Monday 18th April 2011
Rev. Simon J. Oriedo
Palm Sunday:
Mark 11:1-11
Introduction
On Monday 4th of April, the Ocampo two landed back to Nairobi to be pompous welcome. The grand march for a prayer rally at Uhuru Park started at the Airport. They were driven in an open vehicle, joined by their close allies, while their supporters / the crowd walked on foot chanting their slogans heading to Uhuru Park. The Ocampo two, in their speeches, promised reconciliation. They promised peace to the cheering crowd.
For Jesus Christ, the grand march to the cross started, according to Mark, at Mark 10:32-34. He had good will from almost every one.
- His provisions were met (a donkey, the cheering crowd and the red carpet made of clothes and branches of trees).
- The crowd’s proclamation were proclamations fit for a king
While the crowds were looking for a Messiah who would seize power quickly from the Romans and re-establish Jewish sovereignty, Jesus gave them a dramatically different message by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Despite this, we know the people’s need of a Savior from the fact that the people call out to Jesus, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.” The word “Hosanna”, though often thought of these days as an expression of praise, actually means, “Save now.”
The crowds were calling out for Jesus to save them at that time from the Roman rule. This is borne out by their addition of the words, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest.” They wished to see a return to the golden age of King David through the Messiah seizing power from the Romans.
If we think we are not like those crowds who had the wrong concept of God’s Kingdom and of the Messiah, let us be careful not to fall into the same trap!
Monday in Holy Week
Mark 11:15-18
Yesterday, the crowd showed such enthusiasm for Jesus that one could imagine that they knew what they were doing. You could imagine that they understand Jesus’ agenda. Bu, they were just:
1. A Tree with Leaves without Fruits.
The unproductive fig tree represents the crowd who had followed Jesus pretending to know His mission/agenda.
- Revelation 3:1-2 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
However, the people are a product of the Temple. Everyday they have gone to worship and offer sacrifices yet they are not productive. They are in a spiritual confusion because:
2. The Production Room was Rotten!
For Jesus, the production room, the machine, needed refurbishment. Some rust and cobwebs had let to the malfunction of the machine. The pollutions that had choked the machine needed to be cleared. Jesus then, for a moment, became the machine operator:
- Mark 11: 17 “And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’
Jesus succeeded for the moment he operated the machine for he had set up proper system by reforming the institution called the Temple:
- Mark 11:16 …and (Jesus) would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
In fact the operation room, begun to produce quality products. This is attested by the crowd for they observed:
- Mark 11: 18b “… the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.”
3. The Machine Operators Feared Jesus
Those who had been charged with the production had produced the sub-stand goods because they had neglected the machine; letting the machine to malfunction. When Jesus came and repaired the machine and operated it for a moment, it began to function. However, chiefs and the teachers of the law became insecure! They were threatened by the results and so realised that they will lose their jobs, conspired to kill Jesus.
Conclusion
I pray that this time of Easter:
i. We will evaluate ourselves whether we really understand Jesus’ agenda. We may be part of that crowd who are just using Jesus while we have personal agenda.
ii. Let us pray for the church of Jesus Christ that it will truly be a fully functional Production Room; producing men and women worthy of the Kingdom of God and not the crowd.
iii. Let us pray for those responsible for the Production Room that they will do their work well and not feel threatened to the point of finishing those whom they feel are a threat to them; not killing others ministries but encouraging for success.
Monday in Holy Week
—
Rev. Simon J. Oriedo
P. O. Box 14814– 00100, GPO
Nairobi – Kenya
Tel. +254 – 722838023 / 735621172 / 772838023
E-mail : sjoriedo@gmail.com; sjoriedo@yahoo.com