Today’s Word from Karl Olsen…
They didn’t know what was next. But the excitement was palpable. It was in the air—everyone felt it, even those who knew this could be trouble for them. Excitement, but they just didn’t know…
Mary rode into town on a donkey, swollen with an unborn child, nervous Joseph at her side. Emmanuel, God with us. What did that mean, exactly? The Son of David made some genealogical sense, but how was this going to work, really?
Hosanna! was the cry. Hosanna to the Son of David! A king, a ruler! Excitement and love, a donkey and uncertainty.
Hear a bit of this story here in a song by Jay Beech. Hosanna, Blessed One
Through all the years of Jesus’ ministry years there were many miracles (likely more than are written about in the gospel accounts), and many ordinary days in the carpenter’s shop or down by the sea. He gathered his share of powerful people who didn’t much like what he stood for—uplifting the poor and needy, empowering and forgiving all sorts of folks who they thought didn’t deserve grace. And these powerful folks were people who could cause trouble…
And the story continues:
They didn’t know what was next. But the excitement was palpable. It was in the air—everyone felt it, even those who knew this could be trouble for them. Excitement, but they just didn’t know…
Jesus rode into town on a borrowed donkey. Emmanuel, God with us. What did that mean, exactly? The Son of David, the promised King. But a man of peace? Humble, riding on a donkey? How was this going to work, really?
Hear the same song, from a different perspective, here. Hosanna, Blessed One. Palm/passion.
This Sunday, Palm/Passion Sunday in the church, we’ll shout “Glory and Honor” to the King as he returns to Jerusalem. Then, as part of both services, the church choir will present a cantata, an extended musical work called Song of the Shadows. We’ll be accompanied by an instrumental ensemble as we journey with Christ from his betrayal to the crucifixion.
The composer says this about the cantata:
“The earthly life of Christ began in shadows, by the flickering of a candle flame in a rugged stable. In the shadows of ancient temples, we see him preaching “let there be light,” and hope began to live where once light and despair had ruled. In the shadows of an upper room, we see betrayal, but also forgiveness and servanthood.
We see Jesus walk through the valley of the shadow of death as he embraces the cross. In that sacred shadow, we discover our faith, trusting God to be our guide. As we confront the “dark night of the soul,” we can always find comfort in this: That wherever there are shadows, there is also light.”
Come join us on this journey on Palm/Passion Sunday. The music will be powerful, the story, once again, will pull us into the story of Holy Week, on our journey to a joyful Easter morning. Hope to see you there!
Karl
