Almost everyone loves a parade. The happy procession, the hoopla and the excited crowds all help create a party atmosphere. Maybe that's what makes the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem so appealing to us.

When I think of the original Palm Sunday I imagine people dancing and singing as they run along-side of Jesus as He rides along on an ass. It is easy for me to visualize children waving palm branches as they prance about at the head of the glad party.

If I try real hard I can almost see Jesus with a broad smile on His face as He watches the jubilant crowd lay out their clothes and leafy branches in front of Him that He might travel over them. But our gospel text for this morning tends to spoil my pleasant picture of the original Palm Sunday by throwing in that unexpected observation that when Jesus saw Jerusalem He wept.

A weeping Jesus seems so out of place in the elated crowd. Especially when we realize that His weeping was not a discreet shedding of tears. Rather, the Greek word suggests that He sobbed in sorrow. To weep like that at such an apparently happy occasion seems almost in bad taste, like crying at a party. It is just downright inconsiderate of other people's feelings, ruining the festive mood.

What would cause Jesus to do such a thing? Perhaps there is another question we need to ask first. Why was the clamoring crowd so joyous? What was it that created the excitement in the multitude that caused them to cry out, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"? What was it that inspired their enthusiasm?

In one word, the answer is "hope." The people saw in Jesus the fulfillment of their hope. In Him they saw a liberator whom they believed would lead them in a fight for freedom against the Romans who occupied their land and dominated the people of Israel. They expected a leader whom God would send them, a leader who would empower them against their Roman enemies so that they might drive the oppressors out of their land and Israel could again experience the glory that was their nation's during the time of King David.

And they had good reason to believe that Jesus was the one they awaited. After all, Jesus did fulfill the words of the prophet Zechariah who spoke of Israel's promised King coming to his people riding on an ass (Zechariah 9:9-10).

The people couldn't contain themselves when they saw that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy. They were convinced that He was the Messiah who would topple the old order and initiate the new era. Thus they were delirious with joy and they didn't hesitate proclaiming Jesus as the "King who comes in the name of the Lord."

The people were right .... and wrong. Jesus was indeed the King they had long awaited but He was not the sort of king they envisioned. If they would have reflected a little more deeply on the prophecy in Zechariah they would not have grown so disillusioned by the end of the week.