Jesus Weeps a Second Time
Luke 19:28-40
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.”’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
Palm Sunday is a difficult holy day to reconcile. The Passover crowds are euphoric, waving palm branches and chanting “Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.” It is a party that breaks out on the road to Jerusalem. But for the moment, let’s stay with Palm Sunday and not think about what comes on Friday. The symbolism of Jesus riding a donkey is significant.
The Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, lived on the ocean west of Jerusalem, in Caesarea. Every year he would come to Jerusalem during Passover because tens of thousands, maybe even over 100 thousand Judeans from around the diaspora, would come to Jerusalem to offer their sacrifices. It was during this time that things could go off the rails if you were a Roman governor. The Judeans might protest or rise up against their oppressors at the slightest provocation. So, it made sense for the governor to leave his resort on the sea and to march into Jerusalem for Passover. There were two gates into the city of Jerusalem. Pilate always made a showy entrance from the west, heading a military parade replete with soldiers, horses, chariots, and even elephants. The show of martial strength sent a warning as subtle as a cudgel: “Don’t get any ideas.”
Jesus rode his donkey into Jerusalem from the east. It is known as his “triumphal” entry, though in contrast to Pilate’s display, it could just as easily have come off as a protest or even a joke. I think we should take it as a signal that Jesus’ power abides in his humility.
The crowds didn’t think of it as a joke, but as the beginning of a revolt. As far as they were concerned, Jesus had come on his donkey to conquer Jerusalem and fulfill the prophesy of Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! 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.”
My Friends, this is what I want you to think about today, Palm Sunday. The gospel of Luke tells us that a delirious mob surrounded Jesus and the donkey, and that…
“As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God’” (Luke 19: 41-45).
This is the reason for Palm Sunday. And this text tells us that Jesus wept a second time—not for himself but for the city. He wept for those who saw but still didn’t believe. He wept for those who would soon shout “Crucify him!” In other words, he wept for us. He still does. He weeps for all those times we denied him. He weeps for all those times we disappointed him. He weeps for all those times we failed him. And far from washing him away, his tears carry him to the cross in love.
prayer
In the events of this week, the cries of those who suffer have been heard by the One who could, the only One who can, the only One who will deliver on his promise that there will be a happy morning. But it only comes – it only comes – by means of his death. Let us follow him then, this week, to the foot of his Cross. Let us come together in mind and heart to behold our Lord as he gives himself up for the sake of the whole world. Let us come in heart and soul and mind, in faith and in trust, to confess that ‘truly this man is the Son of God.’ Amen.
Fleming Rutledge, The Undoing of Death. Here is an excerpt from her 1991 Palm Sunday sermon titled “The New World Order.”
Daily Lenten meditations each have a companion morning prayer video offered by the same clergy. View the YouTube playlist to find this meditation’s companion video, or to watch others.