Mark 11:1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany,
at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, "Go into the village
opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on
which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And
if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of
it,' and immediately he will send it here." 4
So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door
outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But
some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing
the colt?" 6 And they spoke to them just as
Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then
they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.
8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and
others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed
cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our
father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the
highest!" 11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem
and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour
was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
I was watching the news of the new pope the other day,
and somehow it reminded me of the scene as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the
back of a donkey.
New pope, St. Peter’s Square, and a massive gathering of
people who were drawn to the setting by some white smoke…
There was a thronging crowd - but at the same time, the
crowd didn’t truly seem to understand what they were thronging for. (My
estimation.) What was it they expected, exactly?
What ARE people looking for any more? Are they looking
for wisdom? Are they looking for peace? Are they looking for someone who can
solve all their problems? Or are they just looking to be part of the crowd - and
to be part of something that gives them a greater sense of identity or
strength?
There they were, looking up to a distant window to a
frail-looking figure in a white frock, feebly waving his hand back and forth.
And they were cheering this man with all their hearts, and with all their
strength, with the news that THIS MAN is the One.
But the One for what, I wonder?
And I think back to that setting a couple thousand years
ago when another One rode into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Same
crowd really - cheering with all their hearts, and with all their strength, for
this One.
Things haven’t really changed very much, have they?
People move very easily…in crowds. But they never really seem to know what the
crowd is for, or where the crowd is going, or what the crowd truly believes. Does
the crowd really believe in anything? Do you?
People, it seems, simply long to be part of something
greater than themselves, and sadly, for most that is enough. It explains why
there was an equally large crowd gathered four days later chanting for Jesus to
be crucified.
-Pastor Bill
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