A Disappointing Messiah

Matt 21:1-11

Even if you’re not fond of football, you must have heard about all the fuss that was made when Kevin Keegan was made the manager of Newcastle United.

He was going to bring an immediate upturn to their fading fortunes with a wonderful brand of attacking football. His return to Tyneside was hailed as the coming of a Messiah.

It hasn’t really happened. He’s been in charge for 8 games now and they have yet to win one of them, nor have they scored many goals.

To the dismay of faithful supporters Keegan has now said that Newcastle might need to be relegated out of the premier league before they can be turned into a winning team again.

The Messiah is becoming a bit of a disappointment.

On this Palm Sunday a real Messiah enters the Holy City and is greeted with similar acclaim. Jesus is welcomed into Jerusalem as the answer to everyone’s problems.

He’ll heal all who are sick. He will overthrow the political leaders. He’ll put the religious fanatics in their place. He seems to have been talking about a kingdom in which everyone might find a place.

So it’s no wonder that they carpet the road with their garments,  wave Palm branches in the air and shout their hosanna’s

But see what happens next. Jesus does not really return that welcome. He does not take advantage of his popularity.

He dismounts from the donkey and strides into the temple precincts where he overturns the tables of the moneychangers and dealers.

He destroys their livelihoods in a fit of rage.

He clears the area of all the religious trappings that the people thought meant so much, and he begins to preach in a way that makes those crowds wonder.

After a wonderful welcome, the Messiah is becoming a bit of a disappointment.

He starts to speak of wholesale changes in lives before they are ready to inherit that kingdom. He speaks of sacrifice, suffering and crucifixion as things that followers might have to embrace.

As things that he will have to embrace.

And it all proves too much for the people. Within the week there is a vote of no confidence and they think they can bring his life to an end.

There are times when we might find Jesus a disappointing Messiah, in that he does not act in accordance with our prayers or just in a way that would make our lives more whole and less painful.

In our worship we welcome him into our lives just like those who lined the streets on the first Palm Sunday in the hope he would bring order and peace to our wild lives.

Sometimes all he does is bring further chaos, unanswered prayers, huge demands – which set us wondering about his kingdom.

Those of us who remain do a curious thing on this day.

We take those palm branches with which they waved their welcome and we twist them into the shape of a cross and hold them in our hands.

For although we don’t fully understand the ways of our Messiah, we have come to see in him and in the Godly witness of many followers down the years, that the way of suffering, the way of the cross, is the only way that leads to a salvation worth having.

Before we can become a winning team we might have to get relegated.

Before we can be victorious people in Christ, we might have to embrace our own suffering.

Before we can be free, we do need to be liberated.

Before we can live we might have to die.

Before Easter Day – there’s a Good Friday to contend with.

Our Palm crosses witness to the truth of that – bear them this week, if you dare.

RH  16.3.08