Speaking of Military Parades . . .

In their book, The Last Week, authors Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan tell the story of when Jesus entered Jerusalem to begin what Christians know as “Holy Week.” 

That entrance into the City of David has come to be known as “Palm Sunday” and is often referred to as “Jesus Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem.

When I first read this wonderful little book I was stunned by the revelation that at the same time Jesus made his way into the city another procession (parade) was entering into Jerusalem from the opposite side of the city—from the West.

Now I, like so many other Christians today, was not aware of this other parade, for indeed it was a parade designed to let the Jews in Jerusalem know who had all the power and might.

Historically Holy Week must be understood within the context of Passover. 

Passover was the time when thousands of Jews ascended upon Jerusalem to celebrate the holiest time of the year for Jews. The population of Jerusalem swelled to capacity.

I should also point out that Rome was the occupying force in Israel whose appointed governor, Pontus Pilate, was responsible for maintaining order and peace among the Jews. Passover was fraught with danger for Pilate because the Jews were celebrating their liberation from Egypt (the Exodus) and Jewish emotions normally were on edge during Passover.

So Jesus peacefully makes his way down from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem riding on a lowly donkey (a humble beast of burden). Folks were waving palm branches and singing praises to the Messiah as he made his way into the city of David. 

At about the same time, on the other side of the city enters Pontus Pilate leading his imperial army, a military parade of sorts. Enters the cavalry riding upon large war horses and infantry who were attired in full battle gear. It was a threatening show of force! It was designed to strike fear into the hearts of anyone attempting to challenge Rome’s occupying authority during this Passover week.  

Now history reminds us that Empires don’t care for any type of protest. Empires do not take too kindly to political protests of any kind and this is why Pontus Pilate led this military parade into Jerusalem to send the message that all protests will be thwarted by the use of military force and power.

Now Jesus certainly knew how all this worked. It wasn’t his first rodeo as they say. It wasn’t his first Passover in Jerusalem. He knew there would be a military parade, a show of force. He knew Pilate would lead his imperial forces into Jerusalem—he did so each year it seems. 

So the question is: Did Jesus stage his entry into Jerusalem from the East as a form of political protest? 

It’s quite possible.

Contrast the two parades or processions. Jesus came to usher in the peaceful non-violent reign of God on earth. But it would be presented in non-threatening, humble, and peaceful ways. His riding on a donkey exhibited the very nature of God’s kingdom: A non-violent reign that invites any and all to embrace the humble way of Christ in the world. 

The military parade of Pilate was designed to send another message to anyone who would dare challenge the Empire’s authority or protest the dominant symbols of Roman rule (you kneel in this Empire and you will pay the price).

This event known as Palm Sunday offers Christians a stunning example of an alternative way to be in the world. It demonstrates that all Empires are designed for one thing: The survival of the Empire and the elimination of anyone who challenges the authority of Cesar will pay a stiff price—crucifixion was the main item on the executioner’s menu.

Palm Sunday (March 25 this year) reminds us that as Christians we are sometimes called to be voices of protest in order to reflect the values of God’s peaceful kingdom here on earth. We are citizens of a non-violent kingdom whose power derives from the love of God towards the whole world. This kingdom’s power does not originate in military hardware but rather from the heart of God.

Jesus understood the political realities of his day. He understood that the religious/political temple elites in Jerusalem were living off the backs of the peasant class to which he himself belonged. He also understood that these religious elites had become Rome’s puppets who supported the Empire.

Military parades are designed to demonstrate threatening force and power.

Christ’s peaceful procession was designed to subvert the claims of the Empire.

The two cannot be any different from one another, just as they were on this first Palm Sunday.