March 20, 2005 Palm Sunday Matthew 22:12-17

 March 20, 2005                                  Palm Sunday                           Matthew 22:12-17

 

Matthew 22:14-16 “The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became angry and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself'?"”

 

Today is Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week.  I’m always amazed at the wide range of emotions Jesus and the disciples must have felt during this week.  The week begins with Christ’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and ends with the Resurrection next Sunday, but the time in between is an absolute roller coaster of emotion.

The reading from Matthew is but one example of the turbulence the week holds.  After the entry into Jerusalem, Christ clears the temple.  A moment of triumph was followed by moments of anger and outrage.  I’m not sure if it was the human or the divine aspect of Jesus that was angry.  But I don’t think I would have liked being on the receiving end in either case. 

And then came those who needed Christ’s help in the here and now.  The blind and the lame, those who always seemed so near at hand, came to Jesus seeking a cure. Christ’s anger turned into compassion for those in need and he cured them to the sounds of children crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

It’s hard for me to imagine what Christ went through.  I know it was something he had to do, for no one else could.  Even so, I pretty sure the disciples were overwhelmed by everything they saw during this one week.  After all, this is the week when we all learned that Jesus, the Christ, was, is, and always shall be the Son of the Living God.  The One who was crucified for you and me but was raised on the third day!  To God be the glory for the things He has done!

 

Loving God, we are not worthy of your gifts.  We marvel at the events of Christ’s last week before the crucifixion.  We stand in awe of your power in his resurrection!  Lord, we pray our confession of faith brings honor and glory to you in the name of Christ.  Amen.

 

Contributed by Anonymous