Holy Week - Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday. It begins Holy Week, our observance of the events of the last week of Jesus' life on earth. On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We also are reminded of something in human nature that is far darker. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, great crowds are shouting "Hosanna!" On Good Friday great crowds shout at Pilate: "Crucify him!" I'm thinking that a lot of the people that were shouting "Hosanna!" were, less than a week later, in the same mob that shouted "Crucify him!" They may have been louder than anyone. And Jesus, from the cross: "Forgive them, Father. They know not what they do." True dat!

In The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky presents the story of the Grand Inquisitor. In the story, Jesus has come back. He has resumed his interactions with the crowds. He has worked miracles, just as he had before. Again, authorities have him arrested. And, again, the verdict is that Jesus must die.The full story is much better than this summary.

The people in the biblical account did not know who Jesus was. His own disciples didn't know or understand fully who Jesus was. They couldn't have known until after the resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It's worthy of note that Peter, that snivelling coward who denied Jesus three times, became a courageous ball of good news fire after the resurrection.

In Dostoevsky's account, Easter and Pentecost have long since passed. The authorities who have Jesus arrested and convicted are church authorities. They do know who Jesus is. But, they become convinced that Jesus must die.

If Jesus were to walk among us, even now - if he were to show by a new set of miracles the power he has, and if we were to shout "Hosanna" all over again - would we, also, be among the thundering herd: "Crucify him!!!" Do we seriously think human nature has changed so much?

I can't speak for you, of course. I have, most certainly and way too often, been holding the hammer that drove the nails in. And, I am so incredibly sorry. And then I do it again. At some point I can hope that my shouted "Hosanna" is not followed by my joining in the crucifixion.

Thanks for hanging out with me for a few!