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“ See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.
Matthew 21:5 (NIV)”
When Christ entered Jerusalem, as we celebrate on Palm Sunday, he was greeted by excited and joyous crowds. A further acknowledgement of the historical circumstances surrounding this event from scripture leads to great reflection on the Gospel. History tells us that as Jesus humbly entered the city from the east on a donkey, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate would have been entering the city from the west alongside an intimidating display of Roman military power (likely including a parade of soldiers clad with iron and war horses).
This historical juxtaposition serves as a powerful reminder of Christ’s message of peace and how we can apply it in our everyday living. Importantly, we know that Christ entered the city in service to those who worshipped His Father, as a King living among us, leading humanity on the path to salvation. Conversely, Pilate entered the city in service to the Emperor Tiberius, seeking to display the full array of military power which the empire possessed. In our own lives, as we approach a disagreement or rough situation, do we choose to lead a procession of “might,” perhaps one characterized by anger or vitriol? Or, do we choose to approach these matters following the path of humility which Christ showed us how to embark on?
–James Stone
