H. Michael Brewer
Crescent Springs Presbyterian
9 April 2006 – Palm Sunday
MAKING NEWS
Mark 11:1-11
A DIALOGUE FOR TWO VOICES
BROCK: So what have we got here?
CASSIDY: We’re doing coverage on some kind of parade. I guess it’s a Passover thing. Here, I’ve got
some background notes for you.
BROCK: (CONSULTING HIS NOTES) Some rabbi coming to town. Let’s see… Jesus of Nazareth.
Never heard of him, but let’s give it our best shot.
CASSIDY: You’re in a good mood today. Did somebody die?
BROCK: Good mood is right. I’m here in Hicktown Jerusalem, covering the arrival of Reverend
Nobody, and I’m still in a good mood. And do you know why I’m in a good mood, Cassidy? I have
finally paid my dues. I’ve been picked up by a radio station in Rome. That’s right! First thing tomorrow
morning I’ll be on a camel heading for Rome. Back to civilization. Back to culture. Back to real news.
So do I mind working on a Sunday, doing local color on some hayseed parade? Nope, because
tomorrow I shake the Jerusalem dust off of my sandals!
CASSIDY: Yeah, yeah. Good for you. Come on, let’s get this done.
BROCK: Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Good morning! This is Brock Carson for Radio
Jerusalem and I’m here with the lovely and talented Cassidy Bennet.
CASSIDY: Thanks, Brock. I’m so excited to be here overlooking the gates of the Holy City. You can
sense the energy in the air as the crowds await the coming of a very special teacher.
BROCK: That’s right. I’m told that the nationally acclaimed preacher Justin of Nazareth is due to arrive
very shortly.
CASSIDY: (ROLLING HER EYES) That’s Jesus, Brock.
BROCK: Where?
CASSIDY: No, it’s Jesus of Nazareth that we’re expecting.
BROCK: Sorry about that. It’s still a little early in the day for me.
CASSIDY: Well, it’s not too early for the crowds. There appear to be thousands of people milling
around down there, impatiently waiting for some excitement.
BROCK: You know what Jerusalem is like at Passover time. The population of the city doubles with
all the pilgrims and worshippers arriving for the holy days.
CASSIDY: And that means heightened security, as well. The Romans get a bit edgy at this time of
year. Extra troops are garrisoned right next door to the Jewish Temple, just in case.
BROCK: That’s right, and we’re all thankful for their reassuring presence here. Herod the Tetrarch
and Procurator Pontius Pilate are both in town this week to make doubly sure that everything remains
peaceful and orderly. I wonder what they think of Justin of Nazareth?
CASSIDY: They don’t think very highly of JESUS of Nazareth, Brock. He’s been making waves in the
Jewish community.
BROCK: Don’t tell me this Jesus is the latest candidate for Messiah.
CASSIDY: You called it. There’s a lot of buzz that Jesus just might be the one.
BROCK: So he’s coming here to gather an army and drive out the Romans. We’ve heard that before.
CASSIDY: Not exactly. In fact, according to reliable sources, Jesus preaches peace and love.
BROCK: How about that? A hippie Messiah. Only in Jerusalem.
CASSIDY: Jesus says that if someone slaps you in the face, you should offer them your other cheek.
He says, Love your enemies and pray for those who push you around.
BROCK: It doesn’t sound like anything Rome needs to worry about. In fact, the Romans ought to
sponsor this guy. With a message like “Turn the other cheek,” I don’t see how this preacher got such
a strong following.
CASSIDY: It’s not just his preaching, Brock. His followers claim Jesus can work miracles. No doubt,
you remember that incident a few days ago in Bethany.
BROCK: Of course I do, Cassidy. But why don’t you review it for our listeners?
CASSIDY: The story’s a little muddled, but it appears that Jesus raised a local man from the dead.
The neighbors of Lazarus claim that he was deceased and had been in the tomb several days when
Jesus actually brought him back to life.
BROCK: No wonder the crowds have turned out to welcome this bona fide wonder-worker. I see
some movement down there. I can just make out a group coming up the road from the Kidron Valley.
Maybe that’s the man of the hour.
CASSIDY: While we wait for him to come into sight, Brock. Here’s a bit of trivia. Before Jesus set out
on the preaching circuit, he was actually a carpenter.
BROCK: Pretty handy. So even if this Messiah can’t fix the world, he can at least fix that squeaky hinge
on the back door. I hear cheers from the crowd. And I think I see… Yes, I think that must be Jesus. He’
s riding on a donkey. I have to say, Cassidy, being the Savior certainly hasn’t gone to his head. He’s
wearing a homespun robe, and from the looks of those sandals, this guy usually travels on foot. I’ve
seen better looking clothes hanging on scarecrows.
CASSIDY: The body is more than clothing, and life is more than the body.
BROCK: Uh, yeah. Sure. It’s just that he’s getting a king’s welcome and he doesn’t look like any king I’
ve ever seen. Too bad he couldn’t find a chariot or a stallion. He looks a little silly on that donkey,
bouncing along with his feet nearly dragging the road.
CASSIDY: Stallions are for generals. Jesus comes in peace, so he rides a peaceful animal.
Apparently the crowd doesn’t think he’s silly.
BROCK: You’re right about that. Let me describe this scene for our listeners at home. The multitudes
are dancing and cheering beside the road. I can make out a few words shouted over and over.
“Hosanna” and “Son of David.”
CASSIDY: With cheers like that, they might as well stick a crown on his head. The Romans aren’t
going to like this.
BROCK: People are breaking branches from the palm trees on the slopes and waving them in the air
like flags or banners.
CASSIDY: The same thing happened nearly two hundred years ago when Judah Maccabee came to
liberate Jerusalem from the Hellenist conquerors.
BROCK: And now onlookers are peeling off their outer cloaks and laying them in the road to form a
kind of carpet for Jesus to ride over. This is quite a reception. Everyone seems to be enjoying it except
Jesus himself.
CASSIDY: He does look somber, doesn’t he?
BROCK: Somber? I’d say he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Maybe the Messiah
racket isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.
CASSIDY: Sources close to Jesus claim he has predicted his own impending death.
BROCK: Then it seems to me he’s riding in the wrong direction, Cassidy. He should be heading back
to Galilee instead of coming here to confront the priests and the Roman troops.
CASSIDY: He also claims that he will return from the dead.
BROCK: Now that would be a real trick. I’m just sorry I won’t be around to cover the story. This is my
farewell broadcast here on Radio Jerusalem. I’m moving to Rome where I’ll be joining the news team
of a major metro station. I’ll certainly miss beautiful Jerusalem and the many friends I’ve made here.
CASSIDY: And you know how much we’ll miss you, Brock. This is Cassidy Bennet—
BROCK: And Brock Carson, wishing you no news but good news. (PAUSE) And that’s a wrap. What a
perfect swan song. My last story is about a crazy carpenter king who preaches, Love your enemies.
CASSIDY: You didn’t have to be so condescending. I happen to like what Jesus has to say.
BROCK: You seem to know a lot about this guy.
CASSIDY: It’s not his first trip to Jerusalem. I’ve heard him preach. He’s different. He’s … special.
BROCK: I hate to break it to you, but the Romans are going to swallow this guy like a matzo ball. Stick
around a few days and you can cover his funeral.
CASSIDY: I’m not so sure.
BROCK: Look, kiddo, I’ve been in this business for years. Take some free advice. Get out of this God-
forsaken dust bowl. Nothing happens here. Would-be messiahs come and go. Religious fanatics rise
and fall. By next week, Jesus will be old news and by next year it’ll be, Jesus who? Rome is where it’s
at. Rome is where history is happening.
CASSIDY: I don’t know about that.
BROCK: Look, Caesar has the money, Caesar has the soldiers, Caesar has the power. And Jesus…
He has a donkey.
CASSIDY: Actually, he had to borrow the donkey.
BROCK: I rest my case. You cover Jesus, I’ll cover Caesar, and we’ll see who makes the news.
CASSIDY: (ADDRESSING THE CONGREGATION) Amen?
Soli Deo Gloria!