By John Long, St Marks Church,Utley - 'Forgive

them ..'

Recently I was given a ticket to see a Premier league football match. I

hadn't been to a game for 40 years so it was a whole new experience.

Before the game started the fans sang and chanted, declaring their undying love for their team.

As the teams came out an enormous roar went up, and and after the usual preliminaries the game began.

What happened next can only be described as 'a comedy of errors.'

Within two minutes the opposition had scored a goal reminiscent of a group of seven year olds playing their first game. Even I felt embarrassed.

The change that took place among the crowd in those brief minutes was almost frightening.

From singing praises they were now chanting abuse and obscenities which continued for some time.

This week in the church's calendar we remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he had come to celebrate the Jewish Passover.

This crowd's adulation was far in excess of anything you would see at a football match.

They spread their cloaks on the ground and literally worshipped him.

Yet within less than a week another crowd were shouting 'crucify him' and their wish was granted.

He had somehow offended them, even though he had healed the sick and brought good news and hope to all.

Again a crowd stood around his cross as he died, with many shouting insults.

I often wonder what they made of Jesus' final words:

'Father forgive them for they don't know what they are doing.'

One man - a Roman soldier - had no doubts:

'He really was the Son of God.'

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.