The road to Jerusalem Is not a straight road. From Bethany, where Jesus has often spent time with his dear friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and where, as we heard in last week’s Gospel, in the greatest of his miracles, Jesus raises Lazarus from 4 days dead in the tomb, the road goes steeply downhill into the Kidron valley before turning to climb up to one of the gates into the city.
In the next few days, Jesus and his closest friends will move between the city, the Temple and the Mount of Olives, and it is here where they retreat each evening from the hecticness of the city preparing for the Feast of the Passover. Coming away from the noise and the bustle, and finding peace among the coolness of the olive groves of Gethsemane, the name meaning ‘olive press’. Here also, Jesus is able to avoid the threat of arrest and dodge the danger that is gathering all around him as the week goes on.
It will be here though, on the Thursday, where he is betrayed – when Judas leads the soldiers into the heart of the garden, where Jesus has been praying in great anguish, surrounded by his disciples, sleeping.
All this though, lies ahead of us, just as now, the road into Jerusalem stretches before Jesus – down and then up – and then down even more, before up, up and up again.
The road to Jerusalem is not a straight road – neither is the journey to the cross, and indeed beyond, neither is the journey of Holy Week that we walk together each year.
For now though, we walk the road, the dusty road to the city with Jesus, with palms waving and jubilant shouts ringing in our ears, and with the disciples, who, like us, were not always sure of where they were going:
My neighbour’s colt…
The disciple:
Thou shalt not steal thy neighbour’s colt.
But hey – I’m only borrowing
And I intend to bring it back.
The rope’s so easy to untie,
But if this creature comes to harm
Can I say it’s not my fault?
Or did I steal my neighbour’s colt?
Thou shalt show love with all thy strength.
But hey – I’m only following
And acting on my lord’s command.
Yet is it right that I should hide
Behind another’s choice or will?
Can that absolve me of all fault
When I lead away my neighbour’s colt?
Thou shalt not falsely testify.
But hey – is it dishonouring
To ask again just who he is?
Is simple trust enough to bear
The weight of what we’re saying here?
Will history find we were at fault
To seat him on our neighbour’s colt?
The Spirit:
He shall not judge by sight alone,
But lift the low and sorrowing.
His words will never pass away.
Would such a gentle king mislead
Or trick you into false misdeed?
Your silence – that would be a fault,
When he rides upon your neighbour’s colt.
PALM SUNDAY – Malcolm Guite
Now to the Gate of my Jerusalem,
The seething holy city of my heart,
The saviour comes. But will I welcome him?
Oh crowds of easy feelings make a start.
They raise their hands; get caught up in the singing,
And think the battle won. Too soon they’ll find
The challenge, the reversal He is bringing
Changes their tune. I know what lies behind
The surface flourish that so quickly fades;
Self-interest, and fearful guardedness,
The hardness of the heart, its barricades,
And at the core, the dreadful emptiness
Of a perverted temple. Jesus come
Break my resistance and make me Your home.
Prayers
Lord Jesus, on this day
you rode into Jerusalem and were greeted as a King;
rule in our hearts today
and help us walk the way of the cross this Holy Week.
Lord of the cross,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, on this day
the people shouted ‘Hosanna’
and then later, ‘Crucify!’
May our churches be less divided,
for we all proclaim you as Lord.
We pray for the services we will share as Churches Together this
Holy Week, and give thanks for worshipping as one community of faith.
Lord of the cross,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, on this day
you came to save all the earth;
we pray for our troubled world,
for all places of conflict and struggle,
for all who work for justice and peace.
We pray for all caught up in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine,
and the Middle East.
Lord of the cross,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, on this day
you carried on your work of healing;
be with those who are ill,
all who suffer, all who are broken-hearted.
We remember especially those who have asked for our prayers….
And those others known to us….
Lord of the cross,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, on this day
you gave yourself for us,
bring comfort to those whose earthly journey is almost done;
through your cross and resurrection you bring new life to all.
We remember especially today those whose memory is precious to us –
Lord of the cross,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, Saviour, King,
Servant of all,
as we walk the way of the cross
may we find in you,
the forgiveness of sins,
the power of love,
and the promise of life eternal.
Amen.
Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 2nd April 2023. (St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)