The Trouble with Jesus

by Constance Hastings

Along for the Ride
April 7, 2025

The Trouble with Jesus: Only by witnessing a power often misunderstood,

 not a parade, might people realize his purpose.

You know, this just about sums up why you never really made it. Honestly, riding into town on a jackass! Your antagonists must have gone nuts with snide comments seeing this. Don Quixote got his inspiration from you, right? Jesus, delusional doesn’t even hint at what you were thinking. Let your crowds get silly over you. They’ll learn soon enough where you’re headed. Don’t expect them to cheer for you then. They’ll turn faster than a dizzy skater in a spin.


Resigned Acceptance

He’d been on a decided path for a few weeks. “Steadfastly set his face,” is how the ancient reports express his unwavering resolution to reach Jerusalem. Some of his best teachings were delivered on that road: The Good Samaritan, Lost Sheep and Prodigal Sons. People were healed in body and soul. Along the way people fell in step anticipating they would be part of this Messiah’s movement.


That day, he led his disciples in the familiar manner of rabbi and his followers, walking ahead as they followed, stepping in his very footprints. Anticipation was simmering.


Not far from Jerusalem Jesus gives instructions. As if he had foreknowledge or had made previous arrangements, Jesus sends two of The Twelve to secure an unbroken colt from a village. If questioned, the reply is to be, “The Lord needs it.” All happened without challenge.


His mood shifted. Whereas before Jesus actively pushed through crowds making his own way, now a quiescent, nearly submissive aura fell over him. Three years ago, his resistance had been strong. “My time has not yet come,” he’d protested. Today he would accede and move into what was before him. Turning back was no option. God’s will would be done.


Stage of Irony

The Twelve are ready for what’s just ahead. The colt is saddled with their coats on which he will ride. The crowd takes their cue and carpet the road with their own clothing. From the top of the Mount of Olives, riding toward the city, people sing and shout praise for all the miracles they’d seen.


Convinced by Jesus’ deeds, people whose lives were changed beyond what any could have hoped, they call him King. Peace was the promise they now nearly tasted as they cried out.

You’re right though to ridicule it, this parody, a caricature of royal processions for which Romans were notorious. Yet, this triumphal entry displayed a jittery donkey, not a battle-strong stallion. Their hero had never called up an army or plotted overthrow of the regime. While the people thought they’d only be saved by military rebellion and nationalism, Jesus had called to turn the other cheek and love one’s enemy. Instead, he was being promoted as everything he was not.


Named 2024 Notable Book Award by Southern Christian Writers Conference!

The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away by Constance Hastings

Ask for it wherever you buy your books, but don’t forget you can support local bookstores Here.


Destiny

No matter. No use redirecting expectation and ambition with what time was left. They’d not get it. Only by witnessing a power often misunderstood might they realize his purpose. Let them have their parade, misdirected as it was.


However, the celebration was worrisome to that other oppressive force of the people, the religious one. Pharisees shouted for him to quiet the crowd. Fear of Roman retaliation was well founded, but Jesus wouldn’t be the only recipient of its force. Underlying was fear of being displaced in their own positions. Shaking ground would only sink them all. Never mind that Roman guards don’t show up.


Jesus sees beyond them. His time indeed had come, and all time would center, even be measured by his life. Should mortals be short sighted, the design of God would not. People might not see him for what he was, yet maybe in their proclamation they still spoke truths. King of their hearts, Prince of Peace in their souls, Jesus’ reign reached into heaven.


Granted, this procession was a sham. Yet, destiny called. Creation itself recognized who he was in eternity. The world must answer in some way.


“I guarantee you,” Jesus declared, “If these people were quiet, the stones on the side of the road would be shouting!”



Luke 19:28-40


Subscribe to The Trouble with Jesus Blog Here.

The Trouble with Jesus: His message requires acceptance or rejection.
By Constance Hastings June 30, 2025
It’s been another one of those weeks. We used to say all hell broke loose, but now it seems hell just hangs around and has taken up residence. People are fighting, accusing, demanding their own way. Consensus is a forgotten concept. You just can’t get away from it...So hell burns, and no one puts out the fire.
The Trouble with Jesus is he requires commitment that shocks and angers people.
By Constance Hastings June 23, 2025
As if we needed any other example of how you’re so dangerous, this one may seal the deal....Blind allegiance to a leader is the first sign of a cult, an ideology, totalitarian brain washing and overthrow. You’re speaking it now. Thanks for the warning...
The Trouble with Jesus is he comes between what controls us and who we are made to be.
By Constance Hastings June 16, 2025
The Trouble with Jesus is he comes between what controls us and who we are made to be.
The Trouble with Jesus is if what he said were easy, would it mean anything, have real significance.
By Constance Hastings June 9, 2025
The Trouble with Jesus is what he said about himself, where he came from, and for what reasons can make you feel like you’ve got no chance of getting anywhere near something in which to believe. Yet, if it was easy, would it mean anything, have any real significance?
The Trouble with Jesus is he wants to be a Lover in the fullest sense a soul could know.
By Constance Hastings June 2, 2025
The Trouble with Jesus is he wants to be a Lover in the fullest sense a soul could know.
The Trouble with Jesus is he left his job undone, and he did it on purpose.
By Constance Hastings May 28, 2025
They had no idea what they were getting into when he had recruited them for his purposes. Some say they weren’t the brightest bulbs on the street. The only attribute which spoke most for them was they were teachable…
The Trouble with Jesus is relationships take work...But the rough spots are the growth spots.
By Constance Hastings May 26, 2025
The Trouble with Jesus is relationships take work, and the even the best, the closest will have rough spots. But the rough spots are the growth spots.
The Trouble with Jesus: He had this knack of asking people ridiculous questions...
By Constance Hastings May 19, 2025
The Trouble with Jesus is he had this insightful and irritating knack of asking people ridiculous questions, questions that bury the real question.
The Trouble with Jesus:  To be Loved, one must be one with the Lover, to Love as he Loved.
By Constance Hastings May 12, 2025
Got to give it to you, Jesus. It’s your best line, perfect for pastoral memes and sticks well on car bumpers. “New commandment,” you said, “Love one another.” Why didn’t anyone else think of this? ... But to be real, for all the wonderful sentiment, it’s better known as the Hallmark of Hypocrisy, chief among them those who claim you as Christian. When it comes to divisiveness, angry labels, and best of all, judgmental attitudes, your people take the prize....
The Trouble with Jesus is how he drags his identity through diverse filters.
By Constance Hastings May 5, 2025
Jesus, just for the record, tell us again, are you who you say you are? Or maybe who some say you are? Give it to us straight, in plain words, no dodging the question like a politician in prime-time cable interviews. Lord have mercy, the question never goes away. Jesus heard it face to face, answered it so many ways hoping to connect people’s heads to their souls. For some, it worked; for others, not so much.
More Posts