This Sunday we celebrate what is called Palm Sunday commemorating the day Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with great excitement by the crowds gathered for Passover.  The people were under oppressive Roman rule; occupied by Roman military, subject to Roman law, and heavily taxed. They (rightfully) wanted a free country. They wanted the Golden Age back when they were independent and prosperous under King David. They longed for their own king. They (rightfully) believed God had promised that.

“Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God! [Greek- Hosanna! Save us!]
    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
    Praise God in highest heaven!” [Psalm 118:25-26]
So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple.” Mark 11:8-11

Not only did the average citizen yearn for a king to sit on David’s throne, but the disciples of Jesus, convinced that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, were impatient for him to step into the role of king. His death at the end of that week seemed to forever dash their hopes.  But his sudden appearances on the third day after his death, changed everything.  He was alive!  After stunningly defeating death and showing himself alive after his crucifixion, surely now he would repay the Romans for executing him.  It must now be the time for him to take control.

“During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God… So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:3, 6-8

It wasn’t that what they wanted was wrong. Their desire was simply too small. God actually wanted to give them much more. He wanted freedom to spill out over their borders to the whole world. He wanted well-being not just for them, but for everyone. His new kingdom would bring freedom deeper than polictical freedom. It would bring personal freedom from addictions, self-focus, and greed so each citizen of that kingdom would be free to lovingly serve others. It would bring prosperity in the deepest sense- peace, happiness, satisfaction, love, and faith. And these would be seated so deeply in each person that no government, disaster, or loss could take it away.
Although their religious leaders rejected the King, all those who loved him entered his kingdom and received all his promises and benefits starting immediately and stretching into eternity. There were no borders, but the gate was narrow into that kingdom. Only those who loved the King could enter. It had no military, but its army advanced throughout the world. It had no taxes, but its citizens invested everything they had. It had no ruling class, but each person was a king and priest. It had no capitol, but the King was present with each citizen. It had no laws, but one- Love one another. It’s economy was upside down- it’s better to give than to receive. It had no status and special perks, except the privilege of serving. It had no impressive buildings, but each person was a dwelling place for God’s Spirit.

I’ve loved Palm Sunday ever since I was a child and was given a palm frond at church. As an adult, I realize it’s one thing to cut a branch from a tree I didn’t plant or tend and throw it on the road. It’s another to take off my coat that I made or paid for and throw it on the road to be trampled. Sometimes when I welcome my King, it’s messy and costly. The relationships I invest in, bring heartbreak. My work isn’t appreciated or doesn’t bring the benefits to others that I’d hoped. But every effort given out of loyalty and love to my King paves his way in this world. It’s a beautiful display in his eyes. He gladly receives it.
As a young mom with a baby on one hip and little ones underfoot, I would resolutely repeat to myself, ‘People before things. People before things.’ God loves people, not things. When a simple task took twice as long because some little person always needed something from me, ‘People before things.’ When my clothes were smeared with snot or drool and wrinkled from holding a little one, ‘People before things.’ When my To Do list never got done, ‘People before things.’ Now in old age, it’s a delight when I’m interrupted from my routine when a loved one calls or texts. We’re reaping the sweet harvest of putting people before things.

So what does an event that happened two thousand years ago have to do with my hopes and aspirations, my fears and struggles right now? What does it matter to my schedule today? If I truly welcome my King into my mundane routine today, it means that I value what he values- people. It means that I do what he did- serve others. It means that I prepare meals with a willing attitude recognizing service to my spouse or guests is service to my King who assigned this job to me. Welcoming him into my everyday means that I welcome him into my joys and disappointments. It means I lay my pain and limitations at his feet. It means I listen to his voice in the Scriptures. It means I say, “Thank you” over and over to him first and to others. It means I say, “You’re in charge here.” when I don’t understand. It means I do laundry and clean toilets with a good attitude because work matters and appearance serves a higher purpose than our vanity. It means I use my time carefully to advance his kingdom, not fritter it away on meaningless things. It means I use the skills I have for my church, for the enjoyment of others, and to help others hone their skills. It means that my days are meaningful and satisfying because he is part of them.
Someday my King will return to be King of the whole world. And this time I’ll get to be in the crowd that welcomes him.

Hosanna!

I crated these images using Ai