April 1st:
April 1, 2012 (Palm/Passion Sunday) Call: Mark 11: 1-11 Text: Mark 15: 1-20 Closing: Mark 15: 40-47 The Haunting When I try to envision Christ's entry into Jerusalem, The moving picture that first appears in my mind is accompanied by celebratory music sometimes it is circus type music sometimes it is martial music sometimes it is Hail to the Chief sometimes it is a triumphant hymn like "Victory in Jesus" When that picture first comes into my mind I feel joyful I feel triumphant I am a happy guy. I picture the people being happy too Seeing Jesus as God's emissary Seeing Jesus as the one who is to reestablish David's kingdom And, like Moses, to set God's people free. I see the children waving palm branches in the parade that begins spontaneously. I see the people accepting Jesus' leadership Not only with their hosannas But also by surrendering their cloaks For him to sit on For him to ride over I see the surrendered cloaks as an act of humility and gratitude And as a way of declaring themselves to be his subjects. What an experience! Can't you picture it? Don't you wish that you had been there? I do - when that moving picture come to my mind. But then I see That not everyone is shouting hosannas That not everyone has a smile on his face That not everyone's reaction to Jesus Is one of joy, happiness, and celebration. And thus the music changes It becomes the music of impending danger I no longer hear circus music or martial music I start to hear music for a Hitchcock film Or music for a movie based on a Stephen King novel I no longer hear the triumph of "Victory In Jesus" I now begin to recognize the haunting melody and words Of "We Sang Our Glad Hosannas" Even as I listen to the crowd shout out hosannas I know that not all is well. I see men - important men - gritting their teeth To avoid being the subject of the crowd's anger If they express what they really want to say. I see men - powerful men - talking with each other With conspiratorial whispers And evil in their eyes. I see men Angry men; Jealous men; Threatened men Who want this guy Jesus out of the way And want things to go back to how they were Before he arrived to heal, teach, and forgive. And then as the moving picture in my mind jumps ahead, I see what is in store for the man on the donkey Whose presence and entry on Palm Sunday So excited the people That they shouted those hosannas And surrendered those cloaks. And I see a series of upcoming events First an arrest of the one whose entry was so celebrated Then an appearance before the official in charge Followed by an well orchestrated and mean spirited rejection of an offered compromise I see the man mocked I see him being led to the cross. Mark tells us about these. [Mark 15: 1-20] And so this man who was so joyfully received early in the week Was led to the cross of pain and shame late in the week This man who heard crowds shouting hosannas as the week began Heard them shout, "Give us Barabbas" as the week progressed And he knew that those shouting Had chosen to save the life of a murderer Rather than to save his. This man who had palms and cloaks spread before him Had soldiers mock him, strike him, and spit upon him Only a few days afterwards This man who had been proclaimed as a savior sent by God Now was seen as a failure who had been ignored by God. I who was a happy guy when the movie in my mind began Have become a haunted guy by the way it played out. That's heavy - real heavy. So let's momentarily change the tone. How many of you remember "Laugh In?" I ask a question of those of you who do, "What did Dan Rowen and Dick Martin have in common with Palm Sunday?" The answer is the word "fickle." Dan and Dick regularly handed out the "Fickle Finger of Fate" award. Palm Sunday began a week that might qualify it for The "Fickle Finger of Faith" award. The same community that shouted "hosannas" Shouted "Crucify Him!" How much more fickle can you get? But that was then and this is now. You and I would never have turned on him. Of course not. Just look at us We have proclaimed Christ to be our savior And we listen to him all the time. Of course we do. Whenever we make a decision Particularly a difficult decision We don't go along with the crowd We make our own decisions Based on how he has guided us. Of course we do But just in case we might be somewhat uncomfortable with that "Of Course" trilogy, Let us determine this week to allow the haunting aspects of the story To continue to haunt us To become a part of us. For if we do Then maybe, just maybe, You and I will continue to shout "He is Lord. Hosanna in the highest." And not allow our faith to be so fickle That we silently shout "Crucify Him." To please others Or simply by ignoring him.