Palm
Sunday
March 29, 2015
Mark 11:1-11; 15:1-39
An Attitude of Opportunity
“When
Triumph & Tragedy Kiss Each Other”
Passion
–Palm Sunday consists of mixed emotions.
One does not know whether to laugh or cry, to celebrate or to
mourn. Palm Sunday seems to be triumph
for Jesus and Passion Sunday is one of agony, suffering, and death. Within a week, this was Jesus’ experience,
and we need to re-live it with Him.
How
triumph turns to tragedy –
Was
Jesus a King? (v.2) The central issue in the trial, passion and death of Jesus
was the matter of kingship. He was accused of making Himself a king. This claim
was the subject of Pilate's interview with Jesus. His enemies rejected Jesus as
a king. They claimed to have no king but
Caesar. Using the idea of a king, the soldiers had fun with Jesus dressing Him
up as a king. While on the cross, His enemies used the King idea as the basis
for mockery. The superscription on the cross identified Him as a king. But what
a King! He was a king without a crown, throne, and scepter; He had no
countries, no army, nor navy. All He had was a kingdom of truth and love.
Yet there was no answer that Jesus would give
to His accusers. (v.4) In the trial with Caiaphas, Herod, and Pilate, a
distinctive feature was the silence of Jesus. He refused to defend Himself. To
deny the charges, or to expose His enemies. Why did He give "no
answer"? An answer would do no good because His enemies had made up their
minds that he was guilty of death.
Moreover, they were not open to truth or to change. Jesus' silence
indicated He was willing to die for the sins of the entire world.
It
was out of envy and spite that these false charges were leveled at Jesus
(v.10). Pilate was convinced that Jesus was innocent of the charges. He
realized that Jesus was brought to trial because of the envy of the religious
leaders. Well might they envy one who
could heal the sick, raise the dead, still the storms, and captivate the
people. If Pilate knew this, he had reason to release Him. Pilate was a person
who knew what was right but he lacked the courage to act on it.
After
a night with no sleep, enduring four trials (three Jewish and one Roman) after
repeated beatings and extreme cruelty Jesus was led through the streets of
Jerusalem bearing His own cross. But He
fell under the load a pilgrim who had come to the city was compelled (v.21) to
carry Jesus' cross to Calvary. His name was Simon, Simon from Cyrene. A cross
may be carried voluntarily, but most crosses are thrust upon us. If it is our own cross, we may choose to
carry it. But, it is another matter if the cross belongs to another person.
Life often thrusts a cross on us - it is unavoidable and inevitable. Even
though the cross is compulsory, we gain from carrying it. Simon must have
become a disciple for the early church; for he is identified as the father of
Alexander and Rufus, men known by the church to be key leaders. Simon was a
role model for his children in bearing the cross for Christ even when it was
thrust upon him. May we model Simon as we bear under the crosses that are
placed upon us.
When
Jesus died, the curtain between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place was torn
from top to bottom (v. 38). The Holy of Holies was the place where God was
identified with the Ark of the Covenant. Only the High Priest could enter the
Holy of Holies but once a year. The torn curtain indicated that the crucified
Christ broke down the partition between God and man. There was not restoration
and peace between God and man. Where there was once enmity there was now a bond
of peace.
It
took a hard man of war and a Gentile to see in the crucified 0ne that Jesus was
the Son of God. (v.39) This is a
confession that Jesus is divine and the chosen Messiah. This conviction came as
a conclusion to his experience at the cross. He saw and heard a man who acted
like the Son of God would speak and act. His conclusion that seemed to explain
everything to him was that Jesus was the Son of God. So, it must always be -
the truth that Jesus is God's Son is not a thesis but a conclusion that
is inescapable after experiencing the cross. May this be your story as you
begin Holy Week this week.
______________________
Words –800
Passive
Sentences –14%
Readabilities
–75
Reading
Level –6.1
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