Two Processions

Pilate and his troops had to come from his headquarters at Caesarea on the western seacoast out of political and military necessity to make sure that there were no riots or other trouble during the time that people came to Jerusalem from all over the country for the noise and fuss of Passover.

Jesus and his disciples come from Galilee in the north down to Jericho and then make the tough climb up through the barren hills to Bethany and then to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem from the east.

The last portion of the journey was the route that tradition held would be the one taken by the messiah when he finally would arrive.

One procession is motivated by ruthless retaliation.

The historic records say that the roads around Jerusalem were at times lined with hundreds if not thousands of crosses and crucifixions of rebels against Roman rule.

Any perceived threat against the governments was dealt with swiftly and brutally.

It is no wonder that the Roman governor preferred to stay in Caesarea with the sea breeze at his face and only come to Jerusalem with his heavy procession of troops when he really had to do so....and deal with the hostile crowds, the sights, the stench of the executions.

And then there are the folks who have been following Jesus around the countryside, a few of whom may have come along to Jerusalem for Passover.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus says, “forgiving as you have been forgiven.”

Paul urges us to “have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, ...emptying himself, taking the form of a servant...”

These things make for a procession that is decidedly different from Pilate's procession.

It is counter to the way that the rest of the world walks.

Discipleship is always a matter of imitation of what Jesus the master is doing.

“Come, walk this way,” he beckons;

learning forgiveness, living servant-hood, and anticipating the final victory feast.

It is much more difficult than merely following the ever louder crowd around Pilate's procession.

People tend to get nervous and fall away from following Jesus, but his is the procession that finally will endure.

Pilate's will in the end collapse.

Throughout this week we ponder this great wonder:

He who chose a servant's form to take,

as the King of glory reigns. [HS-98#826.4]

Two processions are still moving today, one toward life, and one toward death.

Which one shall we follow?

Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.