Sermon for Advent 1: "Coming to the Rescue" (Mark 11:1-10)

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:

Those who went before and those who followed Jesus were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:9-10).

 

To the repeated chants of Hosanna, meaning: “Save us now!” “Save us now!” “Save us now!” Jesus rides into Jerusalem. Now, today’s Gospel reading may seem odd, since today isn’t Palm Sunday; today is the First Sunday in Advent. But it does make sense when you ponder it a bit. Advent means “coming.” And why did Christ come? He came to suffer and die our punishment. He came to save His people from their sins. He came to rescue us from our evil foes: Satan, our own sinful nature, and the fallen world.

 

With the chants of “Hosanna in the highest,” the crowds are shouting the right words to Jesus, but do they truly understand the meaning of Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem?

 

Knowing the expectations of the people, those shouting “Hosanna” likely have the wrong vision of their triumphant King. Yes, they desire a savior, but a savior from what? Most likely, the crowd expects Jesus to save them not from themselves – not from their sins, but from the despised Romans. They wanted to return to the glory of the era of King David.

 

Everyone needs a king. Even if you don’t think you need a king, you need a king. These Jews desired a powerful earthly king as their savior who, again, would lead them back to the glory days of Israel and Judah.

 

Now, as Americans, we tend to value our individual freedoms and our right to self-determination. We even celebrate our independence from a king. But from heaven’s perspective, we all need a king, a good king. You see, without a good king, left to us, all we like sheep have gone astray, everyone turns to his own way. Without a king, left to us, we live in darkness. We wander around aimlessly. Without a king, left to us, we invent ways to oppose the Creator and to harm our neighbor by making war with each other. We all need a good king who will gather us together and rule over us. 

These Jews shouting “Hosanna” wanted a king to save them. And we want a good king to save us. The good news is that we have been provided with such a King.

 

Even when we have been provided with the good King, history has shown so many self-appointed messiahs and messiah wannabes. Now, some of them have turned out to be rather harmless, while some others have turned out to be murderous and tyrannical. But they all have one thing in common: they were all fake. 

 

We all need a genuine savior. We all need a genuine messianic King. But so often, what we want is not what God has given us. So often, what we want is to select our king for ourselves. Our sinful nature wants a king who always agrees with you. Our sinful nature wants a king who never questions your desires. Our sinful nature wants a king who will never ask you to repent.

 

Oftentimes, we, like the first century Jews, are looking for the wrong king. But the good news is that God has given us the genuine King. He has given us the King we need. This messianic King is a humble King riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus of Nazareth is the One whom God the Father appointed to be the King of Israel even before the creation of heaven and earth. Jesus is the son of David, and yet David’s Lord. The King of the Jews is the messianic King for the world. And He is the messianic King for you!

 

Even if this crowd doesn’t fully comprehend what is happening, this crowd was sure anxious to see Jesus. You see, the word had spread on what Jesus had recently done. This Jesus is the Man who opens the eyes of the blind. This Jesus is the Man who raised Lazarus from the dead. The crowds thought, “Could it be? If He can feed thousands, give the blind sight, give the deaf hearing, give the mute speech, heal the sick and raise the dead, why couldn’t He also get rid of the Romans?”

 

But what most didn’t realize is that this Jesus is not just a bread king and a miracle worker. This Jesus is Yahweh in human flesh. This Jesus is God. And God is unchanging. God does not change to our desires. He gives us what we truly need.

 

As we – and the first century Jews – may have our own presuppositions on who the savior ought to be, Christ rides over those presuppositions.

 

As Emmanuel – God with us – Jesus does the unexpected. He accomplishes what is truly needed. He shows that He is the Master of Creation by riding a donkey that has never been broken in. Normally, an unbroken colt is difficult to ride, but not for Jesus. He is the Master of Creation. At a casual pace, He rides this donkey into Jerusalem as the crowd eagerly puts their cloaks on the road along with palm branches.

 

Jesus enters Jerusalem with simple dignity. He’s riding no warhorse or chariot. Still, the crowds saw in Jesus their hope for salvation and deliverance. Again, even if they didn’t truly understand what was happening, they were chanting the right words: “Hosanna! Save us now!” For Jesus came to rescue them. Jesus came to rescue us. He came to save.

 

Here, Jesus rides over our wants and gives us what we truly need. He’s riding into Jerusalem to give His people true rescue: the forgiveness of their sins. He rides into Jerusalem so that we would be declared righteous. He is riding to our rescue.

 

As we begin the new church year, we remember why God took upon Himself our human flesh in the first place. Jesus came to rescue us from our sins.

 

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, He knew second by second what His week would become. He knew He would be turned over to death. He knew He would be stripped, whipped, beaten, and adorned with a crown of thorns. He knew He would be enthroned by being nailed on the cross of Golgotha. He knew His disciples would flee. Yet, Jesus, knowing He would be put through pain, misery, and death, did it anyway, so that by grace through faith in Him, you would be rescued from the powers of sin, eternal death, and hell.

 

As Christ breathed His last enthroned on the cross, Satan and his fallen angels believed they defeated God. They rejoiced. But their supposed victory was short lived, for Jesus rose from the dead three days later. Sin was overcome. Jesus lives and death is conquered. Then 40 days later, Jesus bodily ascended into heaven, where He continues to rule all things on behalf of His Church. 

 

Even right before Christ ascended, His most loyal apostles still didn’t understand as they asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Even if they didn’t fully get it, they would in time. Jesus did not come as an earthly King, but as the heavenly King. He came so that we could live forever.

 

Also, as we enter this Advent season, we are reminded that Christ will come again. We are reminded that the trumpet will sound, and the voice of the archangel will be heard (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Meanwhile, we wait with eager expectation. This Advent season we look back at Jesus’ first coming in Bethlehem and give thanks. We see the climax of that first coming with His enthronement upon the cross. We celebrate and ponder this mystery. The manger and the cross are made of the same wood. Jesus came to die. He “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

 

Gentleness, humility, and meekness marked His first coming, even as He journeyed to the cross. A crucifixion is the last place one would look for an enthronement, but here is Jesus, crucified for you. All your sins were laid upon Him. And by “His wounds, you are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Christ, the good King, our rescuer, fulfilled God’s Law completely.

 

Today, we walk by faith in the Son of God, who loves us and gave Himself for us. Yet, Christ is not away from us. He remains with us. He continues to rescue us. He is still our Emmanuel. His presence is hidden in Word and Sacrament: the Scriptures, water, bread, and wine. He takes these ordinary elements and uses them to join Himself to us. Today, He comes to us through ordinary means in His Means of Grace. But in time, we will see Jesus as He is. What is hidden today will soon be seen by everyone. His kingdom of glory will surpass every expectation in its power, splendor, and majesty. 

 

In the meantime, Christ continues to come to our rescue as He is fully present with us in Word and Sacrament as He gives you forgiveness, life, and salvation! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

 

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

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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. 

 

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