Jesus commands strange things to his disciples:
This was not the first time that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, for right from his childhood he was visiting the temple attending the major festivals, due to which he was familiar with the routes, the journey, the popular service centres, the inns, the best food joints, etc. On this occasion, on his last visit to Jerusalem, Jesus doesn’t crave for any of his favourite things to do or taste, rather commands a strange ask to his disciples, a donkey to be borrowed. Of all the things in the world, why on earth is Jesus asking for a donkey to bring in? The first learning from this text on the occasion of Palm Sunday is: Be prepared for Jesus commanding strange things to his disciples, which might include bringing something like a donkey. Through such strange commands, a donkey ride, Jesus wants to convey that he has come to offer an alternative kingship. “The Lord needs (strange things) and will send it back immediately, once its purpose is met.”
The bystander’s role in this strange plan:
As the disciples went on to bring the donkey into the village around Bethany and Bethphage, near Mount of Olives, there were few bystanders who on noticing that one of their neighbour’s donkey being untied by some strangers, asks, “What are you doing untying the colt?”(5v). When the disciples replied that it was Jesus the Lord who has asked for it and will send it back here immediately, the bystanders allowed them to take it. Imagine, if the bystanders did not allow for the disciples to untie the donkey to be taken, we would have had a different narrative of Palm Sunday events.
For the bystanders, the villagers, gathering on their streets is a huge socialising thing, for they gather around a banayan tree like in India or under a street light at the centre of the village like in my home town in India, to discuss issues of life which range from politics, to religion, to sports, to business and every other topic under the sun.
Why did these bystanders not raise an alarm when they noticed their neighbour’s donkey being taken away by some strangers? Now in Jesus’ time, the news of Jesus' movement, a movement of healing, transformation of the society was already spreading far and wide. Firstly, these bystanders were the ones who recognised the strange ways how Jesus acts, in this case this borrowing a donkey. Therefore, knowing that Jesus acts differently, they allowed that donkey to be taken by the disciples. Secondly, when the disciples came to take a donkey for Jesus, the Lord, all these bystanders expressed their solidarity with Jesus’ movement by allowing the donkey of their neighbour to be taken by them. Thirdly, these bystanders took a risk of vouching for their neighbour’s donkey. These bystanders would not have been the owners of the donkey, and when the disciples came along to untie it, they allowed it to happen and would have thought they could convince the owner about the donkey. The bystanders took that risk, only to be part of Jesus’ movement. Fourthly, these bystanders were bold in questioning when something strange was happening, for when the disciples were untying the donkey, they did not hesitate in asking about it. They care for their neighbour and his donkey and therefore asked the disciples about the donkey. Their sense of neighbourliness, their sense of being responsible neighbours is what we recognise in them. Fifthly, these bystanders responded to the acts of stranger disciples in graciousness, by engaging in a dialogue and conversation with the disciples.
As the bystanders in the village allowed the donkey to be taken to Jesus, we know the rest of the Palm Sunday event, where Jesus rides the donkey into the streets of Jerusalem, and people shouted hosanna as their prayer to save them, and invoking their hope in Jesus, the Blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord.
The relevance of this text for us on this Palm Sunday is that we are called as disciples of Jesus Christ to recognise and respond when Jesus commands things that will look strange, unusual from routine, ritual and tradition. Are we as a church able to look out for those strange commands of Jesus for us which are strange, different and simple like that of a donkey?
Secondly, we as a church are called to be like the bystanders: recognising Jesus’ words, willing to take risks, allowing us to be in solidarity with Jesus’ movement, be responsible neighbours by raising our voice and asking when things look different on our streets today. In the context when the government in the UK is proposing plans to bring in new rules for people seeking asylum in this country that lacks compassion and generosity, we are called as Christians like these bystanders to ask the government, “What are you doing? Tying the Asylum without a heart of compassion?
May God in Jesus drive through our streets for justice and may we join with Jesus on his march for the cause of transforming this world today.
Allow me to conclude with this prayer:
Prayer for Asylum Justice
God who in Jesus has come to us as a refugee,
as we draw to yet another lockdown Holy Week, reflecting on the passion of Christ,
Help us O God to recognise that you are present among the crucified communities around us.
God who in Jesus did not have a place to lay down your head,
We at this time remember people who are seeking a sanctuary in the UK,
We uphold the 35,099 asylum claims made in the UK during the year ending March 2020
so that justice is expedited to people waiting for a response,
Make us understand that there is no ‘wrong type’ of refugee
Help us to know that people fleeing for their lives
have little choice in how they seek safety,
Grant us generosity and compassion
in ensuring justice in our land for all people.
God who in Jesus identifies with the undocumented people,
may you guide those people in the Government
to be guided and led by values of love and justice.
God who in Jesus offers shepherding to the entire creation,
May we as churches be welcoming spaces
for refugees, migrants and strangers,
Accepting, receiving, loving, caring,
offering hospitality and advocating for justice.
May we as churches raise our voice
against the unjust policies and plans of the Government
which attacks the right to claim asylum.
May we as churches together with many charities and faith-based agencies
Stand up for asylum and stand up for justice.
May we as churches identify
with today’s crucified communities, and
may we be channels of new life
to all people and all of the creation. Amen.
@rajpatta,
27.03.2021
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