Friday's thougths on Sunday's sermon

Fleming Rutledge in her book The Bible and the New York Times writes: "Palm Sunday is a very strange day. Its proper name is the Sunday of the Passion, because the story of Jesus' suffering and death is always read. A case could be made that this is the most important Sunday of the year to come to church. It begins in celebration and it ends in catastrophe. We come in joyful, and we go out stricken." I wanted to share with you something written by the Jewish historian Josephus. It was written just after Jesus' death on the cross. This is what an objective historian thought. "Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works--a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was (the) Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, had condemned him on the cross those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day." What do we make of this? How can we get our minds around that he died, why he died, how had him die, and how did he become such a danger to anyone that it would lead to his death? There are three issues we're going to consider Sunday: 1. Why did they cheer him saying, "Hosanna"? 2. Why did they not know who he was and when did they learn? 3. When they discovered who he was why did the call out "crucify him"? If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the "comments" box below. If you would like a draft of the sermon let me know and I am happy to send it. Charles Schuster