April 1, 2012
Faithful
- Mark 11:1-11
- Dr. Teri Thomas
How did you get to church this morning? Did you walk? Take a bus? Ride a bike? Drive?
We spend considerable time, energy, thought and money on the process of studying, analyzing, selecting, negotiating and purchasing our preferred mode of transportation. I think that is because for many of us transportation is more than a means of getting from one place to another.
What we drive says something about who we are.
Driving a Harley says something different than a baby-blue Vespa Scooter.
An Audi TT RS or Chevy 4 X 4?
A Dodge Minivan or a Jeep?
A Kia or a Lexus?
A Prius or a Hummer?
Your choice says something about who you are and what is important to you.
In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus wants people to know who he is and what is important to him.
So over half the passage s focused on the details of how Jesus will arrive in Jerusalem.
It would say one thing if he walked, something else if he rode.
If he rode would he ride a horse or a donkey?
A war horse or a humble beast of burden?
The symbolism is important.
So Jesus sent two of the disciples. “Go into the village and get me my ride.”
Maybe these are two disciples who have been pushed aside
by James and John as they jockey for power and position.
They have given up their employment, their income, their safety and security.
They follow Jesus because they believe he is the Messiah. The Answer! The One!
Associating with him will take them somewhere.
They plan to bask in fame and fortune someday real soon.
But instead they find themselves engaged in a most unromantic form of ministry,
mucking around a stable, looking suspiciously like horse thieves,
and trying to wrestle an untamed and no doubt balky animal toward the olive groves.
For this they left their fishing nets?
(LIVING BY THE WORD, Christian Century, Rhetorical excess by Thomas G. Long, April 2006)
You know, when we ordain folks as officers here at Northminster,
we ask them…
“Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors
and work for the reconciliation of the world? . . .
Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love?”
This sounds like a lofty calling. A real honor. A position of dignity and respect in the congregation. Never once is it mentioned that serving people with energy, imagination and love
often boils down to stuff like …
ordering coffee and donuts for coffee hour
putting chocolates in plastic Easter eggs
washing windows in the gathering Place
taking communion to people who don’t even know who you are
providing insurance for the church van
or, finding a suitable donkey at the last minute.
But Jesus says, go get the donkey.
And then he demonstrates what he expects.
Jesus enters Jerusalem.
Instead of a display of might he rode a symbol of peace.
Instead of power he chose submission.
Instead of dignity- surrender.
Rather than acclaim he opted for mockery.
Jesus gave up honor for humiliation
and glory for apparent foolishness.
Jesus also chose an animal that had never been ridden.
An untrained and unbroken animal.
There was no way of knowing
how this animal would respond to a load on his back-
or react to the crowds
throwing coats and branches in front of him.
Would he bolt at the shouts and screams and Hosannas?
Jesus is trying something that has never been done before.
The way he has chosen is not a safe one.
It hasn’t been test driven and it is anything but tame.
Isn’t that just like Jesus to do it the hard way?
Jesus knew his enemies were in Jerusalem
but he chose to go there.
He knew it would mean trouble
but he decided to have a parade
to make it a show
rather than just walk in anonymously amongst the crowds.
It didn’t just happen.
Jesus planned it.
The colt.
The upper room.
The foot washing.
The garden.
Jesus planned every detail.
Because symbolism matters
and he wanted the people to know who he really was
and what he really came to do.
Jesus wanted his message to be clear
his entrance was a symbol of his faithfulness.
His procession announced
- the arrival of God
- the establishment of a new kingdom
- the lordship of love.
By the way he rode that donkey thru the gates
he clearly said
I did not come to crush the wicked
but I promise to sustain the weary and the weak.
I will not hide from suffering but will endure the persecution of the powerful.
I will not fight back, but will turn the other cheek.
I will not run scared.
I will hope,
trust,
wait.
Jesus said,
This is faithfulness;
and where you find faithfulness like this the world changes.
And he said it all without ever speaking a word.