The Makings Of A Movement

The more that I read and study scripture, particularly, and specifically the gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; I am reminded that Jesus did not just come to do the ministry of salvation. In other words Jesus did not come down from heaven, live, and die, just to keep us out of hell. He came to show us how to live, and to assure that you and I have access to not just life after death, but life more abundantly. Yes Jesus started and completed the ministry of Salvation when he died on the cross for our sins, and rose triumphantly over death on the third day. But Jesus started not just a ministry but he birthed a movement that you and I must complete. Yes Jesus left some unfinished business here on earth for you and, the church to do. And that is the work of justice and righteousness.

Now for some of you, that just made your conservative evangelical skin crawl, because many of us like myself were taught that Jesus does not leave unfinished business, everything he does, he completes. Well I would direct your evangelicalism to the 21st chapter of St. Matthew, for Jesus has come to the apex of his ministry. He and his disciples have lingered around in Galilee for long enough, and it is time for them to go to Jerusalem, so 3 things can happen. So prophecy can be fulfilled, So salvation can be achieved, and so Jesus can start a movement. See there is a growing unrest among Jews during the life and times of Jesus Christ. They are the victims of roman occupation. And Roman occupation means constant oppression, absurd over taxation, and religious governmentalization.

These jews are made to pay a tax to Rome of some nearly 14 to 20% of their annual income not counting the tax additions by the private tax collectors under government contract by the Roman senate, who were allowed to collect an extra percentage rate set by the tax collector. And to add insult to injury, there is now a cultural clash amongst the jews. Because there is now a “talented tenth” which looks down upon the lowly agriculturalists farmers, carpenters, fishermen, and mariners who lived in Judea, Samaria, and other surrounding territories in the mountains surrounding Jerusalem. This elite class finds itself in the apex of Jewish culturalism. The temple. This elite class are the priests, scribes, and teachers of the torah. They are the preachers called to share the word of God, and they have found themselves engulfed in greed, bidding for popularity, selling out for a photo-op with Caesar, and looking down upon the very ones the are anointed to serve.

These are times of growing unrest. So the oppressed people do what oppressed people do. They revolt. That great prophet of the struggle Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks to us from his letter from the Birmingham Jail “Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.” Riot is the language of the struggle. There have already been some revolt in Jerusalem ahead of the passover feast where jews come to make sacrifice. And anticipating a breakout of revolt, the Roman government appoints Pontius Pilate, as prefect of Judea. A shrewd governor Pilate enacts Martial law to keep these jews in line.

And here comes sunday. Jews from everywhere are pouring into Jerusalem to celebrate passover, and make sacrifice for the propitiation of sin. It’s a joyous occasion of sorts. It’s a homecoming celebration. The whos who of jewish elitism would be in attendance. The pharisees, the sadducees, the Sanhedrin would all be in one place at the same time. This is a joyous occasion. I imagine that people are standing at the gate of the city just to catch a glimpse of who would come through the gates. And while all of this jubilation and celebration is going on, Jesus is not planning a parade, but the is plotting a revolt in response to injustice. In the earlier verses of this 21st chapter Jesus tells his disciples it's time to go to Jerusalem so and I want to make a statement. Go to a nearby village and get me a donkey that is tied to a colt, so prophecy can be fulfilled.

Jesus then proceeds to make his way into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, and the multitudes gather. The people cast down their cloaks, wave palm branches and cry Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord. Jesus caused all the city to be moved, and people started talking. Chattering amongst themselves saying who is this? And those who had witnessed the miracles, and the messages said this is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth. Now I know that this is palm sunday, and I'm supposed to start preaching right in here about the humility if Jesus, or about how the people praised him and how their praise caused other people to be curious about who Jesus is, and how there is salvation attached to your shout. And maybe that would have been a good sermon. But maybe i’ll preach that next year. Because what leaped off the page is not what happened when he entered Jerusalem, but what he did once he got there. Because immediately after his arrival. He sets the table for the role and work of his movement; The Church. Yes. The church is a movement, not a meeting ground. A movement not a fraternity. A movement, not social club.