Passion
It was extraordinary street theatre. Everything was set: a crowd, a donkey, an important community and religious festival, and a man with a flair for the dramatic. This was an event intended to draw attention and to confront both community and empire. Once Jesus had set his face towards Jerusalem…
It was extraordinary street theatre. Everything was set: a crowd, a donkey, an important community and religious festival, and a man with a flair for the dramatic. This was an event intended to draw attention and to c
onfront both community and empire. Once Jesus had set his face towards Jerusalem, this was the inevitable outcome.
From Jesus’ very first declaration he has challenged the status quo: The time is fulfilled, and the reign of God has come near, change your minds and believe in the good news!
In every Gospel, tensions had been building, hints (and more than hints) of mischief, gossip and conspiracy in the background and suddenly Jesus has declared himself, on centre stage. This stark and deliberate contrast between a Roman Emperor’s “triumphal march” following victory in battle with manacled prisoners paraded in his wake, and this alternative version with donkey, palms and not a spear in sight cannot be underestimated.
Jesus is demonstrating this new empire, as he has proclaimed from the very beginning of his ministry. His demonstration occurs in the heart of Judaism, a moment none could miss.
His arrival, matching his words, questions the status quo, engaging both with those in the community who hunger for justice and those who starve people of that same justice. Our faith, our God, have no credibility if they are hidden way in laboratories of worship.
Jesus arrives at the templ
e and looks around – does he find justice, does he find hope, does he find discipleship?
Salvation and God’s shalom are as much about this life as the next one. When our community is critically concerned with same sex marriage, or the pervasive mining of coal seam gas, it is our responsibility to engage with our community and to articulate the Gospel in that place. [http://www.commongrace.org.au]
We don’t have to agree every time, but we do need to engage, to be part of the conversation, even when it’s awkward and risky.
The story at the heart of our faith is God, fully committed to the whole world, convinced of our value. If we engage with people’s inherent worth in mind, then every contribution we offer will have the flavour of the gospel.