13 Apr Sermon – PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2025
On March 16th, I read these words spoken by Jesus, recorded by Luke in chapter 13 verse 35b “And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” This is proof once again, that Jesus knew in advance, how every aspect of God’s plan would unfold in the same way as he told his disciples, “If someone asks, ‘Why are you untying the colt,’” for them to respond by saying, “The Lord needs it.” According to Luke, Jesus identifies himself as being the blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord and also as the Lord himself.
But in the procession of Jesus’ final days toward the cross in Jerusalem, he appears somewhat passive. His disciples bring the colt and they proceed to not only throw their cloaks upon it, but to set Jesus upon it. He doesn’t climb on himself or take ownership of the colt. This turn makes people other than Jesus become principal actors.
He just rides along as people keep spreading their cloaks along the road which approaches a path down from the Mount of Olives. A whole multitude of disciples began to offer praise joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power they had seen, saying, “ Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
According to Luke, the crowd names Jesus as a king coming in the name of the Lord no differently than if Jesus was named the MVP of their winning Super Bowl team. The crowd displays fan fervor in the guise of celebrating what each of those present claim as personal victory. They project onto Jesus hopes and dreams for themselves, their home team, and hometown.
The Pharisees don’t speak to the crowd directly, but also acknowledge Jesus as the lead team player. “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” But Jesus replies, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” What else could that mean except to say that all of creation, even rocks, recognize Jesus as king and Lord of all, would also declare him as blessed, the author of peace in heaven and deserving of glory in the highest heaven?
The fans’ emotional fervor also represents a classic example of projection: “interpersonal distortion which causes unexpected or overactive behavior.” The crowd projects “their positive feelings, traits and motives” onto Jesus while the Pharisees project their negative feelings, traits and motives onto him and his disciples. This happens in the same way as when people like us believe that if we back the right candidate, we’ll win, too, and likewise, if we eliminate those that oppose us or represent a threat that our problems will be eliminated. The scene represents a way of oversimplifying social dilemmas, not taking individual responsibility, and relieving collective anxiety by attributing success or failure onto one other person or group.
As a passive sacrificial lamb, Jesus is portrayed as a willing participant and victim of perpetrated violence. The prophet Isaiah describes him as such. Jesus does not put up a fight, try to get away or turn away.
Because the Lord God helps him, Jesus is not disgraced nor put to shame. He finds strength and determination to set his face like flint. He who vindicates him is near. Who will contend with Christ, the Lord?
He is not afraid and is ready to take on any challenge. In fact, he welcomes confrontation and accusations. Why? Because it is the Lord God who helps him. It is he who is the Lord God in the flesh.
The verses of prayer spoken in Psalm 31 describe this perfectly. Let’s recite that responsively by verse together now.
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11 I am the scorn of all my enemies, a disgrace to my neighbors, a dismay to my acquaintances; when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 Like the dead I am forgotten, out of mind; I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. I have said, “You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”
Luke 22:14—23:56
Parts:
Bold-Congregation
Green – Group
Red – Women
Blue – Men
Purple – Narration
Underlined – Pilate
When the hour came, [Jesus] took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!”
When the hour came, not before or past the hour, but when the hour came, Jesus took his place, and the apostles with him. He eagerly desired to eat the Passover meal with them before he suffered because it was a taste of what would be once God’s kingdom comes and is fulfilled. Now only Jesus knew exactly what he meant by that, but we take it to mean once he returns to gather all of his followers around him again and his kingdom is established on earth as it is in heaven.
I never noticed before that scripture does not describe Jesus drinking from the cup or eating the bread himself. He only instructs others to take, eat, drink, divide it among yourselves, for “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Many scholars believe that the kingdom of God was initiated by Jesus’ arrival, but won’t become fully established until God’s will is done everywhere by everyone. The establishment of a new covenant and the beautiful projected image of God’s heavenly kingdom is interrupted by a reminder that someone at the table is about to betray him. And because Jesus said it, the apostles know it must be true, so the mood quickly changes.
Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. “You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
What do you think of that? Jesus says that his followers must not argue amongst themselves or try to gain authority and lord their position over each other, but be as ones who lead by serving, as he came to serve. Also, don’t expect to be waited upon until after you stand by Jesus in his trials. Then we will sit upon thrones, eat and drink at tables in his kingdom.
“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”
Imagine a time when everyone’s emotions became intense; self-doubts were riding high, passions ran heavy and hot. Then imagine hearing Jesus say to your face, “You’re about to totally fail; I mean like big time, dude.” Would it even be possible to hear what Jesus says next or would we be like Simon and immediately feel the need to defend ourselves or deny that we could possibly mess up that badly.
We might also, like Simon, err in the opposite direction to compensate for a pre-guilty conscience, declaring extravagant loyalty. Simon may have missed hearing the great consolation: “But I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; once you turn back, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus proves that he prays for us and that God is able to use those who fail miserably. They can turn back and become a source of strength to others. These are tremendous words of hope and encouragement.
He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”
Jesus asks in essence, “Have I ever steered you wrong or given bad advice?” If not, do as I tell you again, so that scripture may be fulfilled. When two swords are procured, Jesus is satisfied and tells them so.
He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
Jesus recommends that his disciples pray to not come into a time of trial just as he instructs them to say in The Lord’s Prayer, “save us from the time of trial,” or “deliver us from evil.” Then he prays himself, directly to the Father, saying, “Thy will be done.” His prayer is an honest admission of fear and inner turmoil as experienced by his fully human self. An angel appears to give him strength which he uses to pray more earnestly. His disciples sleep because of grief. And Jesus seems to suggest that prayer is more necessary than sleep to prevent the time of trial.
While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” They kept heaping many other insults on him.
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”
23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”
When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
What are you thinking?
How do you feel?
What parts most affected you and why?
What did you hear?
Who (if anyone) do you identify with?
Would it have been possible for you to do anything other than stand at a distance and watch these things take place?
My ears are tired. My heart is weary. I cannot imagine seeing people suffer torture and crucifixion. I can’t stand to witness cruelty or any type of crowd mentality. As a child, my Aunt Irene bought me a book which I remember reading cover to cover. She bought it in the gift shop, along with a wallet that I had for years, from the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. My family took my aunts there when they visited us in Virginia from their homes in Northern Pennsylvania.
The book had a bright blue cover, gold embossing, and beautifully colored illustrations. On every left sided page, was rendered artwork depicting a saint. On every right hand page was the story of their horrible martyrdom. As an avid young reader, there was no putting it down. I had to delve into the world of people whose deaths were witnessed by those who stood at a distance and watched.
The point being that someone should tell their story and hear about how they died courageously without renouncing their faith. At times, they died miraculously, able to endure pain beyond belief. They, like Christ, died at the hands of and in the midst of a whole cast of characters who shared varying degrees of guilt or culpability.
Is the point of reading the gospel or the stories of martyrs to assign blame? I don’t think so. Because even though persons who contributed or participated, and persons who could be held responsible, who acted intentionally or indirectly could be named and were, the point is: Jesus followed through and inspired martyrs to follow through. He suffered, died and was buried. On the third day, he will rise again. In heaven, he’s surrounded by men and women whom he calls saints. Let us pray.
Dear Lord, thank you for your faithfulness, for teaching us what it was like to be you, how to stand by and follow you through trials. Help us to be brave in overwhelming circumstances, to pray for strength and be able to pray more earnestly. In your holy name we pray, Amen.