Palm Sunday, many churches wave palm branches and shout Hosanna. We have a celebratory parade atmosphere, but when we do this, do we miss the subversive side of the story? As the Passover festival is beginning, Pilate and Rome would make a show of power and parade with legions of soldiers and Pilate on a war horse or in a chariot to remind the people who was in charge.
Meanwhile, Jesus comes into the city, through a back gate, riding on a humble donkey. He is not the mighty king that the people hoped would overthrow Rome. Jesus comes to bring about the Kingdom of God and comes with a very different understanding of what power is.
Palm Sunday, many churches wave palm branches and shout Hosanna. We have a celebratory parade atmosphere, but when we do this, do we miss the subversive side of the story? As the Passover festival is beginning, Pilate and Rome would make a show of power and parade with legions of soldiers and Pilate on a war horse or in a chariot to remind the people who was in charge.
Meanwhile, Jesus comes into the city, through a back gate, riding on a humble donkey. He is not the mighty king that the people hoped would overthrow Rome. Jesus comes to bring about the Kingdom of God and comes with a very different understanding of what power is.