“He set his face to go to Jerusalem”

It feels like it was yesterday. It must have been 32 plus years ago. A touchstone memory of joy during the mid-to-late 80’s in the midst of war. The joy was owing to Palm Sunday celebrations in a local Church in Jbeil, Mount Lebanon, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

I recall being carried on my parents’ shoulders in a procession holding a candle shouting and screaming. It was quite an experience with the larger family that occurred once a year. Large gatherings, kids wearing their best clothes shouting, people praying and celebrating, hiding the anxiety of war. Perhaps it was these events that gave them hope as they became children again, even if only for a moment, forgetting about the sounds, pain and calamities of war.

And today as I write this, on Palm Sunday 2020, I am aware that because of the COVID19 pandemic the world is living in fear and literally in lockdown. Self-isolation and social distancing are the buzz words. People have died and my heart goes out to their families. Many are living in fear. Many aged care homes are in lockdown, businesses struggling, many more unemployed and the media frenzy is keeping us all on our toes. Schools are on the edge and public gatherings and Churches are in full locked down. Your best bet is a live feed.

In the midst of all of this, some may legitimately ask what meaning can this day hold when we are not even allowed to connect with the community and pray and celebrate together? What is the point when we are not allowed to leave the house and go out to connect, visit and share with others? It sounds like all of this is against the spirit of Palm Sunday that render the event entirely meaningless or does it?

Until a few years ago my answer would have been in the affirmative. When I studied theology I did a course on the historical Jesus. The prescribed text for the unit was “Who is Jesus?” so you can imagine what the course was about. It was when we traced the life of Jesus and arrived at the last week of his earthly life that I discovered a deeper meaning which has made me even more fascinated by the event of “Palm Sunday.” I mean the large crowds are fascinating as well as the palms, candles and celebrations. The community feel, the children and all. But these external symbols point to something deeper and more profound that can speak to our world and fearful hearts today, during this pandemic. Fasten your seatbelts, we are about to go on a ride.

It is widely believed by many biblical scholars that Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem on “Palm or Hosanna Sunday” was a defining moment in his ministry. Faced with opposition from the leaders of the Sanhedrin, it was time for Jesus to face his destiny. Many believe that by choosing to go to Jerusalem Jesus indirectly brought about his fatal situation.

Before his entry into Jerusalem, a chapter earlier in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that he is ‘going up to Jerusalem’ where he will be mocked, insulted, spat on, flogged and killed (Lk 18:31-32). This story is also found in the Gospel of Matthew where Peter, after declaring that Jesus is the Messiah, takes him aside and begins to rebuke him “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” Off course Jesus turns to him and calls him, Satan! And a ‘stumbling block.’ (Mt 16:23). Jesus tells Peter in modern language to get out of his way for nothing was going to stop him from going to Jerusalem.

Luke capture Jesus’ determination earlier in his Gospel in a key phrase that is a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. He writes “when the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Lk 9:51). Jesus was determined even though he had knowledge that they were after him, even though he knew what was awaiting him. The man of peace is faced with the irony that as he enters Jerusalem (Literally means: The city of peace), he will be met by hate, betrayal and violence. But he doesn’t back away from God’s mission.

He knows that the authorities had seen him as a political Letsai, outlaw or a rebel. Yes, crucifixion was a method of death reserved for rebels. I mean one of the charges he was convicted on was blaspheming, a charge culminated in his entry into Jerusalem with the further incident of the “Cleansing of the Temple” being critical to his arrest. It was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

So it seems that Jesus is entering ready for an all-out war. I mean just in case you did not know, let me explain. Jesus’ entry and reception was reserved for a king. According to the Prophet Zechariah in the Old Testament (Zech 9:9) the Lord, as a divine warrior would ride into Jerusalem. Zechariah writes: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Yet riding on a donkey and not a horse and without the armed forces gives us a clue that Jesus’s kingship as suggested in Zechariah and in Matthew is one of humility bringing about the reign of God, the reign of love into the world.

So in the midst of a “very large crowd” spreading cloaks and branches on the road and the people shouting “Hosanna” which means “save please,” Matthew tells us that “the whole city was in turmoil” asking “who is this?” (Mt 21:8-10).

They say that in crisis we know the real character of people. On Palm Sunday the disciples were about to embark on a journey to find out more about their Messiah Jesus and their world was about to be turned upside down. On the surface it may have seemed like a party, but beneath it reached a boiling point, Jesus was preparing for the biggest fight of his life. He was about to go head to head with those that wanted his life, that wanted to put an end to his mission, but he wasn’t going to back away. Oh what courage and determination!

Courage and determination to face life’s greatest challenges is a lifelong task. As we come near Jerusalem with Jesus, we come closer and closer to facing our fears, global, communal or personal ones. So many fears surface during crisis, pandemics and turmoils. So many come out and test our resolve and character.

I have struggled often with this and perhaps that is why this story fascinates me. I don’t know about you but on many occasions I have backed away due to fear and chosen other paths. I have lacked the courage to face my pain, to face the truth. So many times, I have decided to give in and not stand firm. So many times I looked at the easy way out and delayed and procrastinated the decision that will set me free. So many delays, hours, months and years! So many times I have underestimated the crisis and underplayed the situation. So many times I have over consulted and held back, all because I wanted to delay the confrontation. So many times I have run away and found places to hide.

Perhaps you are the same. Perhaps this pandemic crisis is bringing the best or worst out of you. Perhaps it is inviting you to do what Jesus did and face the inner and outer opposition, those old and stale fears, head on with humility and courage determined to change things once and for all, to live life differently and freely.

Yes. Live life differently!

May this Palm Sunday invite us to a new place where we gaze at the person of Jesus and follow him closely during the loneliest time of his life and learn from his courage to face our pain and fear with love knowing that he has been there before and that he is with us on the journey

Yes, courage until the very end!

Courage not to give in to fear. All for the sake of love. That is what Jesus did. That is what we have been called to do!

Sha3nine Mbarke!