the boys are back, the boys are back

Palm Sunday


Matthew 21:1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

“Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

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Guess who just got back today?
Those wild-eyed boys that had been away

"The Boys Are Back in Town" recorded by Thin Lizzy, written by Phil Lynott, from "Jailbreak"

Jesus had been in Jerusalem before. He had been there for his presentation at the temple. He had been there with his family when he was young and he taught in the temple. Depending upon the gospel you're reading he had been there several other times too. Well, guess what, Jesus is coming back to town.

Jesus comes to town on a donkey, the colt of a donkey. He rides on the back of this humble beast. He rides into town on the animal of the ancient kings of Israel, one that could handle the rocky terrain. He is not on the back of a war horse like a conquering hero. Yes, he comes as a king, but not a king who comes with an army to conquer the land, he comes on a humble beast.

He rides into town causing a comotion with people throwing their cloaks down on the road and cutting branches from the trees for him to ride over. It is a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. But not everyone knows who he is.

Matthew's introduction of Jesus' ride into Jerusalem even tells us that while the crowd knows him, the city doesn't. So the crowd tells the city who he is. They tell the city who Jesus is crying out:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Hosanna, by this time in history the meaning of this word was largely lost. It had become sort of a "holy hoorah." But what it means is "save" or "we beseech you." This is our cry too. Save us O Jesus, save us O Lord.

Thin Lizzy lead singer and songwriter Phil Lynott belts out that when the boys are back in town "drink will flow and blood will spill." This happened when Jesus and his boys were back in town too. During this week, Jesus will celebrate what we now call the Lord's Supper. In this meal drink will flow and in its way blood will spill. By the cup we come crying "Save us O Jesus, save us O Lord."

But this comes later in the week. In the meantime, the boys are back, the boys are back, thank God Almighty, the boys are back.