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Anti-climax?
March 16, 2008 - Dale
Talk about anti-climaxes. The great entry of the long awaited King into the
capital city of his empire was full of excitement and enthusiasm. But the King
himself did not seem very happy.
It seems that when the King arrived in the capital he saw that it was in a mess.
He closed down the worship in the temple for a few hours as a kind of warning of
worse to come. He got stuck into the leading theologians and the religious power
clique. He warned the crowds not to be misled by show and power and popular
display.
The triumphal entry seemed to give way to a rather severe auditor looking over
the state’s affairs and calling the authorities to account. And the tension
increased as the week wore on. The supreme governing body of the nation decided
the King was a fake and planned to get rid of him.
I wonder if Jesus thought it was a big let down? Was he disappointed? Some of
his speech suggests this. “How often would I have gathered you under my arms as
a hen gathers her chickens, but you would not.” There was something deeply
tragic in the arrival of the King. The nation, by and large, missed out on the
one great opportunity to welcome and submit to the Great King.
It is hard to credit. With such long preparation, and with such highly
knowledgeable experts, how could they have missed the climax?
Well it is easy to understand isn’t it? People with knowledge continue to act
like that. In the face of clear information, instruction, encouragement,
understanding (not to mention a powerful God who loves them), people still
choose to go their own way. Maybe it is that they want to be in control
themselves (it seems safer); maybe they just want to do what they want to do;
maybe they feel so overwhelmed or confused that they sink trying to save
themselves rather than call out for help.
And what about the King? After he entered the city, did he feel sorry for the
people? Yes, but that is not all he felt. The big surprise is how unsentimental
he was. Angry even. How he treated them as responsible adults and not victims.
How he called them to account, and warned them of worse to come. Was this in his
plan?
The gospel accounts of the last week in Jerusalem make sobering reading. They
are very un-modern. Completely lacking in double-speak.
What do you think?
Dale
Comments
Your re-telling of the scene and mood as
Jesus comes into the city is insightful.. now i'm going to have to reread it
again to see how 'unmodern' it is! you've prompted me to want to reread it,
which im sure was part of your intent.
Posted by Millsy on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 09:30:35
I agree Millsy. I'm going to go re-read it
as well. Hmmm, how very un-PC (Politically Correct) to call someone to account,
in today's business and social environments. It's seen as being un-PC to take a
strong stand and to question actions, even when those actions ARE questionable.
Thanks for the prompt...
Posted by Ann on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 05:09:53
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