04012023 – Matthew 27.11-54
I want you to understand why there was a great deal of legitimate concern as Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem.
To begin with, the “High Holy Days” were quickly approaching. Preparations were now in full swing.
Jerusalem would be teeming with religious pilgrims in a matter of hours.
The city streets would be overflowing with people, shoulder to shoulder, they would push and squirm through the city streets. People pushing and shoving in all directions. People longing to see what there was to see. Mass movements of people up and down the streets and thorough ways.
These would be days like no other.
Potentially dangerous days.
Exciting days…
Holy days…
Religious days…
And NOT so-religious days…
It takes a very small spark to get a fire going…and a spark can come in many forms…
Palm Sunday/ Passion Sunday invites us to experience the full roller coaster of events…and emotions all associated with the same day.
The air itself seemed “expectant of new things happening” and “expectant of new things emerging…”
There is laughter and elation with people getting caught up in the affirmation of the “COMING ONE.”
There is conflict at almost every intersection where the Roman guards stand post and at the ready.
There is a darkness, a forlorn feeling, a kind of despondency at the sight of so many roman soldiers. Are they all really necessary? This is the “holy city” after all…
Behind the scenes, in the background, political leaders and religious leaders are scheming…and making their own kinds of plans.
Do you recall or do you remember the only miracle that is repeated in all four of the gospel accounts?
Of course, you do.
Jesus fed hungry people. He fed the multitudes.
As the story was told, he had but little resources, five loaves, and two fish…and what were they…among so many people?
The people loved spreading this story, that is the reason it was told on four separate occasions, by four different and distinct authors.
The people loved the story, they relished telling it, over and over again. Even as they loved hearing it being told.
And of course, whenever and wherever the story was told, they mentioned that the men that were gathered into groups of 50 and 100. They were seated together in these groupings…
This means nothing to us in 2023. But in the first century of the Common Era those numbers were significant to the first Christians and more importantly to the ROMAN AUTHORITIES who controlled the region.
In the Roman Army, soldiers were always grouped into centuries, groups of one hundred men.
From the Roman perspective, it appeared that Jesus was gathering his forces, perhaps as many as 5,000 men.
They were being trained in units of 50 and 100.
With the expectation that they would be led into the city, or that they would already be scattered throughout the city in their units, lying in wait.
The Roman leaders feared Jesus might be leading a massive uprising in Jerusalem, the largest city in the region, just in time for the Passover celebration, one of the oldest and most important Jewish festivals.
It was also duly noted that Jesu would probably be approaching Jerusalem from the East.
Bethphage is just to the East of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives is just East of the Temple.
They expected some kind of ride into the city, with an unknown number of potential followers…
There was even an ancient prophecy that came from the mouth of the prophet Zechariah, that said the Mount of Olives was the place from which an assault on Israel’s enemies was to begin.
It was also a well know and established fact that throughout his ministry, this Jesus had invited people to follow him.
From Tax collectors to fishermen to dirt farmers and even to slaves owning nothing at all, he asked them all – to consider his call and simply to follow him.
It might be, it could be a massive army. The potential WAS there.
This Jesus was a threat. He was constantly and continually known for attacking the religious status quo, and by extension, he attacked the religious leadership.
It was actually amazing how very quickly, Jesus alienated the military occupiers who controlled the government and how he single-handedly undercut the authority of the religious leaders.
This Jesus and his followers had to be watched closely, very closely.
The Passover was looming.
Amen.