"The Royal Inauguration" (Matthew 21:1-11)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“And when [Jesus] entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:10-11).

 

Today, we begin a new Church Year, and the purpose of every Church Year is to put Jesus before our eyes.

 

To the world, most of their minds – maybe even yours – is on Christmas. Most of the world is thinking about Christmas decorating and shopping for loved ones. Radio stations began playing pop Christmas songs on November 1. And for so many of us, when you think about Jesus this time of year, we often think of Jesus as the babe in the manger.

 

But here we are on this First Sunday in Advent, and we hear about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. What’s up with that? Again, the purpose as we begin each Church Year is that we do not lose sight on what truly matters: Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen for sinners.

 

It always does seem odd though to begin the Church Year at practically the end. But this is why Jesus came in the first place. He came to bring atonement between God and man.

 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Magi came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). This question greatly disturbed King Herod. He was troubled. This troubled Herod because he was obviously nearing the end of his time and was not sure who would succeed him. And there was no doubt that Herod’s violent and bloody reign had demonstrated how determined he was to maintain his grip on power – even though his power was severely limited being under Roman rule.

 

So when Herod’s fear was aroused, all of Jerusalem was disturbed right along with him.

 

Now, some thirty-plus years have passed between that first Christmas Day and Palm Sunday, and during that interval St. Matthew does not record a single time Jesus was called a king. He was called many other titles. Jesus was called “Son of David,” and that messianic title certainly does come with royal overtones, but it was not until that Palm Sunday that Jesus was proclaimed to be a king. According to St. Luke, the crowds roared: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 19:38a). And according to St. John, the crowds cheered: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13). And once again, some thirty-some years after His birth, “the whole city was stirred up” again (Matthew 21:10).

 

They ask, “Who is this Jesus?” “Where has this Jesus come from?”

 

Back when Jesus was 12 years old, He famously went up to Jerusalem with His mother Mary and His guardian Joseph to celebrate the Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41-52). When the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. After searching for Him, they returned to Jerusalem and after three days, they found Him in the temple. 

 

Now, traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover was something pious Jews did every year. So, we can assume that Jesus made many trips to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. But this time would be different. Very different. For this occasion, Jesus was very much aware that He was going up to Jerusalem to die. And He taught this fact to His very own apostles that He would be handed over to the chief priests and later condemned to death, but on that third day would rise again.

 

As Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover for the last time, He wanted the attention of all the people of Jerusalem to be focused solely on Him. This is why He made some rather peculiar preparations before entering the city.

 

“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once” (Matthew 21:1-3).

 

This would be a strange way for Jesus to be acknowledged as the King of Israel. Through the Prophet Zechariah, God calls the coming King “humble” (Zechariah 9:9). 

Normally, powerful people are not humble. Normally, powerful people are far from being called “humble.” Normally, powerful people are aware of how important they are, and they expect others to be duly impressed by and deferential to them. They can be harsh and abrasive, because they havepower. Normally, to be humble or gentle is seen as a sign of powerlessness. Not so with Jesus.

 

Jesus enters Jerusalem upon an ordinary lowly beast of burden rather than a magnificent white stallion, as other kings would have done. Jesus did not wear a kingly robe or royal crown. There was no scepter in His hand. His attendants were mostly Galilean fishermen. His procession looked far from a royal procession, yet there was an obvious and undeniable majesty about Him. This Jesus was powerful, but not in the way of the world (1 Corinthians 1:25).

 

This humility of Jesus is the theme from the manger all the way to the cross. It is a weakness according to the world, but it is powerful because God works salvation in it. Salvation is not accomplished by external force or by gaining earthly power. Jesus’ humility is not a sign of powerlessness, but of a refusal to rule by force or coercion, and of His willingness to die for us.

 

Again, Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem didn’t look like a royal procession, but the multitudes were moved to shout: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9).

 

According to earthly standards, Jesus was far from being a king. He rode into town on a donkey. That’s a far cry from any royal steed. But Jesus is the King. 

 

Because Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, His mission has often been misunderstood. Herod feared Jesus as competition. Jesus was handed over to Pilate because He was declared a challenge to Caesar. But Jesus has not come to overthrow earthly rulers, nor to establish any earthly kingdom.

 

Jesus rules only by Word and Spirit, not by any external force. Jesus rules by calling and enlightening His disciples. He gives faith and a change of heart, so that we cling to Him as King. We didn’t choose Him as King, He chose us and made us His people.

 

Jesus is the mighty King. He is more powerful than all the great kings of all times. He is more powerful than all the world leaders of our own day.

 

Only He, by His cross, has the power to save from sin. Only He has the power to grant eternal life. Only He has the power to make enemies of God into children of God. Only He has the power to transform us so that we live godly lives.

 

Certainly, the manner by which Jesus entered Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday showed that He had no intentions of setting Himself up as an earthly king. The throne He would ascend would not be a fancy seat, but His throne to which He would ascend would be Him nailed to a crude wooden cross. The crown He would wear would not be adorned with jewels but would be a crown of thorns piercing His forehead.

 

Yet, Jesus would establish His Kingdom, but not by the traditional way by shedding the blood of his enemies, but by shedding His own holy precious blood. Through His humility, through His innocent suffering and death, Jesus would establish a Kingdom of greater glory and greater majesty than any earthly kingdom before or since. He gave all who trust in Him His Kingdom.

 

Today’s Gospel reading contain some very familiar words that we sing each Sunday: “Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” These familiar words of the Sanctus remind us that the same Jesus who rode up into Jerusalem on a donkey comes to us under the bread and wine of the Sacrament of the Altar. On our own, we would never guess that we are receiving Christ’s very Body and His very Blood in this Sacrament, but Jesus says, “This is My Body. … This is My Blood.” Through the eyes of faith, we see so much more than just simple bread and simple wine, because our ears have heard what Jesus said.

 

We sing the Sanctus as we praise Christ knowing who He is, the promised Savior. We praise Christ, who feeds us with His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of our sins, praising Him for who He is, our Savior, and for what He richly does, forgives our sins.

 

The crowds on that Palm Sunday may not have seen the significance of their own words, but we on this First Sunday in Advent do. He came to inaugurate His royal kingdom. Jesus has come to be our King. He has come to bring reconciliation between God and man. He is Here today hidden in His Means of Grace. And He will one day truly reveal Himself again on the Last Day! Christ is King. Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Sir, We Wish to See Jesus" (John 12:20-33)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Now among those who went to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’” (John 12:20-21).

 

Today, the one holy Christian and apostolic Church observes Holy Cross Day. What is Holy Cross Day? What is the origin of Holy Cross Day? Why are we observing Holy Cross Day?

 

Well, it is not very often that we can observe a church festival day and speak with certainty as to the precise origin of that observance. Today, is one of those days. 

 

Holy Cross Day commemorates what was considered the discovery of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was in the early fourth century when Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, discovered some pieces of wood that she believed was originally a cross. And she believed it to be the cross of Christ when it effected a miraculous healing. 

 

In time, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem was constructed on the site where this cross was found. The building was dedicated on September 13, 335, but it wasn’t until that next day, September 14, when the Holy Cross was exposed for public veneration for the first time. Hence the festival of the Holy Cross, or Holy Cross Day.

 

Wait. What? This sounds too Roman Catholic! Miracles and veneration? Didn’t Martin Luther say he was no fan of feasts dedicated to superstitions and relics? Yes, he even once said, “If all the alleged pieces of the true cross were gathered together, dozens of crosses could be constructed from them!”So, why are we observing Holy Cross Day?

 

Well, just look around you. The cross is a hugely significant part of Christianity. The cross is our symbol. When you see a cross, you think of Jesus, you think of Christianity, you think of Christians. The cross is our symbol. The cross is something that we connect with. The cross is very important to us.

 

Today, the cross is everywhere. It’s jewelry. It’s art. We hang crosses on our walls. Just look around and count all the crosses at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church: we have a lit cross hanging behind the altar; an altar cross; a processional cross; we have banners with crosses. Just to name a handful of places.

 

The cross is certainly significant. The cross is our symbol. But let us not forget what the cross was really about. The cross was a means of capital punishment. And often, we forget that. We wear the cross as beautiful jewelry. We make the cross look so beautiful at Easter. But the cross wasn’t meant to look beautiful. The cross was the place of brutality. The cross was a means of capital punishment. If Jesus would have died by electrocution on the electric chair, we would not be processing with a cross, but an electric chair. The same is true about a noose, or if Jesus was killed by firing squad or lethal injection. So, we cannot forget that the cross was a means of capital punishment.

 

Jesus could have been put to death in so many other ways, but instead He chose to endure one of the worst brutal ways to die by crucifixion upon a holy cross that wasn’t holy in itself. The cross only became holy because Jesus sanctified it through His shed blood.

 

So, why do we, as Lutherans, observe Holy Cross Day? Well, it’s not to observe a relic attested by miracles. Rather, we celebrate Holy Cross Day because of the triumph of our Lord upon the real cross that once stood on Golgotha. There, Christ’s blood blotted out the sin of the world. There, His death proved death’s destruction. We observe Holy Cross Day because of the way the triune God used and uses suffering to bring blessing. We observe this day, because of the way He worked and works so contrary to anything human reason could or would ever conceive or anticipate.

 

We observe this day, because with the Greeks in today’s Gospel lesson, we, too, “Wish to see Jesus”(John 12:21).

 

As it was custom, thousands of people would ascend to Jerusalem each year to celebrate the Passover Festival. Yet, this year, was a little different as many in the crowd came for an additional reason. They came to see Jesus. You see, the word was spreading that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The crowd took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13).

 

Now among those who went up to worship at the Passover Feast were some Greeks who came up to Philip and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” (John 12:21). These Greeks were strange fellows to come to this feast. They were Gentiles, not Jews. And it is odd that these men went to Philip and not straight to Jesus. We don’t know why, but it could be that they felt comfortable with Philip, because “Philip” was a Greek name. So, why were these Greek men there? Our Epistle has some clues. The Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to write: “For the Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:22). They were likely seeking wisdom.

 

You and I have also come to see Jesus. And we are not too different from the Jews and Greeks of two thousand years ago. We also demand signs and seek wisdom. We wish Jesus would cure us of our health issues of body and mind. We wish Jesus would multiply our bread, our money, so that we would not have to worry. We wish Jesus would cast out our demons of fear and anxiety. We wish Jesus would pull our loved ones out of their slumber of unbelief. We wish to see Jesus. But we also demand signs. So, where is the sign?

 

You and I have come to see Jesus. But we also seek wisdom. We wish to hear from a great teacher. We wish to learn some short, pithy sayings, so we would have the words to say when people ask us about our faith, the one true Christian faith. We wish we could always have every answer to the doubts that arise in our own hearts. We wish we could have the wisdom to combat the fallen world around us. We are like the Greeks. We wish to see Jesus. We want to behold God’s glory in wisdom.

 

To our demands of signs and wisdom, God says, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart” (1 Corinthians 1:19).

 

God says the word of the cross is certainly folly to those who are perishing.

 

Like the Jews and the Greeks of yesteryear, we don’t get what we expect. We likely won’t see any great sign. Our health issues may not miraculously go away. You may not receive a miraculous feeding or receive money out of thin air. We still struggle.

 

But we get to see Jesus. So, what did Jesus say to the request of these Greeks? He said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23). He said, “You Jews and you Greeks demand signs and wisdom, but I will show you the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

 

For the worldly wise, the cross is utter foolishness. People, by their nature, expect something else from what God offers them. Jews demand miraculous signs. They say, “Show us a sign!” (Matthew 12:38). 

 

Jesus, indeed, gave them signs. He healed the sick; He opened the eyes of the blind; He raised the dead; He preached good news to the poor in spirit. But they wanted a different sign. 

 

The Greeks demand wisdom. God still frustrates human wisdom. The greatest scholars today will never find God or understand Him if he depends on his own intellect. God has said so. Again, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart” (1 Corinthians 1:19). By means of this stumbling block, God brings salvation. By the powerful means of the word of the cross – the theology of the cross, Jesus says, “When I am lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all people to Myself” (John 12:32).

 

There, hanging on the cross, Jesus calls us to forsake the glory you think you have. He calls you to abandon the glory of human wisdom, logic, and reason. Instead, He calls you to Himself, because there on the cross He puts to shame all the glory of this fallen world, including all it’s “supposed”strength and it’s “supposed” wisdom. There, on the cross, He gave us the only way to salvation. And that is the significance of the cross. There is no other way to salvation without Christ’s atoning death on that holy cross where He put an end to eternal death by the means of which He gives us forgiveness, life, and salvation. There, Jesus won for you what all the strength of this fallen world could never ever muster. There, He accomplished for you what the wisdom of this fallen world could never fathom: the forgiveness of your sins.

 

Now, as Lutherans we cannot deny the possibility that the cross of Christ was discovered by Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. The same is true about the Shroud of Turin, which is a linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man that many believe to be that of Jesus Christ Himself. I am even inclined to believe that the Shroud of Turin is Christ’s burial cloth. Could they both be real – the Holy Cross and Shroud? Possibly. 

 

But for us, whether those relics are authentic or not is not of prime importance. What does matter is that Jesus was “lifted up” just as He said. And that through His act of divine love, He still draws all people to Himself through the redemption that is in His blood, the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of His grace. 

And better than any relic is the real presence of Jesus, who suffered, died, rose and ascended, who we receive by faith under simple bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper, which forgives our sins and strengthens our faith.

 

So, we observe Holy Cross Day because we want to see Jesus, because it is by His wounds that we have been healed. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Good Friday: "The Seven Words of Jesus Upon the Cross"

1.    Luke 23:34 [Luke 23:32-38]

The climax of Jesus’ passion is His arrival at the place called the Skull, where He is crucified. The journey is over. Jesus has now reached His goal.

 

Jesus, who knows no sin, is among criminals. And each criminal carries forth his own cross to the place of execution. After constant mocking, insults, and flogging, Jesus is exhausted. Soon, it was feared that Jesus may die before being crucified. For this, the Roman soldiers compel Simon of Cyrene to carry His cross. Simon follows the footsteps of Jesus. This procession of cross-bearers draws a crowd. Just days earlier, the crowds had welcomed Jesus into the city with shouts of acclamation: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13) Now there are tears as He is led out of the city.

 

Amid the great noise of weeping, jeers, and rattling armor, Jesus is humble and quiet as He stumbles toward the cross. As He arrives, He is placed into position. As He stands, Roman soldiers begin driving nails through His wrists and ankles. Then the cross is hoisted up and dropped into its hole. Lifted above the crowd, Jesus peers through swollen and bloodied eyelids and with bruised ears He listens to the carnivallike scene below: the scoffing and insults of the crowd, soldiers haggling over His clothes, thieves on his left and right cursing Him. Jesus has shown nothing but God’s love to these people who treat Him with such contempt. He could call down the wrath of God on them if He chose, but instead He takes the whole wrath of God upon Himself as He says a prayer for the Father’s absolution of the people: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

 

2.    Luke 23:43 [Luke 23:39-43]

 

Two criminals are crucified with Jesus, one on His left and one on His right. No one weeps for them. The crowd likely thinks good riddance. Maybe a victim or two of their crimes is weeping, but not for the perpetrators who die, but for the stolen possessions never recovered or for the loved ones murdered. One of those criminals, who is on the brink of eternal death and hell is converted by Jesus’ announcement that sin is forgiven by virtue of the cross. This criminal expresses his repentance by confessing His sin. He fears God, unlike the other criminal, and he recognizes that his tortuous death is the just punishment for the sins he has committed. He stands under the judgment of God’s wrath, and he confesses that his guilt merits such punishment. Combined with his confession of sin is his confession of faith in Jesus: for “this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41).

 

Helpless and hopeless but for the Man who is dying beside him, the criminal cries out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). With His arms outstretched in love, Jesus replies, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

 

3.    John 19:26-27 [John 19:25-27]

 

Jesus is fully conscious in spite of all that His body and soul had endured. He is almost unrecognizable from the brutal beatings. With nails piercing through His wrists and ankles, He is bearing the sins of the whole world upon that cross with each breath being more painful than the last. As He endures great agony, He continues to care for Mary, His mother.

 

It is a tearful thing to lose a parent. It is even more tearful to lose your child. For some time now, Scripture has had no mention of Joseph, so we assume that he is dead. Thus, the tears of Mary must now be a flood. First, she lost Joseph, and now she sees her son Jesus nailed to a cross. The oldest son is supposed to care for his widowed mother. Now, even when Jesus is dying, who will take care of Mary? Who will comfort Mary in her grief? Who will protect the mother of God? Jesus meets her need, even as He meets our needs saying to Mary, “Woman, behold your son!” And then to John, the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, “Behold, your mother!” (John 19:26-27).

 

4.    Matthew 27:46 [Matthew 27:45-49]

 

There is perhaps nothing more tearful than sensing abandonment by those we hold most dear. Before the Last Supper, Judas abandoned Jesus, and he had been one of Jesus’ twelve closest friends. It must have hurt Jesus deeply. An even deeper hurt would have been the panicked desertion of the other disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, when a mob came to arrest Jesus. Peter and John followed to the courtyard of the high priest, but here even Peter, the rock, crumbled like a handful of sand before accusations that he was a disciple of Jesus. So, Peter, too, after denying his Lord three times, fled weeping into the night. Surely the pain of Peter’s denial is greater than the nails and thorns.

 

But the most tearful moment of all is the abandonment of Jesus by His own heavenly Father. The words Jesus speaks are from Psalm 22, a Psalm of David. Jesus, like his ancestor David before Him, feels abandoned by God. In the case of David, and all of us, it isn’t true; our heavenly Father does not abandon us. But in the case of Jesus, it is true. Jesus, the innocent Son of God, hangs from the cross, bleeding, bruised, and burdened with the sins of the whole world. 

 

From noon until three o’clock that day, a strange darkness came over the earth. All astronomical learning points to the fact that this could not have been a natural eclipse of the sun. It was God who darkened the sun’s light by means of His own power just as He shook the earth and split the rocks. This darkness signified judgment. It was not a mere reaction of the natural sun, but a sign wrought in the sun by God. Darkness and judgment go together. So repugnant has Jesus become with the refuse of our guilt laid upon Him that even His own Father cannot look on Him. Thus, Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

 

5.    John 19:28 [John 19:28-29]

 

A mystery full of mysteries is how we might describe the Holy Trinity. Scripture teaches that there is One God, but that this God is forever in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is different in role and work, yet they are not three gods, but one God. 

 

Just as incomprehensible is the mystery of the incarnation. Scriptures reveals Jesus Christ to be fully and completely both God and Man. As eternal God, our Lord Jesus Christ created the world, set the stars in the heavens, and put the seas in their basins. He governs the passage of seasons and the course of history. He determines the length of our days. Yet, as man, like you and me, He becomes tired and thirsty. He weeps over the death of His friend Lazarus. He holds children in His arms and blesses them. He bleeds when His flesh is pierced. His mouth becomes dry. He chokes on dirt and blood that become paste in His throat. He can make rain fall from the sky, but He can’t give Himself a cup of water, for He will not use His almighty power to His personal advantage. Helplessly, the Second Person of the Trinity begs for something to drink, saying, “I thirst” (John 19:28).

 

6.    John 19:30 [John 19:30]

 

At last, the cup of God’s wrath has been drained. Jesus has swallowed the awful medicine for sin that we should have drunk. Every transgression has been atoned for – for Adam’s sin, yours, mine, the sins of the whole world for all time. From now on, you and I can know for certain that no matter what evil happens to us, it is not God punishing us. This is still a fallen world and bad things will continue to happen, but our debt has been paid in full. The devil may rant on and tempt you to think otherwise. But he’s wrong. The cross says you are forgiven; God is at peace with you. There on the cross, we receive God’s grace. And if you should ever doubt this truth, just look to the cross. For upon the cross, Jesus proclaims, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

 

7.    Luke 23:46 [Luke 23:44-47]

 

It’s 3 o’clock. Jesus has hung on the cross for only six hours. Not long, really. But it’s not the amount of time Jesus spends on the cross that atones for sin, or even the degree of pain afflicted. Rather, it is the fact that, concentrated into this time, Christ has born all the punishment that all the sins of all history deserve. God the Father accepts the suffering of Jesus as full atonement for sin.

 

In just six hours, Jesus’ suffering draws quickly to an end. Slowly the crowd still remaining begins to realize that this is no ordinary man who draws His last breaths. Since the noon hour, darkness has covered the land. There is an earthquake. The temple curtain is ripped in half. Graves are broken open. With one last great shout, Jesus cries out, “Father, into your hands I commit My Spirit!” (Luke 23:46). With those words said, He breathed His last. Jesus has died. God is dead. The Holy Trinity is fractured. Upon all that has taken place this day, the centurion standing guard confesses aloud, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).

 

Sermon for Palm Sunday: "Drawn to the King" (John 12:12-19)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Who doesn’t enjoy a parade? For me, I always look forward to watching the Rose Parade each year. Each float is so beautiful and unique. Some are large. Some are small. Some barely make it under bridges and around turns. From the spectacle of the petal-covered floats to the marching bands from all around the world, it is quite a parade. There is nothing like it.

 

We have parades for holidays, such as New Years with the Rose Parade, but we have also become accustomed to victory parades. We celebrate teams that win championships. We also celebrate people, such as hometown soldiers who return from serving in war time.

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we have another parade. Now, the crowds don’t throw ticker tape, or receive candy from those walking in the parade, but they wave palms, just as we did as we began today’s service. The parade recorded by John didn’t have marching bands, but the people along the parade route were chanting psalm choruses. And the honoree of that parade was not riding an antique convertible, but on the back of a donkey.

 

This was a parade unlike any other. It was a parade fit for a king – in fact, for the King! But Jesus is a King who isn’t what the crowds expect. Yet, the crowds appear to glorify this King in the procession. But this is just the start of a weeklong procession that will ultimately lead to the King’s suffering and death – and ultimately to His fullest glorification. Christ’s glorified procession into Jerusalem led to His ultimate glorification on the cross.

 

In the ancient world, processions and parades served to glorify rulers and generals. Typically, the ruler would enter a city welcomed by adoring multitudes, while riding his stately white horse and flanked by his generals. The crowds would welcome their ruler with shouts of cheers and songs of praise. They would throw flowers and leafy branches before his path. They reach out their hands in hopes of touching this man as they consider to be godlike. Indeed, such processions in the ancient world served to glorify rulers and their generals.

 

The Palm Sunday crowd appears to offer a similar glorification of Jesus. The news of the raising of Lazarus only further increased the fervor. “This man raised to life a man who once was dead! We must see this man!”

 

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was greeted as a king. Large crowds welcomed Him as they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him as they cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13).

 

The question is, what sort of a king does this crowd believe Jesus to be?

 

Palm branches are an expression of nationalistic homage to royalty. Does the crowd understand Jesus to be a conqueror or liberator of the Jews? Palm fronds became a national symbol of Judea, appearing on the coins minted by the Jewish nationalists during war with Rome. So, it appears that the crowd may understand Jesus as the one who will achieve their nationalistic hope of liberation from the Romans.

 

Afterall, Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead. He has healed a man born blind. He healed lepers. If Jesus can perform those miracles, why couldn’t he also liberate the Jewish people from Roman occupation?

 

So, the people cry out: “Hosanna!” Now, this plea was originally a plea for salvation. But over time, that cry of “Hosanna!” had become a calling of praise and acclaim for the conquering hero. So, in the chant of “Hosanna,” there was certainly a messianic expectation placed upon Jesus.

 

So, the crowd is certainly proclaiming Jesus as a messiah figure, but it appears that they see Jesus as assuming the posture of a Davidic king. And this is on purpose. All that led to this procession was mysterious to Christ’s disciples. He gave orders that struck His disciples as strange and puzzling. They were to go into a village just ahead to find a donkey and its colt tied together. Plus, the owner of the donkey and its colt was willing to let the animals go. All very mysterious. At the word of the disciples, “The Lord needs them,” they received the donkey and its colt.

 

The disciples brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them (Matthew 21:7). They weren’t sure which animal Jesus would ride, so they placed cloaks on both of them. Jesus then decided to ride the young colt, which no one had ever ridden (Luke 19:30; Mark 11:2). Upon that young donkey, Jesus would ride on into Jerusalem.

Now, this is significant. First, Jesus identifies Himself as one of the royal line of David. The kings of Judah rode donkeys as a hallmark of their descent from King David. For example, in 1 Kings (1:33-34, 38), Solomon was demonstrated to be the heir to the throne by being seated on David’s donkey. So, by the crowd shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they had the right understanding.

 

But there is more. Second, Jesus identifies Himself as one who comes in peace. A warlike king or a conqueror would most likely ride on a stallion – a stately white horse. So, a king or any other important person who enters a city on a donkey indicates that he has come for peaceful purposes. And, third, John here identifies this with the fulfillment of a prophecy regarding the Messiah: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt” (Zechariah 9:9; John 12:15).

 

These huge crowds glorify Jesus by welcoming Him into the capital city. They are awed by His miraculous healing power. Among the crowds, the Pharisees begin to realize that Jesus’ popularity is threatening their political power, so they say to one another, “Look, the world has gone after Him” (John 12:19). So, they begin scheming to find any way to eliminate Him.

 

Even with the large crowds, the people shouting, chanting, and praising Jesus still don’t know who He really is. It seems that so many misunderstand Christ’s mission, for they expect Him to be a military leader. They believe Jesus will use His power to remove the Romans. And even those closest to Jesus misunderstand His mission. For they expect Jesus to be an earthly ruler.

 

We, too, often misunderstand Christ’s mission. We want Jesus to serve our self-determined needs and wants. You may desire Jesus to be your personal mascot who will always cheer you on. He will never talk about hell and damnation. In fact, He will never condemn, correct, or criticize you. He is an all-around nice guy who encourages you in every pursuit.

 

You may see Jesus as just one option among many. Or, as a man who dispenses health, wealth, and success.

 

I’d say that the American idea of Jesus is that He is an all-around nice guy who hung out with sinners, so He must be fine with sin. But the reality is that He was with sinners, because everyone else but Him was a sinner. And Jesus never said remain in your sin. Instead, He said, “Go and sin no more.” He always called for repentance.

 

So, Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem ultimately leads to His ultimate glorification, not in the Palm Sunday parade, but through crucifixion on Good Friday. You see, Jesus identifies His glorification with His death. He says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” … “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself” (John 12:23, 32). This glorification through suffering and death is a paradox that the world cannot understand, but it is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

 

Jesus’ death is His most glorious moment because it is the accomplishment of His mission to redeem sinners, you and me. This was the plan from the beginning. The crowds may not have understood it then, but in time they would understand God’s plan of salvation.

 

It could only be Jesus’ death and bodily resurrection that would fulfill God’s plan of salvation. The salvation plan is that the very Son of God would bear the curse of sin so that all sinners are forgiven. It is only through Christ’s sacrifice being lifted up from the earth that all humanity would be restored to God.

 

Through Christ alone, we are reconciled to God. Because of this grace, we glorify the Crucified One as our ultimate King.

 

Christ’s disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified on the cross, they understood how Jesus fulfilled all that the prophets said. They understood Christ’s true glory. 

 

So, just as the world was drawn to Christ at his Palm Sunday procession, even more so will it be drawn to Him at His glorification on the cross! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +