes hosanna cry;
O Savior meek, your road pursue,
with palms and scattered garments strewn.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
O Christ, your triumphs now begin
o’er captive death and conquered sin.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
The hosts of angels in the sky
look down with sad and wondering eyes
to see the approaching sacrifice.
Ride on, ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
bow your meek head to mortal pain;
then take, O Christ, your power and reign.
Have you allowed Jesus entrance to your heart?