Sunday, April 1st is Palm Sunday. This is one of the most interesting days of the year and one of the most confusion. I have tried to tackle some of the most difficult texts these last several Sundays and this one is no exception.
The procession of Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem is an interesting phenomenon. You have both the adulation of the coming of the Messiah where all attention is focused on him and you have the humility of one who was coming into Jerusalem riding a beast of burden. He received the shouts of "Hosanna" from the crowd like a conquering hero and yet he chose to enter the city in a most inauspicious manner.
The most complex and problematic part of the story isn't that, however. Somehow it has to be explained to us for our satisfaction how it was that he was praised by the crowd on Sunday, and arrested and jeered by the crowd by the end of the week. What made this crowd fickle? How could they have turned him in asking for "Barabbas" to be saved rather than Jesus? And the name Barabbas is an interesting name when you consider that it means "son of the father". Bar means son. Abba means father. Also it is complicated by the fact that Barabbas was a criminal/revolutionary and Jesus was a peaceful man who taught love and respect.
There are many questions to be addressed this coming Sunday; many issues to be worked out in a story most of us have thought to be a simple lesson in praise and celebration.
Do you have answers to any of these questions? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation and the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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