ISSL Reflections April 3 2022 Matthew 21:1–11 Post 2

IV.
Let’s continue to think about how Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem as described by Matthew and how others enter the city. Take time to read our focus passage again and hold onto any details that draw your attention.

V.
Matthew 21:1-11 (New Revised Standard Version)

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

VI.
In my previous post I mentioned having read how Pilate entered Jerusalem during Passover festivities. Allow me to be more specific and include in today’s post how Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan in their book The Last Week (pp 2-3) contrast Pilate’s entry with Jesus’ entry.

“Two processions entered Jerusalem … It was the beginning of Passover … One was a peasant procession, the other an imperial procession…. From the east, Jesus rode a donkey down the Mount of Olives … On the opposite side of the city, from the West, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria entered Jerusalem at the head of a column of imperial cavalry and soldiers…. Pilate’s [procession] proclaimed the power of empire. Pilate’s military procession was a demonstration of both Roman imperial power and Roman imperial theology…. Imagine the imperial procession’s arrival … A visual panoply of imperial power: cavalry on horses, foot soldiers, leather armor, helmets, weapons, banners, golden eagles mounted on poles … Pilate’s procession displayed on only imperial power, but also imperial theology. According to this theology, the emperor was not simply the ruler of Rome, but the Son of God.”

VII.
With those images of Pilate’s entry, contrast Jesus’ entry.

What stands out to you in the contrast?

If Pilate’s entry is about imperial power and “theology” what is Jesus’ entry about?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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