Pastor’s
Column
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, which this year falls on the first of April. Think of that: Palm Sunday as April Fool’s Day.
Jesus’ entered Jerusalem on that ceremonial donkey. Large crowds assembled, chanting, “Hosanna!”
(“Save us, Lord!”) . . . Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!” They laid garments and palm branches on the road. Next day, Jesus “began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple” and “would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple”
(Matt. 11:15-16).
An “Occupy Jerusalem” movement was seemingly underway. What were Jesus and his followers going to attempt? He denounced the hypocrisy of the establishment each day in the temple. People reported hearing him speak about the destruction of the temple. What were the political goals of this Messiah-King? How would the Roman government and military respond to this threat?
Nobody had a clue about Jesus’ actual plan. Even his disciples did not quite understand as they prepared the Passover meal in that upper room. One of them betrayed him.
You can’t begin to get what God was doing on your behalf during Holy Week unless you put yourself into the whole drama. What happened on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are pivotal events in the history of the world. Anyone who thinks that Easter is just about colored eggs and chocolate bunnies is the biggest April Fool of all.
Gratefully,
Charles Hambrick-Stowe