Exalted in the eyes of devotees dancing, prancing, cheering the arrival of their king, Jesus rode a donkey on the well worn path from the Mount of Olives to the city gates of Jerusalem.  The choice of beast was unmistakable. His was no warhorse reminiscent of the long procession of past conquerors that took possession of the capitol of their vanquished foes. His was a humble beast such as prophesied by Zechariah (9:9) befitting the messiah. And the multitude was pleased and hopeful that the Day of God had finally arrived and to be alive to see and enjoy the possibilities.

            Oh, and did you catch the words of praise. Luke told us the people cried, Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven (19:38). “Could it be true? Why yes indeed!” The archangel Gabriel told his mother, Mary, she would bear a son who would be the promised new king for Israel (Lk 1:32-33). No puppet king he to scheme and buy his throne with favors for Caesar, but the Son of God Most High. The angelic host confirmed it with a song of praise the night of his birth attested by shepherds in the hills beyond Bethlehem: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors (Lk 2:14). “What a day this is!”

            The disciples threw their garments over the donkey’s back. Then they set Jesus on the beast (Luke 19:35), a gesture of honor, or more properly an enthronement! And spread their garments on the road - true red carpet experience.  Unmistakable adulation for the star of their lives. It would not matter that their lives were measured by the beggar’s bowl of poverty, the crushing taxes of a foreign emperor, the ridicule of their betters. Their star was rising and they were jubilant. “Believe it! This is our true king!”

            That was then; this is now. We know the end of this story. It didn’t seem to take long for Jesus to be raised up again, but this time his throne is not padded with soft fabrics and the exhilarating aroma of friendship and appreciation. Now from the rocky outcrop of the place called The Skull (Lk 23:33) he is raised up on a rough wooden cross. The former cheers have become angry jeers and the scorn of people taking in the sport of execution. Even the Roman soldiers picked up the theme: If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself (Lk 23:37). Surely we remember the Tempter’s taunting of Jesus in the wilderness. After his baptism his messianic credentials were tested by the Devil (Lk 4:3-12) : If you are the Son of God turn this stone to bread;  worship me for I can give you authority over all the kingdoms of the world; jump from the pinnacle of the temple and God’s angels will keep you from harm. The heckling of these devils echoes their real master’s words.

But perhaps they are right and those who followed Jesus had been blinded by an illusion too good to be true. That is the question all must consider. Jesus, are you the Son of God?

One of the criminals crucified with Jesus taunted him, Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us! (Lk 23:39) The other criminal could easily have added to the chorus. Instead he knew the wrong he had done against God and his neighbor. Worse than the cruel treatment at the hands of the Romans was the heavy burden of guilt he bore, guilt that justified the sentence of death. Though pain racked his body still he heard Jesus say, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing (Lk 23:34). So he asked the One who had done nothing wrong to remember him when the kingdom of God’s righteousness was ushered in. Jesus promised him Paradise that very day. (Lk 23:43)

Therein is our answer. Jesus is the Son of God, says the evangelist to all seekers, not because he was a spell-binding orator, a devout rabbinic teacher, a faith-healer, a miracle worker, a friend respectful of women, children, the poor and diseased. Jesus is the Son of God whom we can trust because he holds the power to forgive, to make us clean again, to restore us to fellowship with God and others, to nurture us with grace from above, and to empower us to serve others as he served us. Jesus is the Son of God Most High who did not grab power to save himself but gave up his life that we might be free to live.