“It just wasn’t what I had expected…” Who hasn’t murmured those words with tones of surprised delight or rueful regret. By the time we’re adults we have formed many of our expectations of the world and thereafter tend to see only what we already believe.

So why should it have been any different almost 2000 years ago: a week in Jerusalem that began with Jesus’ entry in celebration on Sunday and appeared to have ended on Friday with his crucifixion.

“It just wasn’t what I had expected…” shouted Peter as he fled into the night.

“It just wasn’t what I had expected…” murmured John as he walked Mary to her new home.

“It just wasn’t what I had expected…” cried Mary Magdalene as she woke on Saturday.

But then Sunday morning came…

“It just wasn’t what I had expected” shrieked the Adversary as Jesus Christ broke the chains of Death and walked in the garden full of the Spirit and love of our Gracious God.

Walk with Peter, John and Mary next week. Allow yourself to feel the confusion, the guilt and the pain. It’s just one week each year, but it is the week that tells the story of your life, your death and your life to come. Spend these days with a parade in Jerusalem, an evening meal, an execution. Then rise before the sun and see the dawn of life everlasting.

Easter Sunday. It’s still not what we expect.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 pm and is filed under From the Pastor. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.