Anticlimax

Palm Sunday
Scripture: St. Mark 14:1-25

In Mark’s Gospel we read of Jesus ridding into the Holy city of Jerusalem on a colt/donkey.

The cheering crowd greeted him. They laid their outer garments on the ground and were waving Palm Branches, shouting "Hosanna!" Hosanna means "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." But the hosannas are short lived, for under the noise of the crowd, the air waves are lightly saying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him! We want Barabbas. Give us Barabbas!"

The timing makes us aware that the Feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread are only 2 days away. The whole city is full and overflowing with people, for every male is required to attend the celebration if he is within 15 miles of the city.

Other key things have transpired in Jesus' life.
1. A woman anointed him with costly perfume
2. We hear of Judas' remarks about what a great waste the perfume was. It could have been sold and the money used to feed the poor, for its value was a total year's wages

There in the upper room after dinner Jesus shared holy communion with His disciples, saying that one of them will betray Him. They all ask, "Is it I?"  Jesus tells them,  "it is the one that dips his fingers in the bowl with Me."

Judas gets up from the table and leaves the upper room. He goes out to the chief priests and agreed on 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus.

In the meantime, Peter says "Even if all others forsake you, I will remain faithful!" Jesus tells Peter that before the rooster crowed 3 times Peter would betray Him.

Judas has second thoughts and tried to give the silver back to the chief priests. They say it is temple money, tainted with blood. Because it was blood money it could not be put back into the temple treasury, so they used it to provide for the burial cost for the very poor, yet today it is known as Potter’s Field.

By that point, all the hosannas had changed to "Crucify Him! CRUCIFY HIM!"

It's like a great gathering at a worship service. The speaker is a renowned speaker. The words set one's heart into a blazing flame by the Holy Spirit. They want to do something because of Jesus' love and presence in their lives. They are being enthralled by the Holy Spirit. They cannot even wait to leave the service to get started laboring afresh, on a new path for the Lord. Their hearts and minds are full of many things that they can do for Jesus. They leave the church filled with joy and excitement.

Hearing the door close behind them… suddenly, instantly, the cool air hits them and engulfs them, and the spiritual renewal and excitement is draw completely from their hearts and lives. The only thing that they hear loudly is "Crucify Him! CRUCIFY HIM! We want Barabbas! Give us BARABBAS!" In all the spiritual joy and heartfelt enlightenment disappears instantly from their lives and hearts. It's as if someone poured a bucket of ice water down their backs!

As we leave the service today, how will we feel? Like a washed-out person or one filled with the Holy Spirit?

As we are celebrating Holy Week, we remember that Jesus must die for my sins and for your sins.
But this is NOT OVER YET! Come back next week to hear the rest of the story.

Let us pray.