Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:8-9)

What’s going on in this familiar passage? Well, I want to draw on two particular narratives. The first is the story of worship. As Jesus makes His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we read about the very large crowd (in verse 8) who spread their cloaks on the road, cut branches from the trees and shouted words of worship over Jesus quoted from Psalm 118. This act of worship was joyful and, according to the parallel Gospel of Luke, would have been declared by the stones should human voices be silent (40). Because this Jesus is the fulfilment of Old Testament prophesy in Zechariah 9:9 concerning the Messianic King. But the second is more solemn, the story of suffering. It strikes me, that in the midst of this joyful worship and shouting, Jesus passes through what will be the place of great future agony – the Mount of Olives and garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane in Hebrew means “olive press,” and it was probably an orchard of olive trees with a press for extracting oil that gave the place it’s name. It spoke powerfully of the Messiah’s commission as King to be pressed and crushed for the salvation and ransom of many as prophesied in Isaiah 53. Jesus needed in Gethsemane, not only the company of His Heavenly Father but the company and prayers of His friends. This triumphant entry reminds us that Jesus is absolutely worthy of our worship and questions whether we are prepared to lay down our lives for Him? But also passing through our own agony during covid-19, asks whether we can support one another as we all find healing and strength for the road ahead.