When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!’ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ John 12:9-19
Throughout the centuries, religious leaders get distressed when their followers jump ship. In this story, which we read on Palm Sunday, we remember the tremendous reception Jesus got when he was in Jerusalem and the determination of the leadership to squash his ministry. So very human of them, not wanting to lose their authority and power. In small and large situations, we want to remain in control and hate it when we lose control. A dear friend of my father's used to say, "the point of embarrassment is the point of redemption." God is close by when we know our need and ask for help. That is so hard for all of us and yet we are invited today to let go of control so our Creator can heal us.
Loving Creator, you sent your Son to a broken world
and our world is still on edge and in deep pain today
and you put Jesus always in our midst to heal us now.
We fight for control, for power and to win always
yet we know our aches, deep and ever painful
and we are still unwilling to ask for your help.
Make us humble today, dear Lord, so we might ask
for our needs and the needs of our communities
so we might join with the crowd, singing Hosanna. Amen.
