I had the opportunity to see The Chosen Season 5 in the theaters recently. It centers on “holy week,” that last week leading up to Good Friday. It started with Palm Sunday. The electricity of the crowd as they were chanting Hosanna, (Lord Save us) could be felt. The Jewish Nation had been praying for and anticipating the Messiah, the one prophesied to come and save them. Even though they were looking at Jesus and chanting the title for him “The Messiah Son of David,” they still didn’t get it. They were looking for a solution to their immediate problem, freedom from Rome. Not spiritual freedom from sin. Jesus spoke many times to the crowds, both figuratively and plainly, why he came and that he must die to be an atonement for sin. Yet they didn’t hear past what they thought should happen.
Even his own disciples struggled with this. There is a scene where Peter, still confused about what his new role will look like, wanted to speak to the crowds. Nervous and worried about his first time, he courageously steps up and delivers his first sermon and preaches “The Gospel of Christ.” Peter is so relatable. He tries, he doesn’t usually get it, and flounders, but his heart is in the right place. After his teaching he spends the next moments nervously rehashing all the things he felt he failed at. Stories from Jesus that he could normally tell in his sleep and the words had just left him. Andrew his brother stood on the side prompting words where Peter’s had escaped. As Peter was still ruminating on all that he had done wrong, Andrew told him that he had never been more proud of him. He had the courage and boldness to get up there and be the spokesman for the Gospel. And this was just the beginning of what would be a life long venture. Even in all of Peter’s boldness and courage, he still does something he vowed he would never do…deny he even knew Jesus, not once, but three times. The parallels. Peter did not feel worthy, good enough, smart enough, an eloquent enough speaker, but he had those supporting him while he stepped out in faith. It reminds me of another man, Moses, who felt all of those very same things when God called him. Yet God put his brother Aaron on his side prompting and supporting him as well. See God does not choose those who are perfect for the job, he chooses those who are willing to be molded and perfected for the job.
For most of us if we go to church on Palm Sunday, we celebrate the wonderful triumphant entry, but was it so celebratory for everyone? I am sure that Jesus with his face set on Jerusalem, knew exactly what awaited him. Staring at the “Sheep Gate,” the one that all the sacrificial lambs went through, had to have pierced his soul. Once he was inside those walls nothing would be the same, there would be no turning back.
Again, most of us do not give much more thought to it until Easter Sunday when we show up for the big celebration… He has risen from the grave! And while that is true, if we do not go through that week with Him, we miss the biggest week of Christ’s ministry. Jesus taught the multitudes. Filled with righteous anger he burned for the house of the Lord and drove out those who had turned it into a den of thieves by overcharging those exchanging currency, and high-priced sacrificial livestock all on God’s temple mount. Instead of worship it was commerce at a high price. He continued to teach and ruffle the feathers of the religious sect all week.
On Thursday as he celebrated Pesach (Passover) with his closest 12, he continued the discussion of what must take place even though they did not want to hear it. Even among his own group there were some who still had in their mind what Jesus was “supposed” to do, not what he came to do. Hence Judas’ actions. I am sure you can relate that there have been times when things did not go the way you thought they should, or in the time frame that you wanted, so you stepped in and “helped steer” the issue a different way. Judas felt Jesus was running out of time, and for fear of losing the momentum of the crowd in Jerusalem, he tried to force Jesus’ hand and hoped to persuade him and the religious leaders into pushing this Military Messiah agenda. If you have read your scriptures, you know how that turned out.
There is so much to cover throughout this week. And since this is supposed to be 2 cents and not a $1.50 I will plead with you to listen to my Sunday sermons over this past month (Click here), come to (or join the livestream) of our Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 PM CST at the FCC (Click here), and Good Friday service at 6:30 PM at the PUCC (Click here). Come to our Chosen Bible Study on Wednesdays at 6:30, and you can always watch all of the episodes for free on The Chosen App for phones and tablets or The Chosen TV app for computers or TVs.
The disciples were not so different from us. They had times of no or misunderstanding, they had times of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, unworthiness, but also joy and thanksgiving. Jesus came to be that final atonement for sin for ALL, Jews and Gentiles. That is why we are Easter People because we serve a Risen Savior who has freed us from sin and death. Every year we draw closer to Christ’s return. We are never guaranteed a tomorrow so I challenge you to make the most out of this Easter Season. You just never know, it could be your last!
Shalom, Shalom
Pastor Penny
