Go into the village opposite you,
and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered
on which no one has ever sat.
A colt symbolized the fact that Jesus came in peace. His procession was reminiscent of that of Solomon, the triumphal entry of a king (see First Kings 1:33). He claimed the right to use the colt precise because he, as Lord, had need of it, a kingly privilege. But how strange it was that Jesus came in this way. Indeed, it vaguely recalled the manger in which he was laid after his birth. Even the words of the crowd recalled those of the angel choir at that time.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest.
He did not come to exercise his full royal prerogatives as king, did not come to destroy those rebels who resisted his message. He did "not regard equality with God something to be grasped" but "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave". It was joy that their king would humble himself to come among them and bring them peace that made them shout "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (see Matthew 21:9). At his birth it was predicted that he would sit on the throne of his father David forever, but what a strange birth! Here he entered into Jerusalem to take up the kingship and begin his reign. But this meant first of all being lifted up on the cross. What a strange kingship, that ruled by love, rather than power and violence. What a strange kingship, that exercised authority in selfless service of others. As king, Jesus demonstrated that no one was exempt from the call to love others, and that no one was unworthy of receiving that love.
And they began to debate among themselves
who among them would do such a deed.
Then an argument broke out among them
about which of them should be regarded as the greatest.
In order to vindicate themselves they had no alternative but to compare themselves with one another and find one among them who was the worst and therefore the most likely to betray Jesus. But this led naturally into competition where they each made the case that he was the greatest. The true answer was that the traitor could have been any of them. Anyone, at any time, might choose to betray Jesus. After all, it was not only Judas, but all of them who abandoned him in his hour of need. Judas accepted silver as payment to sell out Jesus to the Sanhedrin. But Peter denied him, even after swearing he would die with him. The disciples didn't want to be so introspective as to realize the traitor that lurked within all of them. So with us. We would rather find others worse than ourselves that we might comfort and reassure ourselves that we are not so bad. This quickly leads to pride and jockeying for position. Instead we should recognize that all of us are sinners in need of mercy, just as the good thief recognized.
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
"Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal."
If we are all potential traitors, if none of us has done anything to merit the saving death of Jesus for our sakes, what are we to do, or what hope do we have? The hope is not to be found within us, but within Jesus himself. We are not to come before him with works, asking him to count are merits. That balance will always be wanting. Instead, like the good thief, we should simply ask, recognizing that Jesus will respond, not because of our goodness, but because of his own.
Then he said,
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
He replied to him,
"Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise."
It is easier to wield the sword than to peacefully hand ourselves over. It is more natural to make the case that we deserve salvation than to receive what is given freely. And this easy path leads logically to all the problems of our world. Even when we do surrender to Jesus it doesn't change the fact of the crucifixion, nor that it is reproduced in the lives of all of those who follow him. But surrender does something better still. Just as God greatly exalted Jesus, so too will he exult those who followed him, raising them up and giving them eternal life.
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