audio by album good samaritan umc

I was swept up in two parades this week. Both held the same figure as the center of attraction. The first parade was one of exuberant welcome last Sunday. The popular teacher Jesus, came riding through the main gate of Jerusalem just as it was foretold that the messiah would come to us. I didn’t know much about Jesus or about Jewish prophecy, but I was sure up for anyone who would come and deliver me from the constant hassles of living as a subject of Rome. I got caught up in the emotion of the moment. The crowd was shouting “Hosanna”, and I did too! The crowd was cutting palm branches from the trees and waving them to usher this new king into our city, and I did too! You know the problem with palms?

Being a disciple of Jesus had to have been hard. Taking leave from your work, moving unpredictably around the countryside. Fearing the authorities, both Jewish and Roman, and being challenged to think about God, humanity, and your role in the world in a whole different way.