Palm Sunday - March 24

Palm Sunday: The Sunday of the Passion

Our worship together today began with a commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We cried “Hosanna!” Even the stones cried out welcome. The voices of children made sweet hosanna ring. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. It’s a wonderful celebration, full of enthusiasm and joy, eager shouts of welcome as Jesus arrives.

I sometimes wonder about the people who came out to welcome Jesus back then, to cheer along his way. Who were they? Why did they come to lay their cloaks along the road and wave leafy branches as they cheered?

Probably some of them had been with him along the way, his disciples. And for them to see this teacher, healer, prophet, Messiah… ride into the great holy city of Jerusalem was very exciting, a great triumph.

Maybe some of those cheered hoped that Jesus would bring political change, freedom from the Roman oppressors. Not so much in Luke, but in other Gospel accounts Jesus is identified as King David’s heir as he enters Jerusalem.

Undoubtedly many were just curious. Who is this guy? What’s the fuss? A parade is always fun.

Then, once Jesus had passed and gone on his way, what did all of those people do? Did they just go back about their lives? They had been a part of the great excitement of Jesus’ arrival. They had cheered in welcome. But what would happen next?

There must have been expectancy but uncertainty. What were the next days like? Many had welcomed him, but they had all sorts of different expectations of him.

Some people certainly stayed with him, wanting to be near his presence. I imagine some went home, thinking their part in the story was done… We’ve cheered in welcome, now we’ll wait and see he does. Actually, I expect a lot of people went home after the parade, sparing only a passing thought towards Jesus over the next few days. Wondering what would be the result, the consequences of his coming? Would it mean anything to them?

He had been triumphantly welcomed. But what would be the consequence of his coming to Jerusalem?

Of course, the direct consequence of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem was his crucifixion. Probably not what anyone back then expected. The direct consequence of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was his crucifixion.

This odd holy day that we call Palm Sunday – colon – The Sunday of the Passion commemorates both the jubilant welcome and the consequence of Jesus’ arrival in the holy city Jerusalem. The triumphal entry and the crucifixion.

And we who live in this day and time live our whole lives in the midst of both the joyful welcome and the crucifixion. We cry hosanna, but we also know what the consequence of Jesus’ arrival is. And we also know that the triumphal entry and the crucifixion are linked; they are inseparable. We are the link.

Today’s liturgy reminds us that our voices are both the voices that joyfully welcome Jesus and the voices that cry for his crucifixion. In many of the dramatic readings of the Passion Gospel the congregation takes the part where the people cry for Jesus’ crucifixion. And our voices sang hosanna.

Essentially we say to Jesus: Welcome, Jesus. In triumphant joy, I say welcome. But in a few days, I am going to crucify you. We cannot welcome him without acknowledging our participation in his death. To raise our voices in welcome is also own that is our voices calling for his crucifixion. That’s who we are. That’s how the story ends.

The deep yearning and the excitement for Jesus to come into our hearts, into our lives… that’s a part of us. And our inescapable sinfulness is a part of us. That’s who we are every day. Jesus, I desperately need you; I love you; I welcome you. And I know I will crucify you. Again and again and again.

Back then as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem, he knew that the consequence of his arrival in the holy city would be his crucifixion. Jesus knew that the people who welcomed him would kill him, and still he came. Jesus knew that the voices that cried hosanna would also cry for his death, and still he came. That’s the good news. He also knew then, as we do now, that his crucifixion was not the end of the story.