Matthew 21:1-11,
26:17-29
This morning our focus returns to the
story of Jesus Christ. During the past
five weeks while we were busy studying the book of James; Conan and Dennis were
busy reminding us of the work of Christ, through the companion scripture
readings each Sunday. We heard stories
of Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus and the woman at the well, Jesus and the healing
of a man born blind, and Jesus and the raising of Lazarus. Though our focus has been on the book of
James, the stories of Jesus have provided the background.
Today Jesus is front and center, as he
rightfully should be on this Palm and Passion Sunday. The shadow of Holy Week looms large and we
begin with the celebration of Palm Sunday.
In Matthew’s gospel, the Palm Sunday processional seems
pre-arranged. Jesus knows there will be
a donkey and a colt, and it appears he has already secured permission to use
them, as he encourages the disciples to say “The Lord needs them” and the
animals will be sent.
Last week, I received negative
feedback online regarding my sermons, accusing me of being too political. My reply was that I was simply a follower of
Jesus, who is by his very nature a political figure. And I believe our reading today is one of the
most politically charged readings in the church calendar, as here we see Jesus
setting up a political demonstration. I
know I have stated this on previous Palm Sundays but it is good for us to
remember that on the very day Jesus was entering the city by the back gate,
Pilate was processing in by the front gate with a full showing of the Roman Empire’s
power and might.
Jesus is making a planned political
statement, addressing the supposed power of the Roman Empire in contrast to the
power of God in the lives of the people of Israel. Pilate marches in with armies, horses,
chariots, and banners; instruments of war and violence on display to be feared
and worshipped. Jesus comes in on a
donkey, the cloaks of poverty strewn upon the road, the branches of nearby
trees serving as banners. Matthew tells
us this fulfills the words of the prophet, “Look, your king is coming to you,
humble.”
I don’t know what they said but I am
sure the people watching Pilate enter the city cheered. Don’t we always cheer for shows of power and strength? Here is the mighty arm of Rome, come to the
city for Passover, come to keep us safe in a time of insecurity and fear. The Jewish rebels are always threatening
violence, they threaten terrorism, and now is the time to stamp terrorism
out. Now is the time to keep the city of
Jerusalem safe, through the violent nationalistic power of the Roman Empire.
I do know what the people said when
they saw Jesus go by, they said “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of
the Lord! Hosanna in the highest
heaven!” Biblical scholars will tell you
that “Hosanna” comes from the Psalms, and though we often associate it with
celebration, it actually translates as “Save us, we pray!”
So as some worship the power of
violence and empire; others watch a man ride humbly into the city on the back
of a donkey and cry out “Save us! Save
us, Son of David!” I was really touched
by this vision this week. Folks were looking
at a “king coming to you humble, on a donkey” yelling “Save us!” How can a man on a donkey save us? How can he offer us anything?
I wouldn’t be surprised if “Hosanna”
was also shouted at Pilate. How often
even today do we cry “Save Us!” to the powers of violence and empire? Save us with a wall, save us with immigration
restrictions, save us with drone strikes, save us with increased military spending. Save us, we shout at the empire we live
in. Save us and we will worship
you. “Hosanna” they said to Pilate and
his empire, and “Hosanna” they said to Jesus, the man on the donkey. “Save us!”
I think we ask the man on the donkey
to save us, only after we realize that the kingdom of empire power cannot. It is only after we see the true cost of
violence that we turn away from empire.
Only when we realize that bombs are bought at the cost of food, do the
hungry ask the donkey king to save them.
Only when we realize that we are as likely to be killed by the empire as
helped, do the fearful ask the donkey king to save them. Only when we see the faces of those who have
suffered a chemical weapon attack, struggling for breath like a fish out of
water, do we finally say “no” to the violence of empire and ask the king who is
humble, the king on the donkey, the king who is no king to save us.
Save us, Jesus, because without you we
are nothing. Save us, Jesus, save us
from ourselves and our desires for power and privilege and empire and security. Save us!
And Jesus will save us. He will save us by showing us the way into
death. The empire will save us by
killing others in our name, but Jesus will save us by helping us to let go of
our own lives. Jesus shows us a new way
when he gathers with the disciples to celebrate the Passover.
They are all there, even Judas who has
fully bought into empire power, and they all receive the gift that Jesus
offers. “Take, eat; this is my
body”. Jesus offers the whole of himself
for consumption. “Drink from this cup,
all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant.” Jesus offers his blood, his life force, his
everything, to form a new covenant with a people who have worshipped empire for
generations. Yes, Jesus will save us, by
offering his life, and telling us that the path of salvation is to offer our
own lives as well.
This Holy Week, I encourage you to
look at the world you live in. How many
people are crying “save us” as they watch the parade of empire, nation state,
violent oppression, and power roll on by? How many people are crying “save us” as they
sit hungry in the street, homeless on the corner, or lost in some forgotten war
torn land struggling to live each day?
Where do we shout our “Hosannas!” and what exactly, who exactly are we
worshipping?
The power of empire is very much on
display this morning, and you are free to worship it. Many folks do. But another power is on display as well. “Your king is coming to you humble, on a
donkey.” This king leads with the power
of his own death. This week we remember
that he was whipped, he was mocked, he was spat upon, and finally he was
executed by the empire. This is the king
who shows us a new way. Will we take up
our cross and join the covenant of his blood, or will we continue to worship
Pilate and his vast empire? The choice
is yours. Amen.
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