Our pastor has a spiritual gift of preaching... particularly on off-beat church holidays. My personal favorites are transfiguration and ascension. I have literally cried for a few of them.
The last few years, he's iterated his palm sunday sermon around a theme of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem as a parade. Normally, I don't notice sermon material being reused (except the "doubting Thomas - ants in the pants of faith sermon that I swear every guest pastor preaches the week after Easter)
But...
This particular sermon makes me think so deeply and this morning I sat in the pew hoping he would preach on it again.
He did.
My heart smiled.
On one side of Jerusalem,
Jesus enters on a humble colt,
on the other
Pilot entered on a war horse.
Jesus preached the kingdom of heaven. Pilot preached the kingdom of Rome.
Casear was considered the son of Apollo. Son of God.
Rome was bringing Pax Romano.
World peace.
Jesus was the son of God.
Prince of peace.
It's such a strong visual image for me.
Two parades marching through the streets.
One carried the power, wealth, fame, wisdom and strength of the world.
The other was upside down. Death, forgiveness, humility, service.
Which parade will I march in?
Either Jesus is son of God or Caesar is.
This is an either or decision.
Not "a little of both"
Will I pass on the things that the world offers to choose the upside down parade? Honestly, it's hard to commit.
So much of me wants to join Pilots parade:
"Break the glass ceiling"
"Have it all"
"Go viral"
"Make my mark"
Have a "cute" house, fashionable wardrobe, "perfect" body and Instagram worthy vacations.
I want to have my sh*t together and have everyone like me.
Jesus's parade isn't so inviting.
Putting myself last
Hanging out with the people on the fringes
Mismatched thrift store furniture
Making things work "behind the scenes"
Silently and relentlessly working in love with no one ever in knowing my contributions.
Too many days I stand in line for Pilot's parade. This week, do I dare follow Jesus as his parade switches from palms and hosannas to nails and thorns.
This holy, mysterious, backwards, foolish wisdom of God.
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