Michael Jackson, Madonna, U-2, American Idol, Charlie Sheen, Octomom and all the other celebrities share the painful fragility of fame.
When your hot, everyone loves you. You have friends, power, things are looking up.
But the crowds are fickle, and can turn away on the most minor mistake or overblown rumor.
It’s a story straight out of the Bible. Jesus enters town and everyone turns out to whistle, gawk and even throw their clothes in his path.
The more politically astute of the crowd begin to wave palm branches as a sign of revolution. It’s a symbol of the Maccabean revolt a few hundred years before.
Now they are under the bloody boot of the Roman army and are looking for a savior. They want another revolution to start.
Jesus shows up and fits the bill. He has
prophecies, miracles, a wisdom and authority that seems to come from God.
They ignore the donkey he’s riding on. Instead they imagine a stallion in it’s place. (Donkeys were a symbol of peace, Horses were for conquering heroes.)
And so he enters Jerusalem and begins to teach daily, and perform miracles.
But there there’s not overthrow yet. The crowds grow restless, and by the end of the week, turn against his brand of new life and power.
Jesus turns into just another failed celebrity. “Let’s trash him!” the crowd calls out.
And they do. Soon he’s hanging among thieves, experiencing a slow painful death to all who might dare presume to change the order of things.
And so we need to examine our own hearts closely. Have we given Jesus celebrity status? Do we expect the wrong kind of miracle? Are we more concerned with what WE think God should be doing than actually looking carefully at what God IS doing?
Holy week gives us a chance to stop, look and listen…. And to see where God is going so that we can get on board.
Be sure to take some time to celebration Palm & Passion Sunday, some Holy Week activities like a Maunday Thursday Service, some “down time” on Good Friday and some “UP” time on Easter. (The Sunrise service is always a neat experience.)
Let Easter Transform you…. That’s what it’s all about.
How goes it with your soul?
Pastor Terry
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