Palm Sunday Parade

  It’s Passover and I am a Roman guard. It’s a busy time for us, and not an easy one.  The city gets so crowded during Passover because the Jews are required to come here for their spiritual practices. When Jesus came through the city gates today, I guess you could say I was at the right place, at the right time. I saw with my own eyes and got the chance to form my own opinion about him. The rumors of his coming and the anticipation have been growing all week.  I wasn’t really sure what to think. When I heard he claimed to have raised his best friend from the dead, I became a disbeliever, and I was ready for this rebel.

The crowds were waiting, singing, palm branches in hand, hopeful to get a glance from the would-be king. I thought it was going to be just another day of controlling the crowds, but it wasn’t. I am glad I got to see what all the fuss has been about and quite frankly; it wasn’t like I thought it would be at all.  I have been hearing all the controversy about this man, so I am glad I could see it all for myself, make up my own mind.

I conclude that we Romans have nothing to fear from this man. My friend, Eli, another guard doesn’t agree. He thinks, not only could the crowds get out of hand, but that Jesus’ charisma could cost us all our jobs.  Eli believes Jesus does want to be king and that the crowd is on his side. 

But actually, Jesus is quite poor. He was riding on a colt ass, just one more poor man among many. He showed no power like a king at all. He had no robe or sword or entourage, although there were some men who were closely guarding him, but they seemed ill-trained and more his friends than guards. Clearly, if he were a man of any importance he would be on a horse, have better clothes and more prestige in his demeanor.

But I did notice an authentic acceptance in the eyes of the crowd -- mothers, fathers, the old, the young; all were lined up singing “Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest”.   “Save me,” and “help me”, were repeated by nearly everyone. I saw people who were so needy all they cared about were their own needs. They clearly do consider this man a prophet, but most of them are in their own world. 

Eli on the other hand, heard a number of them shouting, “Blessed is the King of Israel!” This really frightens him. He feels the crowd is strong enough in numbers alone to overthrow us.  The other thing that worries Eli is that it seems some of Jesus own kind are against him.  A group of scholars and priests, the Pharisees are pretty angry at the negative rapport Jesus is causing with us Romans and rumors are everywhere that they want to eliminate him, in any way they can. They are pretty feral about the fact that he supposedly his friend from the dead after he had been in the grave for days. I still think they have more to lose in Jesus than we do – if Jesus is crowned King of the Jews, they are all out of jobs. 

In my estimation Jesus has a following among his own people, it is Passover; they are all riled up and filled with passion for their holiday. We have been through these celebrations before. We need to just keep the city in control.  Jesus isn’t going to have that much effect on us. 

 O God, there is so much that I do not see or understand.  Just because I think I see things clearly; does not mean I do.  Help me to know, to understand and to honor the truth when I encounter it.   Amen