The King Comes

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36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

(Luke 19:36-40)

The recounting of Jesus' "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem in Luke's gospel doesn't include any waving of palm branches or shouts of "Hosanna", but the crowd of disciples still dangerously hailed Jesus as king. Fearful of the Roman authorities, the Pharisees in the crowd asked Jesus to silence the revelers. Jesus refused. Perhaps Jesus realized that this was the last time he would be joyfully welcomed, the last moment of ease or comfort that he would experience. Yet there does not seem to be any pleasure within Jesus at this reception. It's possible that the writer's own sadness is coming through in the retelling. Luke did not experience Jesus' ministry first hand. He came to be a follower after Jesus' resurrection. So, much as it does for us, the specter of the crucifixion looms large over Luke's experience of the gospel, the good news, of Jesus.

We can find joy, however, in the fact that just as Jesus went into Jerusalem knowing his fate, he comes to us knowing that we will reject him as often as we receive him. The crowd didn't understand how simultaneously right and wrong they were. Indeed, Jesus was a king, but not the type of king they expected. They wanted - and we tend to want - Jesus to bring salvation from the external forces of oppression, but Jesus provides salvation from the internal forces of oppression. Vanquishing the enemies within is a much more frightening prospect than potentially destroying those equally flawed people we've labeled as our enemies. Yet, Jesus comes - offering his peace over and over. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

22 The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

23 the Lord has done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 The Lord has done it this very day;

let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us!

Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27 The Lord is God,

and he has made his light shine on us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

up to the horns of the altar.

(Psalm 118:22-27)