Devotional 3-31-12

Please read Mark 11: 1-11
It’s April Fool’s Day.  Did anyone invite you to a party (that isn’t going to happen)?  Maybe someone sent you some mystery doughnut seeds (that look a lot like Cheerios).  Someone will be working to “get you” today.  Be careful.  Be very careful. 

A quick internet search will inform you that no one has a good answer for why we have an April Fool’s Day.  Some attribute this day of foolishness to a 16^th Century change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, when the New Year was shifted from latter March to the first of January.  But there are holes in that theory.  Although no one seems to know how the day came to be, it is surprising that many cultures around the world celebrate some kind of a foolishness day for practical jokes and harmless pranks.  

It is interesting that this year’s April Fool’s Day marks the beginning of our Holy Week.  On this day, we remember the celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  We, who know what will happen during the rest of the week, can almost imagine this as a foolish April Fool’s Day hoax.  It looks like someone has been “pranked.” 

Jesus makes his way into Jerusalem finally acclaimed by the people of Israel.  Those folk spread their coats along the roadway.  Some stripped leafy palm branches to line the pathway.    They shouted:  “Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  (Mark 11: 9-10). 

I can imagine the disciples and others who were looking for the Messiah thinking, “Finally.  After all the work and listening we’ve done for the past three years.  Finally, he’s taking his rightful place.  People are actually getting it. Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of David – our rightful king.  Now he can overthrow the Roman occupation and restore again our Jewish state.  Maybe now we will get our reward.” 

The acclaim is short lived. We know what this week brings.  We know the story of a Passover Meal, of an arrest, the mockery of a trial, and the pathway to Golgotha.  We know that this man acclaimed today will be hanging on a cross on Friday.  This parade—this celebration – does seem like a cruel joke.

Ride on, ride on in majesty! Hark! All the tribes hosanna cry
Savior meek, pursue thy road with palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die
O Christ, thy triumphs now begin o’er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die;
Bow thy meek head to mortal pain, then take, O God, thy power and reign. (Henry H. Milman)

Prayer:
Loving Christ, help us who acclaim you King to walk faithfully with you through the times of joy and affirmation and the times of hardship and trial. As Christ walked the way of the cross, help us to walk this week in obedience and faith. Amen.

Rev. Mark Conner
Western District Superintendent