“Again & Again: We Turn from Palms to Passion”
Preached Sunday, March 24, 2024
Hosanna! They shouted. Now, Hosanna can have multiple meanings. We are used to Hosanna meaning a praise for God. Hosanna as in “praise the Lord” or Hosanna as in “blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” And it does mean that --- And, in a more Biblical and literal sense, it also means “Save us.”
Save us! Save us! Save us! The crowds chanted as Jesus rose into the city.
Save us!
Save us from what?
Two marches, two parades, were happening that day in Jerusalem. Every year Pontius Pilate was sent to Jerusalem during Passover to remind the Judeans that while they may have some leeway to celebrate their festivals and to worship their God, they were still under the rule of the Roman Empire. Pilate rides into Jerusalem for Passover to squelch any uprisings that the festivities may bring. He comes with military fanfare. He comes riding on a war horse, decked out in the symbols of the Empire. He comes with power and prestige and foreboding to remind the Judeans that Caesar is King and they are under his rule - so don’t go getting any ideas.
Well, on the other side of town, Jesus and a whole lot of people were getting other ideas. Whereas Pilate entered at the main gate, Jesus came to the city through a back entrance. Whereas Pilate entered on a war horse, Jesus entered on a donkey. Whereas Pilate came to remind them that Caesar was King - Jesus rode in to shouts of, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!" That is - Save us, the King of Israel!
Their shouts meant that to them, Jesus was King - and Caesar was not. Save us! Save us from the injustice and oppression of the Roman Empire! They wanted to interrupt the status quo which was the oppression of the Roman Empire. They came and they shouted and laid cloaks down in the road and waved palms for the same reason because they wanted so badly for things to change.
…Now, today is a weird Sunday. Because we’re really observing two things today. Palm Sunday - the day the crowds shouted Hosanna, shouted save us, and Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. And also Passion Sunday - looking ahead to the events of Thursday and Friday, Jesus’s betrayal, arrest, and death. Again and again, we turn from palms to passion. And the turn, from “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him!” reminds us that some of the same voices that shouted “Save us!” also shouted for Jesus’s death.
…Now, today is a weird Sunday. Because we’re really observing two things today. Palm Sunday - the day the crowds shouted Hosanna, shouted save us, and Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. And also Passion Sunday - looking ahead to the events of Thursday and Friday, Jesus’s betrayal, arrest, and death. Again and again, we turn from palms to passion. And the turn, from “Hosanna” to “Crucify Him!” reminds us that some of the same voices that shouted “Save us!” also shouted for Jesus’s death.
Hosanna! Save us! Save us!
Save us from what?
Save us from our own ideas of what Jesus is - many in the crowds that day expected Jesus to fit their ideas of who he was and what he came to do - a powerful figure who came to conquer and overthrow - to start a political revolution. When Jesus didn’t do this in the way they expected him to - their “save us” turned to “condemn him.”
Hosanna! Save us! Save us!
Save us from our own self-serving ideas of who Jesus is and what we expect him to do for us. Save us from images of God that are made in our own images. Save us from oppression and save us from the ways we oppress. Save us from our own tendencies to lash out in anger. Save us from our tendencies toward retribution and violence. Save us from our inclination to gloss over the events between today and Easter, Save us from the desire to point the finger at anyone but ourselves. Save us, Save us, Save us!
Hosanna!
As we once again turn from Palms to Passion, I invite you to immerse yourself in the story of this week. Both this morning as the choir brings it to us in voice and music and this week at our 6:30PM Thursday and Friday services.
We know that God does save us. God saves us from our bondage to sin and death. God saves us from our fear of the Grave. God saves us - from ourselves. God saves us for Life and Love. So let us walk this journey together - hearing our own voices shouting “Hosanna,” hearing our own voices shouting “Crucify him,” and hearing our own voices finally shouting “Alleluia.”
Save us from what?
Save us from our own ideas of what Jesus is - many in the crowds that day expected Jesus to fit their ideas of who he was and what he came to do - a powerful figure who came to conquer and overthrow - to start a political revolution. When Jesus didn’t do this in the way they expected him to - their “save us” turned to “condemn him.”
Hosanna! Save us! Save us!
Save us from our own self-serving ideas of who Jesus is and what we expect him to do for us. Save us from images of God that are made in our own images. Save us from oppression and save us from the ways we oppress. Save us from our own tendencies to lash out in anger. Save us from our tendencies toward retribution and violence. Save us from our inclination to gloss over the events between today and Easter, Save us from the desire to point the finger at anyone but ourselves. Save us, Save us, Save us!
Hosanna!
As we once again turn from Palms to Passion, I invite you to immerse yourself in the story of this week. Both this morning as the choir brings it to us in voice and music and this week at our 6:30PM Thursday and Friday services.
We know that God does save us. God saves us from our bondage to sin and death. God saves us from our fear of the Grave. God saves us - from ourselves. God saves us for Life and Love. So let us walk this journey together - hearing our own voices shouting “Hosanna,” hearing our own voices shouting “Crucify him,” and hearing our own voices finally shouting “Alleluia.”
Amen.
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