"A Different Procession" - Sermon for Palm Sunday 2017

Sermon:

Text:

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who is what we need.

            I’ve always loved Palm Sunday, I remember as a kid doing the processional, going out into the parking lot to walk around the cars. We even had one year where we had a donkey brought in, which for a church in the middle of suburbia was pretty neat!

            There is just something fun about taking part in something that in all effects is similar to what actually took place.

            And in doing so, we take part in a message to all powers, that Christ who we worship, is a different kind of ruler, a different kind of messiah, a different kind of emperor, king.

[roman triumphal entrance]

            This a picture of a Roman Triumphal Entry. After a roman general conquered an area, he would return to Rome, carrying with him treasures taken and stolen from the people, and many of the people themselves as slaves. He would return mounted on a war steed of perfect quality, or in a war chariot gilded and ornate. He would wear robes of finest weave and gold, a crown of jewels or leaves. Hundreds or thousands of soldiers marching in full regalia alongside.

            Jesus is not this. He enters not with jewels or adornment, not on a war horse, not with soldiers, but with a simple robe, on a donkey, and with the ragtag collection of disciples and other followers with him. Jesus is not the mighty war conqueror, he is one who rules not with fear or violence or strength, but love, comfort, and through his coming death.

            Palm Sunday takes place the week before the Passover Festival, Jesus enter into Jerusalem on the Sunday before his death. Also entering at that same time would be Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great who tried to kill Jesus as a child. Both Herod’s would enter Jerusalem in the same way at the same time every year. Not because they were pious, or cared about the festival, but it was a moment to show how powerful they are, and how “religious” they are.

            Jesus is also not this, he comes not to show how powerful he is, how religious he is. But, exactly because he does hold value in the message of Passover, and to instead show how he is gentle, humble, and willing to put himself least. The word humble declaring how Jesus will enter Jerusalem shows his complete selflessness. Jesus enters Jerusalem not a hero, not a conqueror, not a warrior, but humble, gentle, on a donkey. Not thinking about himself, but us.

            This week, on Good Friday, this same crowd who cries and cheers for him, waves branches, praises, will turn on Jesus. Their chant will change from “Hosanna in the highest heaven” to “crucify him”. They want a ruler, a king, a warrior, a hero. One who will come into Jerusalem with power and might. Throw aside Herod, cast out Rome, entering with a triumphal entry of might, power, and wealth beyond imagining. That’s what they want, that’s what they are expecting from Jesus.

            But, it’s not what they get, nor what they need.

            Jesus enters Jerusalem not conquering, not destroying, not fighting, not warring, but humble, gentle, caring, peaceful, the least. And that is what they need. Jesus enters Jerusalem to die for us.

            And that is what we need.

            The world will always have strongmen, warriors, rulers, people who turn to violence first, but in Christ we find something different than all, who changes everything.

            This week I invite you to join in the journey of the last days of Jesus. Come witness his last meal on Maundy Thursday as he becomes not a Lord, but a servant, washing the disciples feet, he is not the head of the table, but the servant who gives his body and blood to us. Come on Good Friday as he carries his cross to Golgotha, is nailed to its wooden beams, and breathes his last, all for you. We end our service today hearing that story, so we can prepare to hear it again this week. It’s not an easy story, it’s not a gentle path at times, but it is the journey we need.

            Let us pray,

God of humbleness, walk with us this week. Help us to continue to sing praises to Jesus as he walks not the triumphal way into Jerusalem, but the dark way to the cross. Nourish us once again with the body and blood of Christ given for us as we once again reach the time of the great three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

Amen.