Sermon preached by Rev. Lillie M. Henley 1 Apr 2007
Our exploration today will focus on Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem at Passover and the events which led to the moment he was handed over to the Roman soldiers for execution. I will read to you a midrash story “The Epistle of Barabbas.”
Many of us have read enough books and seen enough on the History Channel to have a clear vision in our minds about the Palestine in the first century. However, there are a few ideas which of which we need to keep in mind.
For thousands of years, the Hebrew people were primarily subject to foreign rule, with only brief periods of independence. Romans ruled Palestine through the Hebrew Sadduceean priests. These priests tolerated and cooperated with the Roman governor and enjoyed a privileged life style. In general, however, the Hebrews distrusted and hated the Roman Empire. History tells us, that at the time of Jesus’ birth, the local Roman ruler, King Herod had initiated a massacre of all male, Hebrew infants. Herod was also responsible for placing forbidden idols within the Hebrew temple. There was a collective hatred for anything Roman.
While the Hebrews were allowed to “self-govern,” all rulings for the death penalty were sent to the Roman government.
After the politically powerful Sadduceean priests, the Hebrew people were governed by a minor class of priests, the Pharisees. They taught and enforced the Law and traditions. The local “synagogue” was the ordinary place for Hebrew worship and education.
Young Hebrew boys started formal education at the age of 5, learning to read and write. At age 10, boys would start to learn the Hebrew law. Formal education was complete by age 18. Young girls would learn at home from their mothers and other women. Young men were educated by a Rabbi (teacher) from the local synagogue. We also know that it was unusual in antiquity for everyone to learn how to write. In most cultures, there were some who learned how to read, and much fewer who learned how to write.
Last, we know that the Hebrews were waiting for a Messiah to free them of Rome’s yoke.
And now for our “Epistle from Barabbas”:
Greetings from a humble believer Barabbas ben Abba, called by the crowd who gathered at Passover, determined to free me and crucify Yeshu of Nazareth.
Before I leave this world and pass on to that place of which Yeshu tried to tell us, I reveal to you a true accounting of the story of Yeshu, the “Wrongly Accused and My Fortunate Escape.”
You see, I am one of the rebellious who took part in an insurrection not more than 30 days before Passover. In that fight, I killed a Roman soldier. My fate was sealed, just as surely as the fate of those before me who were crucified by the Roman governors for daring to rebel against Roman rule.
I will give you an accounting of the week before Passover.
Yeshu came into Jerusalem, riding a colt, with his followers lying palms before him. The people were singing “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Everyone had heard of Yeshu, his reputation for healing and miracles was much discussed in the city. There were even those who went out to Nazareth to hear him and beg for his miracles and mercy. Some thought him to be the Messiah.
Just as his words were mysterious in his travels in the country, so, too, were the words he spoke as he wept over Jerusalem that day. He cried, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now, they are hidden from you.”
Jesus did go to the Temple, and he drove out the greedy vendors who charged exorbitant prices for the sacrificial animals. He said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.’” He was busy that Passover week, teaching every day in the temple and praying every night in the Garden.
You may wonder how I know these things, for surely I was not a follower of Yeshu. I was a Zealot. It was a more worldly faith and we planned for the ultimate deliverance of our people. We believed that we had to fight Rome; show Yahweh that we were willing to risk our lives for our freedom from the yoke of the pagans.
I was in a dungeon, so how would I know what happened. There were my sisters and brothers who were allowed to visit me, and each day, they came with stories of Yeshu’s stories.
They told how the Pharisees questioned him in order to trick him. Yeshu was reviled by the Sadducees and the Pharisees. They knew he threatened their very existence and believed him to be a false prophet. Just as they were glad to be rid of John the Baptizer, so they wanted to be rid of Yeshu.
The Pharisees questioned his authority to proclaim “a new way.” They questioned him about paying taxes to Rome; they even questioned him about the Law, and each time, Yeshu avoided their traps.
Yeshu turned everything up side down, saying the great would be last and the poor would be first. That really upset the Sadducees. He said the only commandment was to love God with all your mind, all your heart, all your soul, and your neighbor as yourself. That really upset the Pharisees.
But what I believe was the ultimate challenge to the priests, was the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem. “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.”
Reading I
LUKE 19:28-40
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?" just say this: "The Lord needs it." ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
Reading II
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.