In our gospel reading for today, Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt, in the manner prophesied for the Messiah, the king of David's lineage. And the people around Jerusalem respond by laying their cloaks on the road, and strewing leafy branches in his path. The people had high hopes for this Messiah, that he would improve their lot in life by freeing them from Roman oppression. Instead, Jesus frees them and us from more than mere circumstances in THIS life – Jesus frees us from death....
You see it in sports with people like Connor McDavid. You see it in politics with people like Pierre Pollievre. You see it in business with people like Elon Musk. There is something special about these people – they are NOT normal! They have a skill level or an idea or an attitude that we haven't seen before among their peers, and that opens up new possibilities. Maybe, just maybe, these people can make a difference to the status quo, and get us out of the rut we are in. Maybe, just maybe, these people can deliver us to a better place. Maybe, just maybe, these people can be...our messiahs....
Jesus, in our gospel reading, had already been recognized by the people as not-your-normal rabbi. With his miracles, and his teachings, and his attitude, Jesus was looking like a messiah, someone who could make a difference and change the status quo. In response, the people gladly threw their coats and palm branches to mark his path, and shouted his praises for all to hear, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David.” Jesus was expected to launch the uprising that would once-and-for-all defeat the Roman occupation, and lead his nation Israel back to glory and prosperity. Jesus was the one with the power of God, the one who had raised people from the dead and driven out demons, the one who had cured and healed and fed people all over Judea and Galilee. Jesus was THE ONE! So when later that week, Jesus was powerless in Roman custody, and the religious elite were all denouncing him, the people were devastated enough to cry out, “crucify him.”
What are we hoping messiah Jesus will do for us? We've waved the palms and sung the songs of praise – now what are OUR expectations? WHAT IF...Jesus DOESN'T make the cancer go away forever? WHAT IF...Jesus DOESN'T make our addictions go away forever? WHAT IF we remain just as broke, just as unemployable, just as unpopular as before Jesus came into our lives? WHAT IF our family STAYS dysfunctional, and our boss REMAINS a jerk, and we STILL don't win the lottery? WHAT IF the depressing circumstances of our lives are left IN PLACE by Jesus? Will we also turn away from him, devastated, ready to crucify him?