A Victory Parade

 

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:1-10 ESV).

 

Perhaps you have been a part of a parade. Often when a team wins a championship they are celebrated with a parade through the city. Last year when the Texas Rangers won the World Series there was a large parade in their honor through Arlington. It was quite a celebration! In fact, there was an estimated 700,000 fans from across the Dallas-Fort Worth region who turned out for the parade to celebrate at the Texas Rangers first World Series victory.

 

This is the setting we see described in today’s reading. For many who saw Jesus riding into the city, it was a day of celebration. They lined the streets, shouting, “Hosanna!” (a shout of praise), expecting Jesus to restore Israel to its former glory. With excitement and religious fervor, the people shouted, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

 

Today we look differently on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. We know that the people shouting “Hosanna” had false expectations. They expected Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom, with them at the top. But that wasn’t his mission, and they were soon disappointed. In fact, just a few days later, the mood became ugly. A disciple of Jesus betrayed him; religious leaders called for his execution; soldiers mocked him, flogged him, and spat on him; and the Roman governor had him crucified. Three days later He was resurrected making it possible for all believers to be forgiven and gain eternal life! Now… that’s worth a real victory parade!