Jesus rides into Jerusalem looking strangely like a ride of power from years ago. As Jesus continues to walk to the cross, he takes a path that resembles so many parades of power and prestige from those seeking crowns of glory. Come see the coronation of true power.

Our pride and search for power can blind us to the realities of our life. It can cause us to call evil good and good evil. It can even cause us to kill and destroy the things we love. This week we see how our pride is destroying Jesus.

Look at these huge buildings. Look at how high these bricks are stacked. The disciples walked into Jerusalem amazed at the splendor and power of these buildings. But like all temporal powers, they will be thrown down. In those days, if our trust is in how high the bricks are stacked, then our trust will be thrown down as well.

They make a show of it: their long prayers, their fancy clothes, and their questions that are only meant to trap. It seems like all the show is just for them. But look past the show and see the almost invisible giving everything she has. Perhaps then we will see the kingdom of God.

If only you have enough faith, you can throw this mountain into the sea. But it would also take an immense amount of faith to throw all that we hold dear away and say God is all I need.

The new student threw up his hand yet again, into the view of the increasingly frustrated teacher. The teacher marveled that the questions were not questions at all but merely statements to show off the intelligence of the new student.

Welcome a little child, and you welcome Jesus himself. Easy! But what if it does not mean what we think it does? And what does this have to do with the disciples arguing about being great?

Why can’t the disciples cast out that demon? They have seen Jesus heal people. They have seen the lame walk and the blind see. They have even heard the voice of God blessing his son Jesus. They know who Jesus is. He is the Christ, and yet we struggle.

The religious leaders clutched their pearls at the sight of Jesus' disciples eating without washing their hands. What is this, Covid? Or is it strict religious devotion which has left so many feeling lost and alone, wanting satisfaction?

The disciples look straight at Jesus and yet all they see is a ghost on the water. The newly freed people of God stuck in the wilderness long to return to their oppressors in Egypt. It seems even the best of us lose heart during tenuous times. But Jesus looks back at our fearful faces, saying, “Take heart, and remember the loaves.”

Bless your heart, Jesus, but this is just all bad soil. The waves were too much. The man was filled with too many demons. There is no way she could be close to God with all her problems. And that little girl just died. But where the soil is bad, Jesus seems to turn it good.

What does God and His kingdom look like? When Jesus is asked this simple question, He does not give us pictures of great military battles in the sky, or with thinking of answers to difficult questions. No, He said it is like seeds and trees.

Jesus is surrounded. People are everywhere pushing in, wanting to hear a fresh word of good news, wanting Him to heal their hurts. Some are even there blocking others just to catch Jesus in a slip of the tongue. But when some bring down the roof to be restored, others attempt to use the opportunity to bring down the entire house on Jesus.

The Heavens are ripped open, hurling God’s grace and power into the world. The sick are healed! The demons are cast out! He speaks new life into God's message! He doesn’t even fall to temptation. He is the one -- Good News at last! Let’s go!