FRIDAY REVIEW

The Palm Sunday Roller Coaster

March 14, A.D. 2008

The crowds that went ahead of Jesus and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9).

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:22-31).

When I wrote to you on the Friday after Ash Wednesday, I had in mind the Church’s call to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. I suggested that the more we commit ourselves to serious Lenten disciplines, the more we will be prepared to enter into a joyful celebration of the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. I pray that you have indeed grown closer to the Lord this Lent as you prepared for Resurrection Sunday.

Palm Sunday, however, reminds us that we can’t rush to Easter without going through the Cross of Christ on Good Friday. What a roller coaster the Palm Sunday service is: the jubilation of Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem followed shortly by betrayal, mocking, scourging, and agonizing crucifixion on the Cross of Calvary.

As words of encouragement, we’re often reminded that even though Good Friday’s upon us, Easter is coming. Yes, we know the source of our Resurrection hope, and yet we can’t use that as an excuse for not walking with Jesus to Golgotha. Part of our growth as children of God is to realize that suffering is part of our life in Christ. Just as He suffered so we too must suffer when life’s roller coaster heads down. We suffer personal and family illnesses and tragedies and setbacks out in the world. We also suffer for the sake of Jesus as we stand firm in His truth and as we share His saving Good News with a lost and hurting world.

As we continue to move forward together as disciples of Christ, let us love one another as He loved us and pray for each other during our tribulations. I invite your prayers this Holy Week especially for John-David Schofield, Bishop of San Joaquin and William Cox, retired Suffragan of Maryland whom TEC has deposed; Edward MacBurney, retired Bishop of Quincy whom TEC has charged with canonical violations; and Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh whom TEC may move to depose as early as May.

Although the journey seems all too slow, the roller coaster will take us back to the mountaintop yet again. Jesus will indeed rise, God will indeed be glorified, and we will indeed rejoice with hearts full of gratitude and praise. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Your brother in Jesus the Christ,

Jim McCaslin+

P.S. Since next Friday is Good Friday, there will be no Friday Review next week.