Palm Sunday

Andrew's Diary

Today, we arrived just outside of Jerusalem and Jesus was soon to claim His title as the Messiah. He warned us that He was soon to die and we all knew that whatever He said or told outside of His stories was true. We were all silent, and for the first time I was sure Jesus was lying. God won't let Jesus die! I'm sure He won't!

Without explaining further, Jesus sent two of us to fetch a donkey and the colt next to it. His specific words were something along the lines of: "Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anybody says anything to you, say that the Lord needs it." I went and spied the ragged donkey alongside its offspring and helped take the donkey and her child to Jesus. We threw our clothes over them and Jesus mounted the young colt with elegant ease. The way He sat was as if Jesus sat upon a handsome stallion, but I was sure the smelly grey-brown thing He sat upon was merely an unbroken donkey.

He rode into Jerusalem with us twelve following behind Him in pairs as if we had practiced it ten times over. I was near the middle of the group and I watched carefully as Jesus rode the colt down the path with the mother right beside Him. I was utterly surprised that the colt who had never been ridden was walking as if he had been saddled a million times. People saw us and formed a large crowd, throwing down palm branches and their coats for Jesus to walk over. Kings were the only ones greeted this way, and at that moment I knew that they wanted Jesus as their King.

The reason they did this was because it was foretold that God's Messiah would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people would put down palm branches or coats for Him to ride over. At first I did not understand as I would have thought that a brilliant white stallion would suffice but I have never been one to question God's prophecies. Then I realised that any old person who thought of themselves as worthy could ride in on a brilliant white stallion in handsome clothes. However, these rich people would never stoop to the level of riding on a stinky, ragged or wild donkey.

The people chanted, "Hosanna, Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel" and I finally feel great relief. Jesus has been welcomed with open arms, and now I'm sure his prophecy of the fact that he shall die was a lie.

However, Jesus was already turning the people away and I frowned at His sudden arrogance which showed that first day in Jerusalem. We had been given a nice apartment and we were grinning and celebrating when Jesus slipped out. Naturally, I thought He needed comfort so I followed Him.

He went to His father's temple and I suddenly remembered the merchants and crooks nesting in there, selling under the eyes of God. Jesus went through and the next thing I hear, tables are being thrown over, money is being spilt, screams are erupting, and people of Jerusalem are fleeing from the temple. Animals followed, baaing or bleating or squawking, and Jesus yelled, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations', but you have made it a den for robbers!"

I peered round one of the columns and saw Jesus bent over, panting with tables all around Him shoved over and chairs upside down. I was about to go and make him feel better, but I was not sure about this wild Jesus whom none of us disciples have ever seen. I could have sworn I saw a tear trickle down His cheek as He knelt down to pray. I could have sworn He was mumbling rather than speaking in His clear, determined voice He usually used. I could have sworn He felt guilty. I know I feel guilty because I did not go to soothe Him, but Jesus needed time alone with God, and I could not interrupt their daily Father-Son time.

Yours Faithfully,

Andrew.