BY REV. DR. VAHAN H. TOOTIKIAN
Palm Sunday, the Sunday preceding Easter, which commemorates Jesus’ entrance into the city of Jerusalem, is also called the “Triumphal Entry.” The event, which is full of contrasts, raised several questions which have great implications in our lives; questions that impart important lessons.
In the first place, what characterizes a triumphal life? A question that evokes in one’s mind regarding the first Palm Sunday event is this: Why does the church call this event the Triumphal Entry when there was nothing triumphant about it?
To be sure, on that first Palm Sunday there was no evidence of triumph, nor any signs of a military conquest. The Rabbi from Nazareth came riding into town on a donkey accompanied by a group o friends and followers who were singing songs and waving branches. In what sense was this triumph?
It was a triumph over a precarious situation. Jesus was coming to Jerusalem where he knew that both civic and religious leadership was against him. His forthright preaching and firm stance on issues had brought him into conflict with the authorities. He knew that Jerusalem was a danger zone where he would be treated violently. Humanly speaking, all his natural instincts must have cried against his journey. Yet, despite all these, “He set his face to Jerusalem.” This was a very bold, courageous and heroic act on Jesus’ part. He marched toward Jerusalem for the last time to take his spiritual stand and to demonstrate in person the Way, the Truth and the Life. This in itself was a triumphant act, and the indomitable courage to enter the capital city which breathed death was the Triumphal entry.
There are times when we must take a stance and let the chips fall where they may be. There are times we cannot relieve ourselves of the danger of standing by our convictions and shift our responsibility to other shoulders. We must have the courage to be and do what our human nature, with its divine dimensions require. We must have the courage of our convictions as well as their consequences.
The second question that evokes in our minds in the event of the Triumphal Entry is: What is true success and greatness?
We live in a success-oriented culture. We are devotees of the cult of success. We are pushed by a drive to excel. The desire to succeed and to impose on ourselves is almost a religion for many people.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with our desire to succeed. But the temptation is to lionize the man or a woman who can make waves. Moreover, what we often forget is not that all successes stand on the same level, nor do all failures; that there are some successes which, in terms of human worth, are miserable failures, and there are apparent failures which are life’s highest successes.
By human standards, Jesus’ mission was a failure. A few days after his Triumphal Entry, the King who came to the capital city on the back of a donkey was arrested subjected to ridicule, persecuted and was put to death like a common criminal.
By human standards, the Cross was a failure, a defeat. It was the end of an unsuccessful valor. Enemies and friends alike said concerning Jesus, “Others he saved; himself he could not,” But if Christianity prevailed, it was because of that sacrificial act of Jesus.
Palm Sunday events also demonstrate that true greatness is not based on might, physical or brute force. The name of the game is neither power nor popularity. Meekness is not weakness. Sometimes the tender blade of grass cracks the concrete wall in a way that the marching of many feet never does. Moreover, the most creative, productive and powerful ways to manage human relationships are love, concern, service.
Here was a man utterly unselfish man who went about doing good. He spoke of a Kingdom which was not one of “sword and fire.” He did not stir people with military talk and revolution, but calmly spoke of love, peace, service. Yes, he spoke of a kingdom whose arsenal was love. Many kingdoms have been established and destroyed, many kings have come and gone but the world is still celebrating the beauty of his great life, and for this eternal Kingdom millions have laid their lives on the altar of service and sacrifice.
The third question that is prompted by Jesus Triumphal Entry is: From where do men take their cues?
On that first Palm Sunday, people joined in the bandwagon of a group of people chanting, “Hosanna”. Five days later, crucifixion Friday they were shouting “Crucify him.” On that Palm Sunday, there was applause and adulation. On Friday, Jesus had to face the censure and hostility of the crowd. Most people, even some of his friends, took their cue from the crowd.
Typical mob psychology! Nothing has changed since then, for even today the church is filled with parrots endlessly repeating meaningless cant ̶ but with little conviction. When life is easy, they will sing “Hosanna”, but in the time of trial would, in effect, shout, “Crucify him.”
Today, as it was then, people still worship the god of numbers and bow at the shrine of noise; in their eagerness to please everybody they end in pleasing nobody, not even themselves!
The question still is: Who decides the course of our lives? Where do we take our cue?
A final question: What kind of priority does God get with us?
God was always the highest priority in Jesus’ life. On the day of the Triumphal Entry, as throughout his life, he was determined to do the will of God. He was not concerned with public opinion. Because his life was founded on God, he was not affected by the applause or censure of others. He knew how to set the priorities. He never majored in minors. He wisely discerned the most important issues of life and gave himself to those things without reserve.
In our money-motivated, fun-and-comfort-loving culture, in the hectic pace of modern living, God somehow gets pushed out of our thoughts and seemingly out of our lives. He becomes a religious luxury! Perhaps that is why some would change their “hosannas” to “crucify him” and would auction their souls for less than thirty pieces of silver.
The question then was, and still continues to be: What priority does God get with us?
Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian is the Minister Emeritus of the Armenian Congregational Church of Greater Detroit and the Executive Director of the Armenian Evangelical World Council.
