What’s the Buzz ~ Holy Week 2018 ~ Acceptance and Rejection

Greetings Dear Reader,

We live in a world where popularity is a curse.  We create and embrace celebrity so that we can in turn destroy what we have created.  For those who do not know it, Palm Sunday celebrates when Jesus rode into Jerusalem for Passover the week he was crucified. 

When Jesus rides into Jerusalem he is lauded by thousands.  They shout for him to prevail as the heir of David.  They shout for him to prevail as the heir of the one who comes in the name of the LORD.  The city is crowded with Jews from all over who have come to Jerusalem for Passover.  There is no honest interpretation of these events that can leave out that Jesus is being lauded as the true King of the Jews.  In that one moment of popularity he threatens the political, social, and religious status quo. 

In five days the same people will call for his death.  They will shout that he be crucified.  The Romans and the Jews will work together to unjustly kill him.  Most of his friends and family will desert him.  The hero will be toppled to the hunger of the voracious crowd.

We have perfected this in our culture on both the public and private scale.   We build up people and profess our faith in them.  We promise support and loyalty.  Then we create a reason to abandon those promises.  We sideline, give-up on, or even betray people.  Innocent or guilty they become offerings on the pyre of our disapproval.

I am not allowed to do this even to those who are brazenly guilty.  I should not even engage in talking about those who seem to have fallen.  My opinion is of no value.  I should not think that my judgement matters.  It is only my pride that causes me to be quippy about the demise of another.

There is much to learn from the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  Most of it is grand and vital.  For me one of the lessons is that I must not join in the tearing down of others.  Posting insults to those in trouble is neither loving nor acceptable.  I never want to be guilty of shouting “hosanna” on Sunday and “crucify him” on Thursday.  It is not who we are to become.

Hosanna – Jesus Christ Superstar

CROWD:

Hosanna

Hey Sanna Sanna Sanna Hosanna

Hey Sanna Hosanna

Hey JC, JC won't you smile at me?

Sanna Hosanna

Hey Superstar

CAIAPHAS:

Tell the rabble to be quiet, we anticipate a riot.

This common crowd, is much too loud.

Tell the mob who sing your song that they are fools and they are wrong.

They are a curse. They should disperse.

CROWD:

Hosanna

Hey Sanna Sanna Sanna Hosanna

Hey Sanna Hosanna

Hey JC, JC you're alright by me

Sanna Hosanna

Hey Superstar

JESUS:

Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd?

Nothing can be done to stop the shouting.

If every tongue were stilled

The noise would still continue.

The rocks and stone themselves would start to sing:

CROWD AND JESUS:

Hosanna

Hey Sanna Sanna Sanna Hosanna

Hey Sanna Hosanna

CROWD (alone):

Hey JC, JC won't you fight for me?

Sanna Hosanna Hey Superstar

JESUS:

Sing me your songs,

But not for me alone.

Sing out for yourselves,

For you are bless-ed.

There is not one of you

Who cannot win the kingdom.

The slow, the suffering,

The quick, the dead.

CROWD and JESUS:

Hosanna

Hey Sanna Sanna Sanna Hosanna

Hey Sanna Hosanna

CROWD (alone):

Hey JC, JC won't you die for me?

Sanna Hosanna Hey Superstar

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)