HOLY WEEK: The Story of Us All

Dr. Richard J. Henderson March 17, 2002

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Isaiah 50: 4-9a
Matthew 21:1-11

Introduction

In one of his short stories Leo Tolstoy wrote about how hard it is to find a good woman. He said something like, "so many women are gossipy and ill tempered."

And if you find a woman with a good disposition, then she spends money all the time. And if you should find a woman with a good disposition who doesn't spend a lot of money, then she probably has serious health problems. A good woman is just hard to find.

Of course, a lot of this was coming from Tolstoy's personal life, and his terrible marriage. At the end of his life, when he was in his 80's, he sneaked out of his house and boarded a train to run away from his wife. On the train he began traveling across Russia.

He was so sick at that point that he was finally taken off the train and rushed to the home of the stationmaster. His family learned about his escape and serious illness and hurried to see him. He allowed his children in to visit him, but not his wife. He died without allowing his wife to see him. She stood outside the bedroom door while her husband died inside.

So Tolstoy's comments about women aren't completely unbiased.

Plus, Tolstoy wasn't exactly a great catch. He brought new meaning to the term "Eccentric." While he was a genius, the events at the end of his life just summarize a life that was often bizarre.

But Tolstoy was right about one thing. We are all a mixed bag. In each of us there is great good; in each of us there is a lot that is wrong. We know the right thing to do, and we fail to do it. We know what is wrong, and we do it just the same.

The apostle Paul speaks for all of us when he writes to the Romans, "I don't understand my own actions. For I don't do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate." All of us are this odd mixture of good and evil.

I

On Palm Sunday we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry - what a parade it is. Crowds cheer Jesus on. People line the streets waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna! Hosanna to the Son of David!" Jesus rides a humble donkey in triumph. At last people recognize him for what he has done. Finally he is getting the recognition he deserves. People are cheering him on. It's like a person who has worked hard, often behind the scenes, who has been through some rough times, and she finally gets the recognition she deserves. When that person finally is acknowledged for all she's done, we gladly give her a standing ovation.

We enthusiastically join in cheering loudly. We think to ourselves, "It's about time!" There is justice in the world. The good people are being recognized.

Jesus' triumph is like that. We shout hosanna! At last he is being appreciated.

II

But there is a dark cloud in the sky. Our joy is tempered because we know where he is going. We've been down this road before; we know what is coming next.

Amid all the Hosannas we hear an ever-so-faint whisper in the background. It sounds like "crucify." Our joy isn't complete because we know about the 30 pieces of silver, the crown of thorns, the spikes, and the cross.

It's sort of like a person going to his birthday party just before going to court to be sentenced. It takes a lot of the joy out of the experience. This is Palm Sunday, but we know that by Thursday Jesus will have his last meal with his disciples and will be arrested. On Friday people will be mocking him, he will stand trial, and the blood will flow. The joy of this Sunday is clouded by the days we know will follow.

III

We are part of that crowd on Palm Sunday. We shout praise; we sing hallelujah; we wave the palm branch in praise of Jesus. We believe in him, trust him and celebrate with him. We worship him. Our praise is heartfelt; our worship is honest. We really mean it.

IV

We are also part of the crowd later in the week. We are among the ones denying Christ, shouting, "crucify him." We deny Christ when we turn our back on him; when we let what is practical overrule our moral standards.

We say, "Yes, I'm Christian, but I have to let this deal go through. My job might depend on it." Or "I know doing this is unfair, but I'm getting a lot of pressure to do it." We even say, "I'd love to have some devotional time with God, but I'm so busy."

Each is a form of turning our backs on Jesus. It's part of a faint whisper in the crowd, "Crucify him," Or maybe it's more like the denial, "I don't know this man. I'm not one of his people."

This last week for Jesus is like a summary of his life - He is praised and accepted; people sing hallelujah. Jesus finds acceptance and acknowledgment.

But there is also denial, betrayal, and people turning their backs on him. People shout "Hosanna!" at the beginning of the week, and they are shouting, "Crucify him!" by the end of the week. We are mixed up in both of those.

V

It occurs to me that more than anybody else, you and I are like Peter. Here is a man who is faithful. He gives his life to following Christ; he left his work to go wherever Christ went. He is dedicated to Jesus and his ministry. In fact, he is Jesus' right hand man - a faithful follower.

But he is also afraid. When a servant-woman approaches him and says, "You are one of his followers, aren't you?" he curses and shouts, "I don't even know the man!" When Peter senses personal danger he chickens out. To protect himself he denies he even knows who Jesus is.

For all his talk, he was, under it all, a timid disciple. He was one who turned his back. Surely he remembered the words Jesus said earlier, "If you deny me before others, I will deny you before my Father."

Peter was in despair as he looked back at what he had done. Matthew says, "He wept bitterly." All that time with Jesus, Peter's commitment, his dedication, and he threw it all away in one frightened moment.

Conclusion

But, of course, that isn't the end of Peter's story anymore than the cross is the end of Jesus' story. Jesus comes to Peter and all the disciples after his resurrection and talks with them. He sends each of them out to tell his good news, to baptize, and to teach obedience to what Christ has taught.

Even though Peter has denied Jesus, Jesus still comes to him, entrusts him with this valuable message, and sends him out to tell the world. More than that it was Jesus who sat Peter down and said to him face-to-face, Peter, you are the rock, and on this rock I will build my church.

Peter was a frail disciple, but Jesus knew about forgiveness, and he was able to see the possibilities in Peter, and even to build his whole church on such a feeble person of faith.

If Christ can use Peter, he can use people like you and me. We're not perfect. We're not always courageous. But we are forgiven. And we are what Christ wants in our world today.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2002