Palm Sunday Sermon

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16 (5)
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 21:1-11
Rural Retreat Lutheran Parish
Palm Sunday
Year A
April 17, 2011

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”1 If only the people knew what they were asking for.

These were very difficult and strange times for Jesus and his followers (more difficult for Jesus). Jesus knew what faced him in Jerusalem. He knew in a few days he would eat his last meal; be handed over by one of his friends; be stripped, beaten, humiliated, and eventually crucified. He knew the pain he would face and would have to endure so that God’s Will could be done.

The disciples, well they probably think this is great. People are cheering for Jesus. They are walking on Palm branches and coats - something only reserved for the most important dignitaries of their day. They hear people chanting for their friend. Finally, people are taking notice of Jesus and the work they are doing. All the sacrifice they have gone through seems to be paying off.

Others in the group have hate and evil intentions brewing in their hearts. They see this as an opportunity to promote a different angle - the fall of Rome. Jesus, the “superhero” of sorts (able to make bread and heal the sick in one single bound), has a lot of influence over the people. Some of the people are beginning to think that maybe Jesus could be used to lead a revolt, take down Rome, and create a new nation. It is probably why Judas made a deal with the Jewish authorities. If Jesus was not going to cooperate, then he had to be disposed of or risk having him fall into the wrong hands.

It is strange that Jesus was crucified because he did not want to fight. He did not want to become the greatest of the greatest nor did he want to create enemies. Rather we crucified Jesus because he said love each other, become a servant to each other, love your enemies.

Jesus never wanted his disciples to pick up arms and fight but rather, take off their sandals and wash one another feet. Jesus wanted his disciples to become the greatest servant of all - to deny entrances such as the one they recently experienced and instead, be the person caring for those who the world never cheers for.

The truth Jesus brought to this world was not something anyone was ready for and still remains something we, at times, fear. The truth Jesus brought told a story of loving one’s neighbor; caring for the sick and dying, loving those who nobody else would love; making sure that the last, least, lost, and lifeless are no longer the last, least, lost or lifeless. Jesus’ message is the light in our our world - a world engrossed in darkness, full of sin and evil, but yet remains our mission field.

Today marks the beginning of a week that has touched the lives of billions over the years. These lessons remain at the heart of our faith because we know how incredibly important this next weeks is for the world. This week, we see how Jesus becomes the King of kings. We see how Jesus’ promotes change. This week we will see how one man changed the world.

Jesus Christ, the son of the living God did not change our world by declaring war on those who disagreed him or by dropping bombs on people who opposed him. Jesus changed the world by preaching love. Today we celebrate the start of this change.

Today we chant Hosanna with the millions of saints who have gone before and those who are still to come. Today when we ask for Jesus to SAVE US, we are given the ever sure hope that Jesus has saved us. It is by no means a coincidence that today we chant, “Hosanna” which means save us and on Good Friday chant, “Crucify him.” Save us Jesus from the brokenness sin has brought to our relationship with God. Save us Jesus from hurt sin inflicts on the people we love and do not love. Save us Lord because we have nobody else to turn too.

This week reveals that when we cry out “Hosanna, Save us Lord,” our cry has been be heard. The cross, the center of gospel message, the chief foundation for Paul’s theology, the source of our salvation shows us that yes, we have been saved. Saved not by anything we have done or deserved but saved because the great God of all loves us so much that he sent us his son. We have been saved from an existence of not knowing the love God has to offer. We have been saved and redeemed so that we can confidently never fear death as an end but only the beginning of God’s magnificent power and love in our lives. Today is the beginning of the story of how God saved the world.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.