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by
David Phelps
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa
May, 2009
Earlier this year, it looked as if Maplewood United Methodist—and indeed the whole city of Maplewood—had “gone Hollywood.” If you’re a member or friend of Maplewood UMC and you haven’t been living in a cave, you know that Paramount Pictures spent a few weeks filming the motion picture “Up In The Air,” starring leading man George Clooney, in and around Maplewood. For some of us, though, the “real” excitement revolved around Paramount’s decision to film some scenes at Maplewood UMC.
Hollywood “magic” put snow on the ground and transformed our humble church into “Shepherd Pines Lutheran.” Members and others from around the neighborhood thronged the church, hoping to catch a glimpse of Clooney or perhaps get a handshake, photo or autograph. My wife, Charlotte, our sixteen-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Monica, and I all managed to be in the vicinity, at least for a little while. A couple of children from our congregation, Samantha and Jonathan, even got the opportunity to be “extras” during filming. But at least one person was disappointed because Clooney in person turned out to be too thin for her taste.
As “Clooney mania” continued, I wondered what things might have been like if Jesus were around today? Would he be a “superstar,” like in the opera of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice? Would crowds still have followed him, perhaps waiting for no more than a glimpse of him, as some folks did with George Clooney? Would he have been as popular as a modern day movie star? Would the National Enquirer or the Star have reported on his activities? And what about his message? Would it have been as popular?
Jesus was at perhaps his most popular the day he rode into Jerusalem on a simple donkey (Matt. 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19). As he rode along, the crowds spread their cloaks on the roadway, along with branches from nearby trees. Ironically, considering that we call it “Palm Sunday,” only John specifies palm branches (John 12:13a) and Luke doesn’t mention branches at all.
As Jesus rode along, the crowds shouted “Hosanna!” which means “Save now!” or “Save us, we pray!” in Hebrew. The expression is most notably found in Psalm 118, verse 25. Although the other gospels attribute the exclamation to the crowds, Luke has Jesus’ disciples shouting “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” (Luke 19:38 ESV).
And yet, many—if not all—of the people who were shouting “Hosanna!” that day were shouting “Crucify!” only a few days later. According to New Testament Chronology by Kenneth F. Doig, as few as three days—and no more than five days—might have elapsed from the “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem until the crucifixion. What happened in those few days? What changed the people from cheering Jesus to wanting him dead?
You could say that“. . . the chief priests stirred up thecrowd . . .” as Mark does (Mark 15:11a). You could say it was “the Jews” as John does (John 18:38a; 19:7, 12, 14b-15). But either would only be a part of the answer. The truth is that“. . . all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’” (Matt. 27:25 ESV). They knew what they were doing (condemning an innocent man) and they accepted the consequences. But why? I believe they were angry and disillusioned because Jesus had disappointed them. They thought Jesus had come to be a “king” who would “save” them (Mark 11:10a; Luke 19:38a; John 12:13b). And of course he was, but he wasn’t what they were expecting so they turned on him.
Our world is filled with people who are disappointed, disillusioned, searching for something or someone to believe. What do they see when they look at us? Are they disappointed yet again or do they see Christ at work in our lives? We have a chance to show them the “king of kings” (1 Tim. 6:15b) who can truly save them and never disappoint them. We owe it to them to make sure they aren’t disappointed by what they see in us.
“And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!’” (Mark 11:9-10 ESV.)
Copyright © 2009 by David Phelps