This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Our theme for this Lenten season is Dwelling in Dissonance. Over the past five weeks I have tried to look at our scriptures with a focus on the dissonance. So, this week, as I look at the triumphal entry, it is certainly a significant event as it is recorded in all four gospels. I spent some time looking at what was recorded before and after the triumphal entry in each of the gospels. Here is what I found…
Triumphal Entry in Matthew 21:1-11
Context Before…
Jesus heals a blind man (Matthew 20:29-34).
Context After…
Jesus cleanses the temple (Matthew 21:12-17).
Jesus curses the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22).
Triumphal Entry in Mark 11:1-11
Context Before…
Jesus heals a blind man (Mark 10:46-52).
Context After…
Jesus curses the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14).
Jesus cleanses the temple (Mark 11:15-19).
Triumphal Entry in Luke 19:28-40
Context Before…
Jesus’ parable of the ten minas, with the last servant becoming an enemy and having his mina taken away (Luke 19:11-27).
Context After…
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem’s unbelief (Luke 19:41-44).
Jesus cleanses the temple (Luke 19:45-48).
Triumphal Entry in John 12:12-19
Context Before…
The Jews plot to kill Lazarus because on account of him many were believing in Jesus (John 12:9-11).
Context After…
Jesus emphasizes his coming death (John 12:20-36)
John explains the unbelief of the people using Isaiah’s prophecy (John 12:37-43).
In Matthew and Mark’s case, the stories after the Triumphal Entry seem to be about the people’s unbelief. Jesus cleanses the temple because of their corrupt religion and faith. And he curses the fig tree to symbolize the same. (The story before about healing the blind man might have relevance in that some do believe, however.)
In Luke’s account, this emphasis on unbelief seems to be even clearer. Before Luke’s account is Jesus’ blistering parable of the ten minas. And right after Luke’s account of the Triumphal Entry, he describes how Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because of their unbelief! This comes right after the people of Jerusalem cry out “Hosanna” to Jesus!
In John’s account, the story is predicated with the strong disbelief of the Jews who want to kill Lazarus and Jesus. Then after, Jesus emphasizes… right after being praised by so many people… that he’s about to die. And then John adds a section devoted to describing the unbelief of the people.
As I look at these passages with dissonance on my mind, it isn’t hard to summarize all of these passages that unbelief is the surrounding emphasis during the time Triumphal Entry.
Does this mean that the Triumphal Entry (which includes much apparent belief and praise) for each of these gospel writers is a lesson in dissonance, a lesson where ironic ‘belief’ and ‘praise’ is on display?
Jesus’ emphasis in the surrounding stories, especially as he weeps right after for Jerusalem; was on how they did not believe in who he really was. They believed and wanted him to be their political Messiah, delivering them from the oppression of the Romans. But most didn’t believe in him as their true Savior.
And I believe this is evident as the “Hosanna, Hosanna” turns to “Crucify him Crucify him” in a few short days.
May you sit with the dissonance in the triumphal entry story. May the Spirit use the dissonance in our lives and in the world to draw us closer to Jesus and to each other.
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.
~ Pastor Dustin
