118 Tell the Lord
how thankful you are,
because he is kind
and always merciful.
2 Let Israel shout,
“God is always merciful!”
19 Open the gates of justice!
I will enter and tell the Lord
how thankful I am.
20 Here is the gate of the Lord!
Everyone who does right
may enter this gate.
21 I praise the Lord
for answering my prayers
and saving me. 22 The stone that the builders
tossed aside
has now become
the most important stone.
23 The Lord has done this,
and it is amazing to us. 24 This day belongs to the Lord!
Let’s celebrate
and be glad today. 25 We’ll ask the Lord to save us!
We’ll sincerely ask the Lord
to let us win.
26 God bless the one who comes
in the name of the Lord!
We praise you from here
in the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is our God,
and he has given us light!
Start the celebration!
March with palm branches
all the way to the altar.
28 The Lord is my God!
I will praise him and tell him
how thankful I am.
29 Tell the Lord
how thankful you are,
because he is kind
and always merciful.
If Jesus were to ride past today, what would you be shouting? What praise would you have to bring him? Let’s shout out our praise to him.
I can see that in this painting. We do lose the feminine traits of God at our peril and detriment,
but…
I also wonder if Spencer’s painting offers us something else – a picture of a man nurturing, caring, and giving safety? Does Spencer’s picture offer us a picture of fatherhood that our society needs? That it is ok for fathers to give that gentle, loving care? Is Jesus here offering us a different view of masculinity? That it is possible for a man to be vulnerable and gentle? Something that is still seen as unusual by some. (In proof of point, when I looked for a picture of man with a child, they were mainly ‘doing’, taking part in exciting activities, not men just holding and caring)
Cottrell speaks of Jesus’ vocation and self-understanding (p87). His great love for the earth and all that is in it. Jesus love is one that is gentle enough to gaze on a flower, to hold a scorpion in his hand so as to do no harm to it and to wrap his arms of love around the hen and her chicks. As we will come to see in the next days, his love is also strong enough to stand up for all that is right and to die the death of love…
He is showing us a way that all people can be. Amongst other things he has shown us that it is possible to hold all those qualities in one person. It is not either or, but can be both and. It is ok to be gentle and protective, whoever we are. Possibilities are offered for us all.
This is an old song now, but it does encapsulate the two sides of Jesus’ nature
Just me wondering. What do you think? Does Jesus in this picture offer us a helpful view of manhood as well as showing the motherhood of God?
34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me. (Luke 13:34)
These thoughts are reflecting on Stanley Spencer’s painting The Hen (seen here).
The red carpet. The King is coming. The hero is here. The one who will rescue us. How will we respond? What will I do? How will I welcome the King of Kings?
The only thing I can equate this with is the journey of the Olympic Torch round the country last year. How the crowds stood (in our case in torrential rain), cheered and waved, welcoming the symbol of what was to come – heralding the arrival of the Olympic games.
28 When Jesus had finished saying all this, he went on toward Jerusalem. 29 As he was getting near Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead. 30 He told them, “Go into the next village, where you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks why you are doing that, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 They went off and found everything just as Jesus had said. 33 While they were untying the donkey, its owners asked, “Why are you doing that?”
34 They answered, “The Lordneeds it.”
The Lord needs it
Word enough for the man to release his donkey. If God needs it – it’s his. Quite a challenge…
How do I respond to what the Lord needs from me? What he asks of me? What is God asking of me today?
35 Then they led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back and helped Jesus get on. 36 And as he rode along, the people spread clothes on the road in front of him. 37 When Jesus was starting down the Mount of Olives, his large crowd of disciples were happy and praised God because of all the miracles they had seen. 38 They shouted,
“Blessed is the king who comes
in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory to God.”
39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting!”
40 But Jesus answered, “If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting.”
The crowds were happy and praising God – because of all the miracles they had seen. They put out their own red carpet, they spread their clothes on the road as he passes. They recognise he is king and bringing peace and glory to God. They are excited and celebrating what is to come. Today they are expecting to see the biggest miracle of all – Jesus riding into Jerusalem and claiming it for themselves, overthrowing the oppressors. What they’re going to get is not the miracle they’re expecting – God is going to go way beyond that. He is not just going to save them from their current oppressors, but from total oppression. From all that holds them down. From injustice. From pain. Even ultimately from death and all it holds. There will be peace in heaven and glory to God once and for all.
That is what Jesus is coming to do.
Are we ready? Are we celebrating God’s work? Are we throwing down our cloaks in front of him? Are we shouting, or telling others to shush?
Jesus is coming. How will you great him as he rides to glory?
Lord,
as you ride into Jerusalem;
ride to your destiny;
ride to your victory;
even if not the one we expected,
I want to great you;
to welcome you;
to celebrate you –
all you have done
and all you will do
for me
and for everyone else.
As I hear your call,
I want to offer you,
not just what you ask of me,
but my all.
I lay my cloak before you,
in honour and in offering.
Come Lord,
do your work,
in me
through me,
do what you need to do.
Pam's Perambulation 