Palm Sunday

Jesus' Political Rally?
I don't know what buttons that question might push for you, but the more I think about Palm Sunday year after year the more I think about how much political energy is involved in this moment in Jesus' ministry. I'll go into more detail on Sunday about that, but until then I'd invite you to think about that idea and to spend some time thinking about the Psalm that the crowd was quoting, shouting to Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. Given the world that the crowd lived in, what do you think was on their mind when they shouted these things to Jesus as he entered the city? Here is the scripture for Sunday, a telling of the entry (from John) and the Psalm they were shouting. I'd love to hear what you think about what's happening here.

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; this love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

John 12:12-16
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!" 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 "Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.