Red carpet time

The movie world has hosted yet another round of OSCAR awards and stars have made the walk with their friends and supporters, soaking up all the worldly adulation. For some of the lesser known faces, this moment represents not only the culmination of countless years of hard work but also recognition by their peers that their work is of the highest standard in the film industry. Whether or not they win an award, simply to be noticed and included is reward enough.

          Those whose stardom is well established are interviewed about their clothing and jewellery, their partners and their hopes for awards. Pushy paparazzi compete for the best positions,  determined to give the public what they seem to want - fleeting images of what, for many, may be only short-lived fame. For we all know that public opinion can change from adoration to vehement judgement almost overnight as rumours circulate and speculation gathers momentum.

          Speculation and rumour were rife in Jesus' life too as people heard of the miracles and the mercy of this prophet who walked and taught in the villages, in synagogues and out in the open country. Jesus’ popularity mushroomed; he was pursued by people desperate for healing of body, mind and spirit, but also desperate for relief from the oppressive Roman occupation. It's not hard to see why Jesus needed time to pray and reflect as he processed what was going on around and within him.

          Even as he drew strength from the Source of all life,in his humanity he would also have been wrestling with the  lure of fame, and the heady feeling of being sought out by people wherever he went.  Perhaps he was trying to reconcile the tension between the call he knew to be his, to usher in the Kingdom of God, and the call of the people, to be the leader of a popular movement against Roman rule.  No wonder Jesus needed to receive, in silence, the deep assurance of grace sufficient for his needs, and guidance in the time ahead, for all too soon he would have his own ‘red carpet day’.

          Matthew 21: 1-11 describes that  day - Palm Sunday - the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Riding on a donkey - reminding the crowd he was coming in peace - Jesus entered that holy city with the adoring cries of the people ringing in his ears.  

All the months of miracles, the countless meetings with people for healing and hope-bringing,reached a peak of excitement and adulation as people threw their cloaks and branches of palms to form a 1^st century version of the ‘red carpet’ and shouted:

           “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

          “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

          “Hosanna in the highest!” ( v. 9)

But, as we all know, that adulation did not last. Within a few short days, their shouts had changed from adoration to derision:  “Crucify him! Crucify him!” ( Matthew 27: 22-23) Before long, Jesus found himself walking another path, the Via Dolorosa, which led to the place of execution, Golgotha, and the descent into the darkness of death. Popular recognition had turned to decisive rejection.

          This time next year, few will recall the names of the 2016 Oscar winners, but the name of Jesus will continue to draw, disturb and delight countless people around the globe who see in him the hope of resurrection and a different way of being human - the Jesus way.