03-23-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
March 23, 2024
Today is Palm Sunday Eve, an important day in the life of the church. Not really, but I like to think of it in those terms. In Matthew’s telling of the story, Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem to find a donkey and a colt that he will ride. At the time of this request, it says that they were in Bethphage, about a two-hour walk from Jerusalem. Because of the round trip, I am going to guess that Jesus sent them on Palm Sunday Eve, the day before the Palm Parade. I can’t prove that; it's just a guess. But of course, Matthew tells us that Jesus requested not just a donkey but also a colt. Why both? And when it comes time for the parade, it sounds as if Jesus rides both of them. I just picture the circus act where the person is standing with one foot on one horse and the other foot on the second horse. This is a case where the author of the Gospel probably did not understand Hebrew Poetry which sometimes has two lines that say basically the same thing but with a slight change. It is not suggesting two different ideas, but a way of poetically placing emphasis on the one idea. From the Prophet Zechariah, we read:

Lo, your king comes to you;
  triumphant and victorious is he:
humble and riding on a donkey, 
  on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The king is not riding on two animals. Instead, the poet is simply communicating an idea using a well-known poetic technique—parallelism. To be honest, I kind of like the image of Jesus riding two animals side by side. Whatever the case, it all started on Palm Sunday Eve, or at least that’s my story, and I’m sticking with it.

Whatever the day, however he might choose to enter. Keep me close to Jesus so that I might witness all he has to teach me. Amen.