yesterday jesus rode into to jerusalem on the back of a donkey. by the end of the week, we will walk the rituals that commemorate his death on the cross.
yesterday's sermon at mbcc, delivered by mr. moderator himself, challenged us to see the whole story. when we wave our palms and sing hosanna, we do so in full knowledge of what comes next--and in full knowledge of the truth that Jesus spoke that lead to the cross. as the crowds cheered, jesus defended them to the religious authorities and then:
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come on you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
luke 19:41-44
we don't always get what we want, but we just might get what we need.
when the crowds cheered jesus, did they want a messiah that wept for their city? no, they awnted one that fought for their city.
when the religious authurities took their concerns that the populist hero, did they want to be challenged and turned away? no, but they sure needed to be.
bruce challenged us yesterday to not just look for what we want in faith, but to be open to what we need. as i walk throguh holy week this week, this will be at the forefront of my process as i continue to discern what the next step in my call to ministry might be. i say i want to commit to God in new ways. i say i want to continue to learn how to be a pastor. but do i realize the depth of that need, and am i open to the surprising ways God might make that happen? or am i focused narrowly on what i want?
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