Easter is a story of contrasts. The sinless sacrificed for the sinners, the triumphal entry and shouts of Hosanna to be followed by the parade of the condemned and shouts of crucify him. The choice of the crowd to put the innocent to death, set the criminal free. Spilt blood being the cure for sin that runs in our veins. Resurrection from death, the cure for death.
Jesus descends the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem, with the crowds to cheer him through the city.
Jerusalem … the city that means the foundation of peace … more contrasts.
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:41-42)
The city, as a people, which was named the foundation of peace, would be blind to the one bringing peace.
The crowds were so hyped up on this man-king … the one who would bring them peace … peace from war, peace through a war that would end the control of Rome on their lives.
They didn’t know what peace was, didn’t understand the peace this Messiah brought … the peace that is not absent of war and conflict, but unexplainable peace, in the midst of war and conflict (and sorrow).
Peace in the midst of the storm, the peace that flowed from his eyes to Peter’s on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus invited him to “come” to him, to walk on the water. When our eyes are on him during the storm, we stay afloat, we receive this peace that passes understanding.
Where was Jesus headed? To the banquet, to celebrate the Passover feast.
more contrasts …
The passover celebration of that time when death swept through Egypt saving only the lives of those who celebrated the Passover with the feasting of the spotless lambs, then they applied the blood to the door frames of their homes. The sacrifice of the lambs that led to the saving of their children.
The sacrifice of the lamb of God, that led to the saving of all children born since the firstborn who sinned.
This triumphal entry began with tears, followed by cheers … contrasted only days later with cheers of “crucify him” and tears of blood.
itsawonderfilledlife 