Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: John 12,12-19. Palmarum

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

John 12,12-19; Hebrews 12,1-3 2214

Palmarum (6. Sonntag der Passionszeit) 029 „Palms“

Heremenegild, prince, Martyr 586

6. April 2014

1. O Almighty and Everlasting God, who of Your tender love towards mankind, has sent Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, so that all mankind should be redeemed by His great humility; mercifully grant, so that we may both look to His cross where salvation was purchased, and also be made partakers of His resurrection. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer 95-96).

2. »Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.«

3. On this day we remember and celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The liturgical name for this day is Palmarum (Palm Sunday) and it receives its name from today’s reading from the Gospel according to John, where the holy evangelist and apostle writes: »They took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Jesus« (John 12,13). John, along with the three Synoptic Gospels known as Matthew, Mark and Luke, declares that the Son of Man rode into Jerusalem on a colt.

4. Jesus entered Jerusalem on an ass in the spirit of King Solomon who also rode up to Jerusalem on an ass for his coronation as David’s successor (1. Kings 1,33.38). On Palm Sunday, a colt is blessed to bear upon his young back the Son of Man. Jewish tradition dating back to the Old Testament kings reveals that it was the common practice for the Jews to carry green palm branches and to place their garments before the king at public celebrations (Gerhard 286; 2. Kings 9,13; Nehemiah 8,15). Christ’s entry into Jerusalem began on the Mount of Olives, and thus it is probable that some of these palms were olive palms. Olive branches signify peace (Gerhard 291; Genesis 8,11). Palms also signify victory and conquest (Gerhard 292). The usual cry was „Hosanna!“ for they were welcoming in their king, a son of David. „Hosanna“ means „O Yahweh, help us!“

5. The Jewish people and Jesus’ disciples really wanted a triumphant Messiah-King, and on Palmarum they finally received what they wanted all along. The Prophet Zechariah portrayed the Messiah as the Triumphant King who rides in justifying and saving (Zechariah 9,9). The disciples and the crowd believed Jesus was fulfilling the Prophet Zechariah, and so they joyously sang: »Blessed is He who arrives in the Name of Yahweh! We bless You from the house of Yahweh. Yahweh is God, and He made His light to shine upon us«. (Psalm 118,26-27a).

6. Throughout His ministry, Jesus had patiently taught His disciples that the Messiah truly goes up to Jerusalem to suffer, die and rise again, but His disciples really didn’t buy this. It was inconceivable to them that their Triumphant Messiah-King would be betrayed by the leaders of Israel, condemned to death and executed as an enemy of God and the Jewish religion. They rightly felt proud as their rabbi was joyfully welcomed into the holy city with accolades due His messianic claims. This is how it should be, after all, and it perfectly fit their messianic anticipation.

7. Isn’t this how we reason as well? Jesus should be given the royal treatment and acclaimed the Messiah-King. Let all His disciples and subjects gladly bow before Him in due reverence as their kindly, gracious Prince of Peace, but woe to all His enemies who stand in His way for they will have a King as „beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love [Him] and despair!“ (Tolkien 356). The Jews wanted a fierce Messiah-King who would drive the pagan Greeks and Romans out of Judea and re-establish a Davidic reign of peace and temple worship. We might pine for a Conservative King who imposes Christian morality in our land that is fast abandoning the moral framework of the Church. On Palmarum it appears that we truly and rightly get the Messiah-King we long for. Even the Pharisees began to resign themselves to the fact that Jesus was destined to restore Israel’s fortunes, for they despaired that the entire world has gone after Him.

8. Getting is not the same as wanting. Often times when we get what we want it is far different from what we imagined or were promised. The ideal of healthcare for all people in America is a lofty and humane pursuit, but I daresay, whatever side of the political spectrum you fall on, the healthcare we have imposed upon us is a far cry from what was promised and envisioned by well-intentioned politicians. Likewise, getting a Messiah-King would not be in our best interests. Yes, the sword and the law are supported when applied against those obstinate sinners who are outside our camp, but what happens when that same sword and law turns inward against us? We begin to squirm and fear the holiness of Yahweh and His law when it shines upon our corrupt, sinful hearts to reveal that we are no better than those who fervently oppose Him and His reign.

9. After His triumphant entry on Palmarum, Jesus set about the affairs of His reign. His first act was not to drive the Romans out of the temple courtyard, but the Jews. It was not the pagan Roman presence that had tarnished the temple, but Yahweh’s own people had turned the temple from a house of prayer into a den of insurrectionists. God’s people need to understand that it is not just the other person who needs redemption but they themselves. Jesus arrived to cleanse His temple, redeem His chosen people and even suffer for the sins of the pagan nations, including the Romans. Jesus arrived not merely to be the King of the Jews, but to be the King of the world for the Psalmist proclaims: »All nations will go and worship You, O Yahweh, for they will glorify Your Name« (Psalm 86,9).

10. Thus the Prophets acclaimed that the Messiah-King would justify and save sinners like you and me, and Zechariah proclaimed Jesus to be a Righteous Savior. Jesus rightly describes Himself in the Gospels as a Suffering Servant and not a Vengeful King. The people wanted a Messiah-King, but Jesus gave them a Messiah-Servant who really would suffer, die and rise again as He taught this to His disciples again and again and again in the Holy Gospels. Thus the Epistle to the Hebrews proclaims: »look to Jesus who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despised the shame and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God« (Hebrews 12,12).

11. On the first Palmarum »the Pharisees said to one another: „Behold, the world has gone after him.“« (John 12,12-19). Let us strive to make their cry a reality in our midst. Try to bring at least one person with you to the Gottesdienst (Divine Service) next week on Easter Sunday. Resolve to get at least one other person to hear the wonderful gospel of Jesus who has taken away the sin of the world.

12. On Palmarum, the people saw a Messiah-King, but they received a Messiah-Servant who would at the end of the week pay for their sins, make them clean and open up heaven to all people. Those who believe in and receive this crucified Jesus have what He purchased for them: forgiveness, salvation and eternal life.

13. Martin Luther liked to say that „Our salvation does not depend on the fact that we believe Christ to be the Savior of the godly, but that He is a Savior to us and has become our own“ (Luther 1,21). „It is not enough that Christ saves us from the rule and tyranny of sin, death, hell and thus becomes our King, but He offers Himself to us for our possession, so that whatever He is and has may be ours“ (Luther 1,27). Christ’s righteousness is your righteousness; His blessedness is your blessedness. He is your King, your Messiah, your Servant and your Son of Man crucified for you so that you are now redeemed back to your Heavenly Father. Jesus arrived in the Name of Yahweh, and He is blessed. He brings with Him the Reign of David, and it is a blessed reign of forgiveness and justification that Christ freely gives to us in His Word and Sacraments that is received by faith. „That’s why all of us should truly welcome this Christ-King, recognizing Him as our Righteous Helper, and by the power of the Word, Sacraments and faith, enjoy Him now and forever!“ (Luther 5,370). So with the disciples we acclaim this Palmarum: »Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who arrives in the Name of Yahweh! Hosanna in the highest!« (Matthew 21,9). And with the psalmist we affirm: »Not to us, O Yahweh, not to us, but to Your Name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!« (Psalm 115,1). Yahweh’s glory is Christ Jesus who faithfully entered Jerusalem on an ass to show us God’s loving-kindness and His redemption of the world. Amen.

14. Let us pray. O Christ Jesus, the Son of Man who was lifted up on the cross, in Your Word and Sacraments pour upon us grace and mercy so that we who believe in You will have eternal life. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 27. Edition © 1993 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Monday, April 14, 2014

John 12,12-19. Palmarum

No comments:

Post a Comment