From the Pulpit: ‘Choose to follow a God that is humble and real’

The Christian faith is full of dissonance and tensions. Truths that push up against each other in uncomfortable paradoxes. On my mind right now, is Palm Sunday – a day in Jesus’ life that calls us to embrace truths that seem counterintuitive. 

Here’s a little backstory. Every year at Passover (the Jewish festival day), the city of Jerusalem expands with thousands of faithful people present to commemorate God’s faithfulness in freedom from bondage in Egypt. And while this is happening, the Roman governor of Judea also rides into Jerusalem in all his majesty and display of power to remind the Jewish people who is demanding their obedience and submission. 

And so, picture the scene. Pilate in his show of power, ruling with threats and terror, entering the city on one side as Jesus comes defenseless, riding a donkey, declaring love and sacrifice as his rule. 

We have in our mind the kind of Savior we want, don’t we? Swift repair to my problems with aggressive take-over and shows of strength to “get what we want”. That’s the way things get done, right? 

Palm Sunday is a story about disappointed expectations, though. The God that we think we want doesn’t show up. Instead, our God is less aggressive, less efficient, non-violent, and what some might describe as weak. 

So, do we choose to follow a God that is humble and real? Or will we stick with the path that has delusions of grand empire? 

God’s is a kingdom of peace. A kingdom of self-sacrificing love. Radical patience. Vulnerability and courage that doesn’t come from shows of strength. 

At the end of the day, Jesus is shaking the broken system of this sinful world to the core. Jesus confronts the sin of power with grace and love. And wow, it is really hard to take that road of faith! As we juggle the tension of this holy mystery, I encourage you to look toward the path of love. Find the holy ground of self-sacrifice. It’s there that Jesus is calling us to walk. Our world really needs the radical kingdom of love and peace.