It wasn’t the colt that made me wonder, not even the way they came into the village and just took it for him to ride. I was surprised how easily Jacob let it go but he had met the preacher before and perhaps they had an arrangement. It was a beautiful young animal but there are plenty of them around. It wasn’t the colt.
And it wasn’t the singing and the shouting of Hosanna! That was exciting and stimulating, it always is when the pilgrims arrive, so full of hope and enthusiasm. We all want freedom from occupation, freedom from fear and uncertainty, freedom to be fully the people the Lord has created us to be – we all sing and shout.
It wasn’t the size of the crowd that made me wonder, or the heavy military presence or the anger of the religious leaders at all the enthusiasm.
What made me wonder were the green leaves waved and laid down as a thick living carpet marking the way to the temple. Pilgrims often wave the branches of palm and olive as they sing, but to lay them down like that and so many of them; to place the symbols of spring and of new life and hope under his feet - that made me wonder. Was this a celebration of life or was the trampling of the leaves a sign of death? Was his journey through the crushed and trampled leaves the way that new life and hope would come as we shouted Hosanna! Was our God going to save us through death and bring us new life?
How could that be true?
I wonder...
Lord, as we lay down our palms and follow you into Jerusalem, bring us with you through death to life we pray.
