The crowds in Jerusalem -- we have long remembered the way they waffled, the way they extolled the coming King on Palm Sunday, yet days later called for his execution. Shocking? Yes. Tragic? Yes. Ironic? Huh?
Holy Week is filled with fascinating paradoxes, ironies, and enigmas. And perhaps one of the week's greatest ironies actuallly brackets The Great Week, for although the crowds shouted "hosanna!" (i.e. "save us") during Jesus' triumphal entry in to Jerusalem, they did not realize their later shouting of "crucify him!" would in fact turn their initial request into a reality. In a very real sense then, hosanna! and crucify him! are inextricably linked, for it is by means of Christ's crucifixion that He in fact saves us!
O blessed Irony!
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I love the irony intrinsic to our faith. Fantastic connection, DP!
Posted by: Baldmanblogging | March 30, 2010 at 04:59 PM
Great hearing from you Baldman!
"the irony intrinsic to our faith" -- well put and so true.
Blessings,
Chris
Posted by: Chris Monroe | March 30, 2010 at 05:49 PM
What I keep finding myself musing is whether we are to understand the crowds welcoming Jesus on Palm Sunday to be composed of the same people as those on Good Friday ... the text doesn't seem to demand either even if our tradition of interpretation identifies the crowds with one another. Our interpretive tradition also has us contemplating a donkey at the 'stable' for Christ's birth ...
Posted by: Andii | April 01, 2010 at 12:47 PM
That's a great point, Andii. You're right about our interpretation about the crowd -- Jerusalem was a big place. lots of people. some of those folks may have been in both places. Perhaps it is guilt by association?
Nonetheless "a" group from the greater Jerusalem area did shout Hosanna, and "a" group from the greater Jerusalem area did shout "crucify him".
It's great hearing from you, by the way. How have you been? I'll have to generate a future post to talk about the "donkey" issue you've raised. :D
Blessings,
Chris
Posted by: Chris Monroe | April 01, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Of course it could be the same donkey at the stable and the entry to Jerusalem! (It's still April 1st here).
Thanks for the re-welcome! I'm okay: lots of changes in three years, one minor tragedy and ... well, this probably isn't the forum to go into it all...
Posted by: Andii | April 01, 2010 at 02:00 PM
lol! Indeed, Andii!
If you would, email me - I'd enjoy hearing more about what's going on, and be able to pray in a more focused way for you.
blessings,
Chris
Posted by: Chris Monroe | April 02, 2010 at 07:59 AM