Coming to a Town Near You

[This message was delivered on Palm Sunday, March 24, at Covington Presbyterian Church, based on John 12:12-19. It also takes an encounter from each of the first 11 chapters of John. It was given in first person style, with the preacher acting the part of the disciple/narrator.]

I was there. Everything has been pointing to this week. I was there, one of the 12. I was there from his humble beginnings in Nazareth and Capernaum. I was there for the teachings, the parables, and the miracles. I saw him laugh and I saw him cry. I experienced his love and I felt his indignation when people loved the law more than they loved people. I was there when our three-year whirlwind journey brought him to the Jerusalem for the most fateful week, the week you now call Holy Week.

From riding on the back of a donkey, even a young one, Jesus gets an unusual perspective on the people in the crowd that day. A young donkey was about 42 inches tall at its back, where Jesus is sitting. From there he can see most of the people welcoming him to Jerusalem at just above eye level.

You now call it the triumphal entry and it was, but in strange ways. Here is some of what I saw and still see as I follow Jesus into Jerusalem. [Note: All the characters named here are found in John 1-11, in the order we find them, named where names are given.]

There’s Peter, trying to get in front of him. That fisherman is always looking for attention and usually getting it. The rest of us sometimes get impatient with him—maybe even jealous when he says what we are thinking—but Jesus always includes him. I remember when Jesus first called him. He was such an eager follower, responding immediately. This is going to be a tough week for Peter, almost as tough as it will for Jesus. And while his weaknesses will be evident, by the beginning of next week he will be the rock Jesus always saw in him. While he will seem to fail the Lord, don’t worry; he will come through and be a fearless leader. He is flawed just like the rest of us. And Jesus loves him. Jesus loves flawed people.

I recognize that young couple. Almost three years ago, they got married in the village of Cana, up north. Mary and Jesus and a few of us were invited, and we like a good party. Then, at their reception, the wine ran out, which can be embarrassing for the hosts. Jesus just couldn’t see that being what their wedding was remembered for, so he made sure new wine flowed. And it flowed. We didn’t understand how he did that then, but we liked the wine as much as wedding couple. They’re holding a young child. God bless that baby and her loving parents. Jesus loves them. Raise a glass to them.

There is that Pharisee named Nicodemus, with a cautious look on his face. For a Pharisee to seek out Jesus takes courage; it is a big risk. The other Pharisees could ruin his career. So Nicodemus came to Jesus be night. They had a hushed conversation, hushed because Nicodemus didn’t want other Pharisees to know that he was talking with Jesus. Jesus told him he had to born anew, born from above. Nicodemus didn’t seem to understand that. Then Jesus said something about how he would be lifted up, and how those believing in him would have eternal life. For God so loved the world; Jesus loves Nicodemus. Jesus loves people that seek him out, question him, and listen to him.

That woman, I know I saw her before. She looks like a Samaritan, a half-breed, part Jew and part gentile, and not fully accepted by either. Once Jesus led us through Samaria, even though we Israelites knew it was always dangerous to go through Samaria. At midday, he was thirsty, so he went to the well. A woman, that woman, came to draw water and Jesus spoke to her. That was scandalous: a Jewish teacher speaking to a woman in public, and a Samaritan woman at that. And her life is changed by Jesus, she who had had five husbands and was living with yet another man. Jesus loves her, a woman not fully accepted by Jews or gentiles. Jesus loves and accepts outcasts.

That man, standing firmly, was crippled for 38 years. He somehow got his withered body next to a pool in Bethsaida, hoping to get in when the water stirred, for local people claimed the first in the pool after the water stirred would be healed. That wasn’t healing, it was superstition. Jesus doesn’t do superstition and says to him, stand up and walk. And he does. It was the sabbath and it bothered some religious leaders that Jesus would do this on the sabbath. Jesus loves that man, now standing and walking.

Standing in the first row of the crowd, right there, is a Galilean boy. I remember the day now. A huge crowd had come to hear Jesus. It was like an outdoor rock concert, people everywhere. And now they are getting hungry. Andrew saw this boy with his lunch, five loaves and two fish. Jesus took the boy’s offering, gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and the same with the fish. Everyone was fed—and there were leftovers. Jesus loves that boy. Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.

See those well-dressed men that never smile? They are Pharisees, the religious elite of Israel. They know God’s law backwards and forwards, yet they are hard-hearted and stiff-necked. They are not waving palms and shouting hosanna. They are tight lipped. Jesus threatens their religion system with his boundary-breaking love. They watch closely. They think Jesus is a threat to their religious system. They are right. The world has enough religious systems. It needs grace and mercy and love. Yet Jesus loves them, too. He will call Pharisees to become his followers.

She looks so different. Once she was a woman of the street. One day she was caught being intimate with a man in broad daylight. No names; just a man using and abusing a woman for his own gratification. The religious leaders are ready to stone her to death. Jesus stops them and they go away, one by one. He stands there and lifts her so they are eye to eye. He forgives her and sends her off to a new life. Jesus loves her, as no man had ever loved her, with pure, godly love. Jesus loves women that have been used and abused.

That man was blind not long ago. Blind from birth. Lived a sightless life. People wondered if he had sinned or his parents had sinned to bring this on him. Why else would be born blind, they reasoned. Jesus had no time for their reasoning. He took some mud and spit and rubbed the man’s eyes, till they opened. And now he sees Jesus. Jesus sees him and loves him.

There are Roman leaders in the crowd, trying to look like every day Jews, but we know better. They spy on us and join with the religious leaders to keep control over life here. It is always dangerous when religious leaders cozy up to politicians. They are frightened by this Galilean peasant. Jesus loves them. He will call Romans to become his followers. Even politicians.

Does that man look different! A few days ago he was dead and buried. They wrapped him in grave clothes. Jesus wept when he heard that Lazarus had died. Then Jesus walked to his grave, which was a cave sealed with a massive stone. Jesus stood before it and said, “Lazarus, come out.” Lazarus had no choice. Death could not stop him. Lazarus came out and is here today cheering on the Jesus parade. Jesus loves Lazarus. Jesus brings life out of death.

The Jesus parade has room for all kinds of people. Including you and me. Jesus loves us. Jesus loves to call all kinds of people to follow him. From riding on the back of a donkey, even a young one, Jesus gets an unusual perspective on the people in the crowd that day. Come Friday, he will get an even higher perspective, as he is nailed to a cross standing 12 feet high. From that lofty cross, Jesus sees us. And Jesus loves us. And Jesus calls us to believe and follow him, all the way to Friday when he is lifted up. He gets us; he sees us; he loves us.