Jesus has been disappointing people for a long time.
It’s not surprising once you hear him say he is the image of the Father God, who has been disappointing people since the earliest days of his interactions with man. And today is no different. It’s a day lots of people call “Palm Sunday,” and in our area at least, we are marking three weeks since schools closed, four online Sunday services, and the beginning of a whole new daily life for many. Some of us have a lot of disappointment- maybe even anger. Very understandable, in many cases justifiable anger.
The people surrounding Jesus during this last week of his life- well, their disappointment and anger were understandable too.
The crowds were so excited. They had been waiting for this day, when a Messiah would come and free them from the cruel oppression of Rome. And now- here he is! Finally, they will be freed from unjust taxes, unfair burdens, unwarranted executions. They wanted to be rescued, and we would all agree that’s understandable, even justifiable.
Judas was mad. We cannot be certain why, but one historical source says there is evidence that Judas worked on behalf of the poor and the vulnerable. He could not believe that Jesus would allow a bottle of perfume to be poured all over his feet- not when that bottle would have kept people from starving. In this scenario, he wanted to feed the hungry, and that is understandable, even justifiable.
Mary was sad. Her precious son, her first-born, was putting himself at risk, making himself a target for the power hungry, ruthless leaders. She just wanted him to be safe, so that he could continue his good work of teaching, and that is understandable, even justifiable.
The closest of the disciples were confused. They had joined a movement that was bringing healing and life back into their people’s lives. They had sacrificed so much- maybe everything- and now…now what? They just wanted good to prevail over evil, and that is understandable, even justifiable.
What is your disappointment? What is mine? Can we dare to speak it? Is it ok to be disappointed, even angry with God?
I think it is.
Look at these people again. After the events of the week were over, these groups that all started from a similar place of crushed expectations- what happened to them? They ended up in two groups with very, very different outcomes.
Judas couldn’t get past what he saw as the betrayal of Jesus, so he found another way to get the money for the hungry people he wanted so desperately to care for. He could not see his way back, so he ended his life in guilt and shame.
The crowd’s disappointment was easily manipulated by the very people they needed to be freed from, so many found themselves just days later yelling “Crucify him!” in a Roman courtyard.
But on the other hand, Mary and the faithful disciples found themselves welcoming a resurrected Jesus back into their midst, and listening for the first time as he explained the mystery of the ages to them. Gone was any disappointment, and no anger remained.
What made the difference? It wasn’t the presence of doubt, fear, anger or disappointment in one group and not the other.
The difference was found in what they did with their very understandable, even justifiable emotions. Did they stay focused on the ways that God, Jesus had let them down?
Judas and the crowds did.
Or did they keep their hearts fixed on God in the middle of their confusion, remaining together as a community of faith as they waited on him?
And that is the question for us today. Where do we go when we feel that Jesus has disappointed us? Will we show up in our faith communities? In our commitment to remaining in the presence of God?
Lord, may it ever be.
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