March 24, 2024 Palm Sunday: "Our Bodies As Vehicles Of Protest"

ReNew Ames Messages

There's a Dallas Willard quote where he argues that Jesus is the smartest person who ever lived. It's pretty cool. Not only is Jesus brilliant, but he's also one of the greatest communicators to ever live. He communicated with words, yes. But he also communicated with his body. So the question is: as we watch Jesus enter Jerusalem, what is he trying to communicate? Was this a parade, a party? Or was it something else? If someone back in my childhood had told me that the triumphant entry was less of a parade and more of a subversive political protest, I wouldn't have known what to think. I was a kid! But that's what this is. Rome was about imperial might and they were marching into Jerusalem at the same time on the other side of the city. I've talked about this before, but we get the gist again. Jesus had no weapons, he brings peace. This is hippy Jesus at his best. I'm closing today with a Franciscan blessing. “May God bless us with discomfort — discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger — anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears — tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with foolishness — enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.” Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 http://bible.com/events/49233643