"So Who's the Donkey?"

by Revd Bruce Waldron - 9th April 2006 (Palm Sunday)

On Palm Sunday, So who's the donkey?

There is a real irony in the Palm Sunday story. Jesus is greeted by the crowds with all their messianic fervour, and they are right in one way and terribly wrong in another.

And all the celebration and hurrah's that are part of this procession are hurrahs and celebrations of Jesus coming glory, but throughout Mark's Gospel, Jesus' glory is his cross, his crucifixion.

In Mark's understanding of what the gospel story means, the most significant part of the story is the crucifixion. Throughout the fifteen chapters there is always an echo somewhere, always alluding back to it.
So the people are shouting and celebrating but the reality of what they are celebrating is in exactly the opposite direction to what they think

It always scares me a little to think that people can so easily be completely wrong, and so enthusiastic about the very thing they are wrong about, so I could be wrong too.

The self searching that we are asked to engage in throughout Lent, is very significant, when you think how enthusiastic, sincere, and wrong the crowds were.

Lenten self examination is a very important part of trying to be an authentic Christian, because we know how easy it is to be self deluding, to be caught up in wrong thinking and imagine it is right.
And all the people who were there were ordinary people, like you and me.

I sometimes think, who would I most be like - who represents me there on that day?

The soldiers were there of course, the enforcers of their day,
"Just doing my duty Sir! Obeying orders! Troublemaker on the horizon Sir. Better to keep a close eye on him. He'll disturb the peace."
Odd thing for a soldier to say.

Soldiers are there to enforce the status quo - Jesus was there to ask the status quo some very difficult questions that it's enforcers didn't even want to think about.

In all we do and say
God help us to hear the voice of Jesus
more clearly than the voice of safe regimentation
more clearly than the coercive shout of those who assume authority

There were the crowds, all caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment. Caught up in what everyone else thinks is a good thing, without really examining what is happening, or why, or how it will end up, or what is really God's way.

It seems they were thinking "At last, God has sent someone to save us, to free us from these rotten Romans. God is going to make Israel free and here's the leader to do it.

But Jesus was intent on saving them from themselves. Even if they became free from Rome, they still wouldn't have been liberated. And all the cultural assumptions that they grew up with had them moving in precisely the opposite direction to the Son of God, cheering for a messiah that Jesus had no intention of being, cheering for a way a victory whilst Jesus was calling for a different type of victory.

In all we do and say
God help us to hear the voice of Jesus
more clearly than the voice of custom
more clearly than the overwhelming voice of the crowd.

There were the disciples, afraid of going to Jerusalem, but for the moment, caught up in it too. All our fears were unfounded, they think. All our doubts were just foolish. Look at the crowds, listen to them yell. Jesus has made it to the big time.

But somewhere in the back of their minds that little niggling remembrance, about Jesus saying how the Son of Man must go up to Jerusalem and suffer there. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe they would make him King, using power like the people want him to.

In all we do and say
God help us to hear the voice of Jesus,
more clearly than the seductive voice of safety,
more clearly than the certainty of popular opinion.

There were of course, the Pharisees, the people's religious leaders, afraid of someone messing up the organization, wrecking the comfort zone, destabilizing the church, making them redundant.
The church had always stood. They didn't want wildcards messing the system. They had their position to consider, a rank entrusted to them by the system, to make sure that the system that gave them such power was maintained.

In all we do and say
God help us to hear the voice of Jesus
more clearly than the security of power
more clearly than the allure of prestige.

And of course, there's the donkey. The donkey simply carried Jesus with him, wherever Jesus directed. He didn't seem to have his own agenda, except to do the will of Christ. Of course, the donkey wasn't human. He didn't have to weigh up the alternatives available like we do. He had a clear way of knowing his direction.

Jesus voice, his hand on the reins, the pressure of a foot, a leg.
And that path strewn with leaves and clothes and shouting people.
It's a wonder he could hear Jesus voice.

In all we do and say
"God help us to hear the voice of Jesus,
amongst the clamour of voices that call at us,
amongst the strange and unexpected that startles us,
amongst the many different motives and expectations,
give us, we ask,
the attentiveness, to hear clearly the voice of Jesus,
to pay attention to the gentle touch of his wounded hands,
and to carry his presence with us, wherever you may direct.
Amen"