By Sue-Ann Wayow
SOME politicians quote superficially scriptural texts to support their philosophy and points without understanding the context and the true meaning of the texts.
Moderator of the Presbyterian Church The Right Reverend Joy Abdul-Mohan in delivering her Palm Sunday sermon last Sunday made that statement as she said many people looked to Jesus as a political king which he was not.
Preaching at the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Princes Town, she referred to the Biblical text of John chapter 12 verses 12 to 29 which gives the account of Jesus riding on donkey through the street of Jerusalem just before his sacrificial death which is being remembered by Christians this week.
She asked the question, “Why do we follow Jesus? Is he someone who satisfies our selfish wants and goals, or is he our Lord and Master who gave up his life to save us from our sins?”
Abdul-Mohan said, as reflected in the news, many people were instead following the crowd of violence, crime, gang warfare and promiscuity adding that the crowd was made up of different people with different intentions and needs
She noted that the same people praising Jesus were the same people crying out for his death a few days later.
Abdul-Mohan listed the reasons why people followed Jesus.
She said, “Some people followed Jesus because they felt they could get something from him.”
Others, she said, followed Jesus because he performed miracles.
On the political aspect, Abdul-Mohan said, “Some people followed Jesus because they saw him as a political king who could bring political victory. Many thought of Jesus as the political Messiah and which in fact he was not. In Jesus many saw an ally for their cause. In each account, the crowd standing by shouted, ‘Hosanna’, which means ‘Save us now’. “
She said, “The Roman yoke is heavy. Save us from it. Bring in a new political power. But the very fact that Jesus rode on a donkey speaks of his humility and the peace he brings. Many civilizations since Jesus’ death have tried to use Jesus as a political ally. Some politicians quote superficially scriptural texts to support their philosophy and points, without understanding the context and the true meaning of these texts.”
She also said there have been times when Christians have undeniably done the same.
“Jesus Christ will always be the guide, the leader, and the inspiration for political empires, but we cannot identify him with our political cause and use him for a tool for accomplishing it as did the Pharisees and the Herodians in Mark 12, when they tried to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes. Jesus’ response was, “Give unto to Caesar, what is Caesar’s.”
Abdul-Mohan said that if Christ did not die for every person alive, then he did not die for any.
She said, “Nations are not alone guilty of making Jesus Christ a partner in selfish alliances. It happens in churches and denominations. If you don’t belong to our church, our group or our club, then you are not as important or not part of God’s Kingdom.”
She said unfortunately, the people in Jerusalem in the crowd missed the meaning of the peaceful demonstration on Palm Sunday because they missed seeing the greatest needs of their lives.
“Palm Sunday is about Jesus Christ unlocking the gates of our needs, not with the keys of profit, miracles, political victory or self-preservation, but with the simple, humble, forgiving act of love, riding on a donkey… May we have the courage to follow where he leads and not follow the crowd,” Abdul-Mohan urged.
