( John 12, 12-19 ) - [ Deutsch ]
What do you think Jesus' followers said when he arrived in Jerusalem?
"At last people are waking up and realising who Jesus really is.
Finally, someone comes whom you can trust and with whom you can hope.
Yes, you can really cheer out loud!
The people are tired of the oppression by the Romans.
Everything was observed - everything was controlled. And you always had to do what they said, the Romans.
Foreign rulers are allowed to do what they want.
It is quite oppressive and the people are very unhappy.
But now a new time is dawning. Jesus will make sure that we can live our faith in peace and quiet - without this occupying power.
I have seen people change in his presence, like Zacchaeus, who always took too much money from people.
He made the blind see and healed people who couldn't. He calms a storm just like that.
And especially many have come now because he has made a man - Lazarus, who was dead, alive again.
Jesus will be the King, that is as clear as day!
Who will still resist him? In view of the masses who are here today, everyone must realise that they have made a mistake.
They must recognise Jesus as Messiah and King!
Only Jesus himself does not see it so positively. Again and again, he comes with prophecies from the ancient scriptures and speaks of his suffering and death. But the rejoicing of the people must also convince him. We must help him to adopt a better attitude - he is simply too modest and respects himself far too little.
A king on a donkey - a beautiful white horse, that would have suited him much better. But people will overlook this minor issue.
Jesus is my hope. At last, he will be the true king and free us from oppression!"
For three years the disciples travelled with him. They heard all that he said with their own ears. They saw with their own eyes how he helped the weak and the sick.
Would Jesus really put the royal crown on his head and become a political ruler? Would Jesus attack King Herod militarily and take away his crown? Or perhaps even launch a campaign against the Emperor of Rome? After all that the disciples know about him, do they still think he can do that?
It is not a horse, not a camel, not an elephant. It is a donkey on which Jesus rides into Jerusalem. This is not just a minor thing for people to overlook. Someone who wants to overthrow the king does not come on a donkey. Is he up to violence? Would Jesus use such violence?
Jesus predicted it over and over again?
"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed." This was no mere modesty. Jesus knew that this was his mission.
When the disciples argued about who was the greatest among them, didn't Jesus reply, "The main thing is that you let me be the very greatest"? Or: "It is good that you are already thinking about how we can get more power, because soon I will be king and then it must be clear who of you will be my most influential minister"?
No, Jesus said, "If anyone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all." That was no coincidence either, but his principle.
And even in Jerusalem, Jesus remains true to himself.
Although a large crowd is behind him at that moment, he does not attack the Roman occupation.
And this disappoints many people. Even some of his disciples. Judas, for example, who had hoped so much that Jesus would finally change the circumstances - even with violence if necessary.
It takes a lot of courage to disappoint people because you act differently than they expect. If you remain true to yourself, others will be disappointed.
And Jesus himself had the courage not to act according to what others told him, but to act according to his principles, according to God's will.
Jesus did not want to be celebrated as king himself. He wanted to make God's kingship visible and tangible in the world. He wanted to show people how powerful this reign of God can help and bring about good. God acts through people: through Jesus. And through us, if we follow Jesus. Following Jesus means taking him as our model. His life shows that God's kingship does not reign with violence, fear and coercion, but with peace, gentleness, compassion, sharing, joy, care for the weak and suffering.
Perhaps this is the most important message of Palm Sunday: persevere.
Jesus did not give up working for good. He was even crucified for it. But we also know that this is not the end of his story.
And that is exactly why we can keep at it and help shape God's kingdom in our world. By following Jesus and having the courage to live according to his principles, according to God's will.
Because God is there, gives us courage and supports us when we dare.