Cultivating Courageous Peace and Letting Go of Power
As we approached the end of Lent, we found ourselves in the powerful story from Luke where Jesus enters Jerusalem. This moment represents a profound contrast between two different processions entering the city on the same day - one led by Pontius Pilate from the west, and the other by Jesus from the east.
A Tale of Two Parades: What Was Really Happening on Palm Sunday?
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, typically enjoyed his Mediterranean villa but made a point to be in Jerusalem during Passover. This Jewish celebration of independence and freedom from Egyptian slavery presented a potential threat to Roman authority. Pilate's procession was a deliberate show of force - soldiers marching, banners waving, swords glinting in the sun - all designed to remind the Jewish people that Rome maintained peace through power.
Meanwhile, Jesus orchestrated a very different kind of entrance. He rode on a borrowed donkey, accompanied not by soldiers but by ordinary people laying down cloaks and waving palm branches while shouting "Hosanna in the highest!"
Was Jesus' Entry Just a Celebration or Something More?
Though Jesus' procession might have appeared soft compared to Rome's military display, it was anything but passive. This was a deliberate procession of peace - a confrontation that announced God's peace arriving in Jerusalem.
As John Howard Yoder wrote in "The Politics of Jesus": "The cross is not a detour or a hurdle on the way to the kingdom. It is instead the kingdom come." This entry wasn't simply the beginning of Jesus' final week - it was the kingdom of God breaking into the streets of Jerusalem.
Jesus rode not with might but with mercy, not with fear but with faith. His disciples recognized this significance, shouting "Hosanna" and creating a welcome for a king who looked nothing like Pontius Pilate or Caesar - a king whose power wasn't enforced but embodied.
Why Were the Pharisees So Upset About Palm Sunday?
This wasn't just a celebration - it was political. It was a protest. The Pharisees recognized the dangerous implications, demanding Jesus tell his followers to be quiet. They understood this wasn't merely a happy moment but a politically charged, countercultural statement made in the face of Roman power.
Jesus' response was profound: "If they keep silent, the stones themselves will cry out." The truth of love, grace, and peace in motion cannot be silenced or buried.
Modern Parallels to Jesus' Procession of Peace
In recent weeks, we've witnessed protests and marches across the world. In Gaza, protesters have risked their lives to call for peace with signs reading "enough." In cities throughout Europe and the US, people have marched under banners calling for justice, dignity, and peace.
These modern demonstrations share the spirit of Jesus' Jerusalem procession - people choosing peace over silence, hope over fear. While these protests weren't necessarily led by Jesus, they give us insight into how that day in Jerusalem might have felt - some supporting with great cries, others opposing with concern.
Can We Really Let Go of Power and Choose Peace?
The question remains: Can we step up and walk with Jesus in the way of peace, even when it's costly? Can we speak truth when silence is easier? Can we choose peace in the face of opposing powers?
Some might wonder if we can truly let go of the things so ingrained in our thinking and living. As Richard Rohr wisely notes: "We do not think ourselves into new ways of living. We live ourselves into new ways of thinking."
Jesus doesn't invite us into an idea - he invites us into a life of peace. A life that:
* Lets go of pride and picks up love
* Chooses humility over control
* Picks up a cross and carries it to the end
What Does It Mean to Cultivate Courageous Peace?
To follow Jesus means letting go of:
* Fear
* The need to always win
* The belief that power and control keep us safe
* The illusion that domination equals strength
In their place, we're invited to cultivate courageous peace - the kind demonstrated by Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem. This peace:
* Listens
* Forgives
* Speaks truth when everything suggests silence is safer
* Builds up rather than tears down
Where Do We See This Kind of Peace in Everyday Life?
Peace doesn't come from power but from presence. We see it in small churches sharing meals around tables, in conversations crossing cultural boundaries, in prayers whispered in different languages.
We witness it at weddings when people from different backgrounds come together to celebrate unifying love. We experience it when leadership focuses on care rather than control, when people are seen, welcomed, and given space to become whole.
Jesus entered Jerusalem not to overthrow Rome with violence but to reveal a different kind of power - one that bends low to serve, opens doors instead of closing them, and walks straight into suffering without flinching.
Life Application
The parade Jesus started isn't over - it continues moving through cities and towns, through churches and communities, through you and me. Jesus still leads the way, still riding that donkey, still asking us to follow him.
Let's not just wave palm branches but step into the story, into the kingdom, into a life that embodies love and peace for others. Even if we stay silent, the stones will cry out - God will find something or someone to proclaim this news. How beautiful when God's people choose to shout it first!
Ask yourself:
* Where in my life am I clinging to power rather than embracing peace?
* What would it look like for me to speak truth this week when silence feels safer?
* How can I practice presence rather than control in my relationships?
* What specific action can I take to follow Jesus' example of courageous peace in my community?
This week, challenge yourself to identify one situation where you typically seek control, and instead, deliberately choose the path of peace - listening, forgiving, speaking truth, or building others up. Remember, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking by following Jesus one step at a time.
