Palm Sunday

Extract 74
The whole crowd had gone to Jerusalem today – they were beginning to look for somewhere to celebrate Passover, there are too many of us to hold it here. They came back so excited and talking of revolution, it scared me all over again. Apparently Jesus had gone to the temple and as usual the outer courts that are supposed to be for women and non-Jews were filled with market stalls. Jesus took the belt off his coat and used it as a whip to drive off the traders, then he overturned the tables, making way for people to worship God again. So now he has the full set. All the signs the prophets told us to look for in the Messiah. Cleansing lepers, healing a man born blind, raising the dead. And now an overwhelming zeal for the house of the Lord. The people aren't stupid, they're convinced now. So am I, I just don't think he's the sort of Messiah they're looking for.

They're still hearing what they want to hear.

Extract 75
One week to Passover and the whole area is in turmoil with expectation. Jesus sent a couple of them into Jerusalem and they've come back with a donkey and the news has gone out. ‘Behold your King, riding on a donkey’. We walked up from Bethany to the top of the Mount of Olives and as we came over the top the sight was amazing. Thousands of people – it seemed like the whole of Jerusalem, lining the path, hoping, waiting. Part of me wanted to join them, rejoicing that my son has found such a willing response, but most of me knows how quickly adulation can turn to hatred. But all those thoughts were swept aside when in full view of the crowd, Jesus took this unbroken donkey, threw a blanket on it and mounted. I imagine most people expected the donkey to throw him straight off again, but instead it seemed to recognise who wanted to ride him. As they started to move down the mountain an extraordinary cheer broke from the crowd. Someone cried out 'Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he comes in the name of the Lord' It was a cry that was taken up all round the crowd as people threw their coats into the path or cut down palm leaves to pave the way. As we made our way down, the authorities were desperate to stop what must be looking to the Romans like the start of a revolution and demanded that Jesus silence the crowd. The donkey recognised who he was, the people recognised him. It seemed to me that even the earth recognised him. He responded 'If I tell the people to stop, the stones will cry out'.

The people cheered all the more and the authorities had no answer.