Palm Sunday (March 24). Because it was already late

Prepare to Listen.  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
 
Prayerfully Read Mark 11:1-11
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.  3If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”’  4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street.  As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’  6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.  7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.  8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.  9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!’  11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
What memories do you have around this story?
 
We call this story, “Jesus’ triumphal entry.”  But the story Mark tells is disappointing.  There’s nothing triumphal about it.  Over half the story is devoted to Jesus’ instructions to two disciples about commandeering a donkey, not the usual beast of choice to carry a king in a victory parade.  The crowd tried to make it triumphal, hailing Jesus as king with verses from Psalm 118.  They hoped Jesus was about to end Roman oppression.  I wonder whether they noticed that Jesus remained both silent and passive on the donkey.  Did you notice?
 
The story ends in an anticlimax.  Jesus entered the temple, looked around and left because it was already late.  Too late for what?  Mark doesn’t say.  If a presidential candidate today was given the acclaim Jesus received, they’d ride the wave all the way to victory, no matter how late.  Perhaps that’s what Jesus’ disciples and the crowd expected.  Instead, Jesus left Jerusalem for no other reason that it was already late.
 
What strikes me in this story is Mark’s insistence that Jesus isn’t the king/ruler we expect or maybe even want.  We’d never vote for him to rule our country.  His ways are the antithesis of our ways and if we choose to follow him we must reject the populist ways of the world for the gentle man silently riding a beast of burden, which is a symbol of peace and service, not force and violence.  Behold the Lamb of God.
 
Based on this story, how would you describe Jesus?  What does it suggest about how you should follow him?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord Jesus, help me be more like you, focused on humility and peace and a determination to achieve the goal God’s way, not the populist or expected way.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Follow the Gentle Jesus.