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| St. Mark Presbyterian Church |
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jerusalem
Not long ago the family went to the Science Center here in St. Louis to see a new movie at the Omnimax theater- "Jerusalem". It was an awesome cinematic trip to the Holy City, and I don’t know of a better example of high-tech storytelling, of bringing the history and the now together in a ways that we expect from modern media, though in this case four stories high, and wrapped around all of our audio and visual senses. The technology of storytelling will certainly become more compelling in the future, but what I find most exciting is the way it will become more accessible as well, allowing us to create and share our own experience.
This movie took me back to a time in my life when I had lived and worked in Israel, and the stunning aerial footage of Jerusalem, the Galilee, the Dead Sea, and especially Caesarea Maritima brought a flood of memories. The archeological excavation I was part of at this harbor site was to be a multi-year project involving hundreds of individuals from several universities, and I remember coming home after that first season so excited about the experience, scheming to figure out a way to get the one person involved that I thought would want to join me the next year --- my Dad. His reaction was unexpected. He loved the stories, the pictures, the offer, but he didn’t want to go.
This movie took me back to a time in my life when I had lived and worked in Israel, and the stunning aerial footage of Jerusalem, the Galilee, the Dead Sea, and especially Caesarea Maritima brought a flood of memories. The archeological excavation I was part of at this harbor site was to be a multi-year project involving hundreds of individuals from several universities, and I remember coming home after that first season so excited about the experience, scheming to figure out a way to get the one person involved that I thought would want to join me the next year --- my Dad. His reaction was unexpected. He loved the stories, the pictures, the offer, but he didn’t want to go.
He explained it like this: the Holy Land, and Jerusalem in particular, were for him more spiritual than physical places. He had spent a lifetime building this place in his heart and in his mind, and he wasn’t going there as a tourist. My respect and understanding of his position has grown through time. Just as each of us have a personal relationship with Jesus, we each have a unique understanding of his life and time on Earth. This week we can all go to Jerusalem in our own way, enter the city with joy, and join in the events of the week as they play out, even though we know how the story ends. Or, rather, doesn’t.
Dear God, we give thanks for all that we have been given through your love, and ask that you open our hearts as we follow your Son through this week, and throughout eternity. Amen
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