I have always loved this musical, because it put an edge on the story and this particular song talks about the good things that can be if everyone just listened and accepted Jesus. At this point in the story the people did not know what was to come, they were on a high of celebration and joy. In our modern world have we as a society been on a real high just to be disappointed or have had to face a tragedy?
Jesus was promoted as the “New King” he did not embrace that label until this day and then he wanted the idea of King to be different than what came before. As Peter Wolf ruminates on his blog Palming off the Donkey King
Jesus could not accept the association with Kingship and rule until he had opportunity to correct the popular experience and understanding of what that meant. Lord knows the current exemplars of kingship and rule were far from Jesus’ concept. ... Power, control and brutal consequences for those who dissented.
This was not what Jesus wanted to be associated with and so he avoids being proclaimed king until he had had a time to reorient his disciples understanding of kingship.
In three and a half years he has modeled what kings are intended to do for their people:
• He has healed the broken and restored them to full participation in community
• He has forgiven those who missed the mark of required ethical and religious standards and included them in his new community.
• He has raised the dead so as to offer social security to those women who would be destitute by the deaths of the men (Lazarus, Widow of Nain)
• He has raised and healed children to break the bondage of bad theology that blamed bad things on parental conditions and culture (Children of Jairus and the Canaanite woman)
• He has been inclusive, unconditionally accepting, and restorative in his words and actions.
This is who kings and rulers are meant to be and now it is time for him to own the archetype and to associate with the kingship that the stoned prophets were trying to bring to the palaces of Palestine.(yes probably both meanings of “stoned”, they were high on God remember?)
Who have we viewed as kings and how have we celebrated them, Elvis Presley the “King of Rock N Roll” or Michael Jackson the “King of Pop”. Currently the Newseum in Washington has a special exhibit on Elvis Presley check out the promotional video.
Both of these popular “Kings” died at an early age, both had and still have a following throughout the world. What makes these individuals so different? What do you think? How do you decide who to follow? As I reflect on the life of Elvis and Michael Jackson, I just wonder why they both turned to drugs at some point. How difficult is it to be referred to as King?
For Jesus it was more difficult than we could imagine. Inviting everyone to follow a very different kind of king led to suffering and death, but also to new life. By giving his life for all, Jesus brought the whole broken humanity into God’s arms; to find healing; to find a different way to live. To find Life-for-all that’s truly worth partying about! It’s a mystery that’s hard to explain. You almost have to experience it and then talk it over with a friend or two.
That's what Holy Week is all about. You've got the week book-ended with parties: the palm-waving party for the King-on-a-donkey (a wild new kind of peace-making King) and then the biggest party of the year: the joy of Easter (the King is back!). In between, you get to live through the reasons for all the partying. I encourage you to attend as many Holy Week gatherings as you can in order to live the journey, in real time. Please come back to the blog or to our facebook page to share your experience. If you need help finding a place to go in your community please e-mail us at www.bytheway.nashua@gmail.com and we would be happy to help you.
Don’t forget we will be on Skype “bythewaycommunity” this Thursday March 25th from 7-8 PM for conversation.
Your comments are appreciated.
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