Luke 19:28-40
After telling a parable to the crowd at Jericho, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.'” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
REFLECTIONS:
According to Borg and Crossan, Jesus is mocking the procession of Pilate that occurred the week prior. Pilate would have come into Jerusalem on a great warhorse with all his soldiers wielding swords. Jesus is riding a colt with the crowd waving palms. He is also mimicking the prophets of old with a well-known demonstration. He is stirring up a messiah fever that Pilate and the temple do not want. Ironically Jesus doesn’t either. His message is not political revolution. His clever teaching tool, however, makes his message of the Kingdom inaudible to the powerful. This was a miscalculation on his part or exactly what he intended to do. Peace to you, Keith
Leave a Reply