My devotion to the NY Giants (football team) began early in life, in an amazingly unprofound way. My parents were watching a football game, and I asked who we were cheering for, to which my father replied "the team in blue". This started, what for me has been a nearly lifetime following of the Giants (for some reason though, my parents are Bills fans?). I've been a Giants fan my entire life...well except for a short time during the summer between 5th and 6th grade.
In Owego, when students move from 5th grade into 6th grade, they also move into a different building (the middle school). For many students this transition is seen as a fresh start, an opportunity at a new beginning and a second chance to make first impressions. This was how I too perceived the transition, and I aimed to take full advantage of it. I bought new clothes, got a new haircut, and even decided to root for a new "better" football team. I had decided that nobody likes a loser, and so I was going to root for the Dallas Cowboys! The Cowboys were at the height of their 90's renaissance, and were in the midst of winning 3 Super Bowls in four years. Surely everyone loves a winner! Being a loser (or a fan of one) is to be lonely.
I lasted as a Cowboys fan all of about two months that summer. Not just because my friends (who'd known me for years) labeled me as a "bandwagonner" but because I realized I still was a Giants fan. I came to this realization as I watched the Cowboys destroy the Giants in the first game of that season. It was then that I realized I was still rooting for the Giants, and that I couldn't just change my team because it was "cool" or becuase they were winning. Flash forward to last year (2008), when the Giants won the Super Bowl, and I was cheering, laughing, and high-fiving anyone within arms reach. I wasn't the only one who was excited and reveling in the victory either. When I tried to call my parents to share my excitement, the call would not go through, because so many others were doing the same thing. The same euphoria and enthusiasm certainly was there on that first Palm Sunday, as Jesus entered Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40).
It is during this one shining moment, that the people welcome Jesus as the embodiement of all their hopes for independence from Roman rule, as the long awaited Messiah. Jesus, it was hoped, would be a king like David, who would restore the glory of God's chosen people and fulfill the prophecies. Unfortunately (or fortunately as it would turn out) Jesus was not there to be the Messiah the people had hoped for, and once this was realized, their love and adoration turn to wrath and scorn. These same people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem proclaiming "Blessed is the King that comes in the name of the Lord" would soon be shouting "crucify him" (Matthew 27:22-23). Truly everyone loves a winner, and to be a loser is to be lonely.
This "bandwagon" mentality wasn't just limited to the crowds, but even Jesus' own disciples, his closest friends, also were subject to the sad truth that nobody wants to be around a loser. Peter, James and John couldn't stay awake and pray with Christ (Matthew 26:36-46), and Peter denied even knowing Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75). The bad news is this sad reality extends to Christians now (nearly 2,000 years later)! Churches around the world will be packed on Palm Sunday, and even fuller the following Sunday on Easter Sunday, but on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday most churches will be lucky to have even a handful of people in attendance.
Many claim the busyness of the week, or a sensitivity to the harsh reality of what Jesus went through on those days so long ago. The reality is that the week in between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday (known by many as Holy Week) is when Jesus was made to be a loser and everyone loves a winner, but nobody wants to be around a loser! The part that people miss is that in order to celebrate the victory of Easter, we need to suffer through the defeat of Good Friday. Jesus' ultimate defeat (death on a cross) truly was our ultimate victory (freedom from and forgiveness of sin)! The thing I learned from my brief time as a Cowboys fan is you can't really enjoy the victory if you haven't first suffered through the defeat.
This week we are all offered not just the opportunity to rejoice in the victory, but to suffer along with Christ in the midst of defeat. Here at Oxford we will be observing a prayer vigil Friday from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm and then watching the "Passion of the Christ" at 6:00 pm. You are invited to participate in either or both of these opportunities to share in a defeat which was suffered by Christ for our benefit. These opportunities will also elevate the victory we'll be celebrating on Easter Sunday making it all the more powerful!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
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