I hate to admit this, but my wife
and I are Squatchers. We have a date every Sunday night to watch the next
episode of Finding Bigfoot. I’m not
really sure why we watch. It’s kind of like a car wreck; you have to stop and
look — so we do. But every week I have pretty much the same reaction to what I
have just seen — Is that it? Is that all
there is?
Ever found yourself asking that
question — Is this all there is? It’s
a question those following Jesus would have asked, so we are in good company. The
stories throughout Holy Week are laced with disappointment and
misunderstanding. From Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem to his death, it’s one
disappointment after another, deepening the misunderstanding of who Jesus was,
and why He came. It all started that Sunday with the palms. Here’s what I mean:
When Jesus rode down the hill
from the Mount of Olives, He was mobbed. Masses of His followers had Him surrounded,
throwing their coats on the ground, waving palm branches, and celebrating the
arrival of their King. He was coming in just like the prophets had predicted,
and it would be just a short ride to the city where He would take His rightful
place on the throne. They were ready to follow Him right up to the steps of the
palace. Finally, Roman rule, and corrupt oppression of counterfeit kings would
end, and Jesus would be on the throne. Then something strange happened; He
turned left.
I’m not really certain whether it
was a left or right turn when He came to that fork in the road, but He
certainly turned the wrong way. See, the road He was on was the royal road, the
road of the kings. It would have been the road that David danced on coming home
from another victorious battle. It was the road of victory, conquest, and led
up to the palace. It’s no wonder He had created the frenzied response from
those watching what was taking place. But when Jesus came to that fork in the
road, he turned off the road to the palace. It explains why the crowds that
surrounded Him all of a sudden just disappeared. They were pressing in around Him,
singing and shouting one minute, and the next minute, they were gone. Where did
they go and why did they leave? What happened? It was because He turned left. When
He turned left, He moved toward the temple instead of the palace, and they were
left with a question — Is this it? And
as quickly as they had come, they were gone.
What’s going on? Is this a set-up?
I think Jesus was making another statement about His mission. He was fulfilling
what He had first taught in Luke 4, about setting captives free, giving sight
to the blind, declaring that this is what the year of the Lord looks like. He
wasn’t reclaiming the throne for Israel; He was attempting to reclaim his people.
He didn’t choose the road of the King; He chose the road of a servant. He didn’t
choose the road of victory, but the road of suffering. Why? So He would know. So
He would know what we feel. So He would know what it means to hurt. So He would
know what it means to feel pain. So He would know what it means to feel
rejected. So He would know what it means to _________, (you fill in the blank).
He turned left, so He would know.
As we move through Holy week,
let’s remember that the best news we could get is that the One who rode on that
donkey; who attempted to clean up the temple; who reshaped the meaning of the
Passover meal; who sweat drops of blood; was beaten beyond recognition; and
died on a cross; did it all so He would know what it was like to be you and me.
So He would know what we face. Don’t jump to the empty tomb quite yet. Living
this part of the story allows Jesus to be fully human, coming all the way to
where we are, fulfilling another part of prophecy that says He would be a man
of suffering, acquainted with grief.
So when you walk through the Passion
again this week, remember that when Jesus took a wrong way, He was looking
right at us. He did it for us, so we would know that He knows. That’s what
happened the day that Jesus turned left.
Text for the week: Luke 19:28-40
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