One of my favourite quotes is by Benjamin Franklin on the subject of liberty:
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch …”
I have recently been mindful of Palm Sunday and wrestling with the irony of how, in Sunday school classes, our children make ‘palm leaves’ as a craft to learn how Jesus’ entrance was as a triumphant king.
Or was it? The irony being that the Jews who laid palm branches on the road before Jesus were, quite probably, the same Jews later demanding his crucifixion.
And understandably too. Put yourself in their shoes. The hope of a prophecy fulfilled. And then, dramatically not fulfilled. Jesus rode a colt into town, yes, but he did not remove the power of the oppressor. He was clearly not there to bring peace. He toppled their micro-markets and their clever tax avoidance schemes. To replace it with what?
Our own upcoming national elections remind me that, along with hope for a new leader comes hope for a new military strategy, hope for a new financial system, hope for a better system of justice, for a better job or role, for a better way of life for me and my family. For the oppressed, hope for Wolf Chops.
But this is not the Kingdom of God that Jesus brought near as I understand it.
It is not about the Acquisition Of Power, whether for good or otherwise.
In terms of a strategy for service, Jesus teaching is exhausting. In terms of finance, it will leave you penniless. In terms of a social role, it will make you an alien and in terms of military progress it will (to cite Chris Martin’s genius lyrics) leave you sweeping the streets you used to own.
[1454:4544]
2 comments:
Hey Jonathan, I would suggest that Jesus riding on a donkey is mixed symbolism... That the KIng of the Jews would ride into Jerusalem to finalise his conquest. The problem is he rode in on a donkey / ass / colt??? Not on a horse! This is similar to the symbolism of the Kingdom of God being like a Mustard Seed (first century weed) rather than a cedar... As our friend Shane noted that the Mustard Bush is for small 'vermin' birds and the Cedar is for powerful eagles.
This all is important about peoples expectations... the entry of Jesus into Jerselem would lead to the expectation of the overturn of the Roman rule and a new Jewish empire just like in the days of David/Solomon. Whereas the result was Jeus being crucified! This may or may not related to or be similar to hope of revival which will lead to a transformed 'Christian' society affecting all levels of society. Whereas many people remain disappointed by the many promised revival never happening. People wanting Jesus to transform by miracles and mass conversions, to do it by his might and power.
Conversely the history of revival has been about from Acts onwards a radical change in peoples individual lives with a focus on personal holiness, prayer and acts of service accompanied by supporting miracles and mass conversions, they all seem to accompany each other synergistically one fuelling the other! These revivals or renewals are often accompanied by a scattering of the new followers of Jesus either voluntarily or forced by economic or political forces. The other factor involved also seem to be persecution of the new followers.
What is revival / renewal ?
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