Jesus entering Jerusalem

[EricCKS]

Ok another question from Bible study. THis Sunday’s reading has Jesus entering Jerusalem in what is a very party like event. Then we have the Passion. Seems like a contradiction. How can you explain the context of the two events.

This question came from one of the members that I meet with Fri. mornings.

Thanks Eric

 

[Eileen_T]

I think that the common people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus, who they, by then, knew to be a miracle worker.

Those who were present when Jesus was taken to the Temple and later to Pilate were more likely to be the foreign Jews who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, seeded by people planted by the Pharisees to rouse them up in anger.

They would have been extremely angry on being told of Jesus’ ‘blasphemy.’ :twocents:

 

[Archbishop]

At the triumphal entry, you have the people welcoming Jesus as a King. There is still the thought in people’s minds that Jesus is coming to establish an earthly kingdom. To them he will overthrow the Roman rulers and bring peace and prosperity. After all, he has cast out demons, raised the dead, fed the multitudes, and mesmerized the people with his wonderful sermons.

However, as the week progresses, it becomes obvious that Jesus is not the going to become the king the people had hoped for. As the people see him condemned and on trial before Pilate, they realize that they had better go along with the tide. After all, if they stick up for Jesus they too will most likely meet the same fate.

And so, many of those who a few days before had shouted “Hosanna!” now shout “Crucify Him!”

The same is true of so many today who in certain circumstances and around a certain group of people act as though they love the Lord Jesus Christ and then around another group of people and in other circumstances deny him. We roll with the tide so to speak. Herein is a lesson from this coming Sunday’s readings for us.

Who are we? Will we stick by Jesus and proclaim him as King regardless of who we are around, regardless of what the circumstances may be? Or will we “crucify Christ afresh” by our lack of speaking up for him, by not bearing witness for him, by not living the gospel before others?

Archbishop +Mark

 

[Liberian]

In defense of the people who shouted to crucify Jesus, they came to Pilate’s place in the morning prepared to ask for Barabbas’ release. Barabbas was something of a revolutionary and so would have been rather popular–at least to the extent that they would be prepared to give Pilate a “poke in the eye” by asking for his release. They did not know that Jesus had been arrested, either; after all, that had only been done a few hours earlier and under cover of darkness. So here comes the crowd, ready for Barabbas to be released, when Pilate (the hated foreign governor-general) pulls a last-minute switch on them and offers them Jesus instead. Naturally the crowd is going to take a dim view of Jesus here.

• Liberian

 

[maryj]

During the week of Passover,(big celebration) many,many, jews from far and wide came into Jerusalem(many from other countries)Each family was to bring a healthy, unblemished lamb for a sacrifice. So if you were traveling a long way,the lambs would have to walk and then when they arrived they would be all skinny and blemished. So outside of Jerusalem shepherds would raise lambs just for this purpose, people would travel to Jerusalem and then buy the lamb outside of the city. So when Christ entered Jerusalem on the week of Passover he was the unblemished Lamb of God, sent to be a sacrifice. Jesus was sent to take OUR PUNISHMENT for breaking our Covenant with God. Celebration and sorrow all rolled into one. Jesus was the Messianic fullfillment of the third part of the covenant God made with Abraham. I hope that helped.

 

[Steven_Merten]

Hello Eric,

Can you put Christ’s situation into your present faith situation?

You and your fellow Catholics have heard of a Catholic who has brought the dead back to life, fed five thousand people out of basically nothing, spoke of wisdom beyond compare to any great Catholic leader and most believed that the man was a long awaited person that scriptures talked about.

On the man’s triuphant entery into Vatican City millions came out to greet him and they treated him like royalty. Then Pope Benedict XVI, the Cardinals and priests come out and instruct the millions of Catholics gathered there that this man is blasphemous. Pope Benedict XVI instructs the crowd that the man works miracles by the power of Satan. Pope Benedict demands that the man be put to death according to Church law.

Would this cause you, and your fellow Catholics, a little confusion?

Jerusalem was like our Vatican city. The Jewish high Preists, Pharisees and Scribes were God’s authorized Church leaders of the day as the Pope and Cardinals are God’s authorized Church leaders today.

If Pope Benedict XVI or Pope John Paul II looked you in the eye and told you that someone was evil, blasphemous, and an accomplis of Satan, how would that effect you?

I am thinking that you would at least have to go home and do some praying to think about things. Many devout Catholics would, no doubt, automatically, join in on Pope Benedict’s condemnation of the man.

What do you think?

 

[Liberian]

Steven Merten:

I am thinking that you would at least have to go home and do some praying to think about things. Many devout Catholics would, no doubt, automatically, join in on Pope Benedict’s condemnation of the man.

What do you think?

Steven,

Many devout Catholics would indeed automatically join in the condemnation of the man. In fact, given our speaking about obedience to the Magisterium and against personal interpretations of the Scriptures, probably the most devout would join in while the less devout would hang back.

This is an excellent and very insightful post. Thank you very much for it.

• Liberian

 

[Elzee]

Steven Merten:

Hello Eric,

Can you put Christ’s situation into your present faith situation?

You and your fellow Catholics have heard of a Catholic who has brought the dead back to life, fed five thousand people out of basically nothing, spoke of wisdom beyond compare to any great Catholic leader and most believed that the man was a long awaited person that scriptures talked about.

On the man’s triuphant entery into Vatican City millions came out to greet him and they treated him like royalty. Then Pope Benedict XVI, the Cardinals and priests come out and instruct the millions of Catholics gathered there that this man is blasphemous. Pope Benedict XVI instructs the crowd that the man works miracles by the power of Satan. Pope Benedict demands that the man be put to death according to Church law.

Would this cause you, and your fellow Catholics, a little confusion?

Jerusalem was like our Vatican city. The Jewish high Preists, Pharisees and Scribes were God’s authorized Church leaders of the day as the Pope and Cardinals are God’s authorized Church leaders today.

If Pope Benedict XVI or Pope John Paul II looked you in the eye and told you that someone was evil, blasphemous, and an accomplis of Satan, how would that effect you?

I am thinking that you would at least have to go home and do some praying to think about things. Many devout Catholics would, no doubt, automatically, join in on Pope Benedict’s condemnation of the man.

What do you think?

The contradiction of these 2 stories has never made sense to me until now. Thank you for this analogy.

 

[EricCKS]

Steven Merten:

Hello Eric,

Can you put Christ’s situation into your present faith situation?

You and your fellow Catholics have heard of a Catholic who has brought the dead back to life, fed five thousand people out of basically nothing, spoke of wisdom beyond compare to any great Catholic leader and most believed that the man was a long awaited person that scriptures talked about.

On the man’s triuphant entery into Vatican City millions came out to greet him and they treated him like royalty. Then Pope Benedict XVI, the Cardinals and priests come out and instruct the millions of Catholics gathered there that this man is blasphemous. Pope Benedict XVI instructs the crowd that the man works miracles by the power of Satan. Pope Benedict demands that the man be put to death according to Church law.

Would this cause you, and your fellow Catholics, a little confusion?

Jerusalem was like our Vatican city. The Jewish high Preists, Pharisees and Scribes were God’s authorized Church leaders of the day as the Pope and Cardinals are God’s authorized Church leaders today.

If Pope Benedict XVI or Pope John Paul II looked you in the eye and told you that someone was evil, blasphemous, and an accomplis of Satan, how would that effect you?

I am thinking that you would at least have to go home and do some praying to think about things. Many devout Catholics would, no doubt, automatically, join in on Pope Benedict’s condemnation of the man.

What do you think?

Wow this is huge. I will be sharing on Friday morning thank you. What a better day than Good Friday to share such wisdom.

Thanks Eric