Mark 11:1-10
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'” 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
I can almost see them there, on the hot, dusty road going into Jerusalem.
They were so excited to welcome him, full of hope and joy. Quickly gathering branches to lay before the young donkey Jesus rode, even laying down their cloaks in tribute to honor him.
They were thinking: “At last, the Messiah promised by the prophets is here!”
A leader to end the persecution they’d suffered.
A reformer to make things right.
A king who would again rule with justice, and start a dynasty that would last . . . forever.
Expectations canon be tricky things.
They can get in the way of seeing what is actually happening, or make it impossible to grasp that even more than we imagined is unfolding.
Those joyful people welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem were caught in their expectations, and when they saw that Jesus wasn’t going to change their lives in the ways they had imagined, when they realized that things were starting to get out of hand, and might even get worse, their cries of “hosanna” changed to cries of “crucify him!”
I used to think that they were horrible, nasty people, but I don’t anymore.
They were human.
They saw only part of the story.
Their perspective led them see only how Jesus’ teachings and behavior were a risk to their people . . . another wacky prophet who was out of control and drawing unwelcome attention on their community from the Roman Empire.
They couldn’t see how much more Jesus was bringing . . . to them and the whole world.
It was impossible for them to see that he would make everything new
Our expectations can get in the way, too.
We are frightened that things will get out of hand, or change in ways that overwhelm or hurt us. Or that nothing will change at all.
We are human. Even when we try, we will only be able to see part of the story.
Still, God comes to us, and touches our lives. . . and begins to make everything new.
We have a chance to live in the hope and expectation that God is doing more than we would ever imagine.
Even when it scares us.
Even when we can’t see how it will turn out.
May we find ways to turn our joy and hope into expectations that God is up to something we don’t fully grasp, something that is changing the world.