Lent 6 – Palmarum March 28, 2021
Matthew 27:11-54
Gathering Around Our King
v.27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before Him.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The day in which the crowds of people gathered to welcome Him with songs of thanksgiving and praise, shouts of “Hosanna!” ringing from their lips. They gathered around Him as they would have around a conquering king, returning from a successful military campaign—a king who has vanquished all his enemies. Such is the joy of the people!
That is our joy today as well, isn’t it? We, too, begin this day with smiles waving our palm branches and singing God’s praises. And yet, we cannot separate this day from the rest of the week that follows. To be sure, Jesus is welcomed like a victorious king—and King of kings He truly is—but He is a king like no other. For He enters His own holy city in great humility—mounted on a simple donkey—for He comes not to receive all glory, laud, and honour—at least, not yet. First, Jesus must humble Himself even further—to the point of death on a cross.
Which is why even though we began this service with the Gospel reading regarding Jesus’ triumphal entry, yet the appointed Gospel reading in the lectionary takes us five days further—to Jesus’ cross and passion. In both cases we see people gathering around Jesus, but for very different purposes. For though Jesus is hailed like a king on Sunday, He will not be dressed like a king until Friday. In all of Jesus’ earthly, public ministry, at no other time is He garbed like a king, but here, during His cross and passion—and this only in mockery and ridicule.
After Jesus’ mock trial among the Sanhedrin, He is taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. There, He is falsely accused before Pilate, who, under extreme political pressure from the Sadducees, gives in to their demands and hands Jesus over to be crucified. Then Pilate’s soldiers—all 600 of His men—took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered/assembled/synagogued around Him. It was there that Jesus was stripped bare and dressed in a scarlet cloak, given a crude crown of thorns upon His brow, and a reed in His right hand. There, they mockingly knelt down/prostrated themselves before Him before shamefully spitting upon Him and beating Him with His own “sceptre.” Here—at the very end of His earthly ministry—Jesus is finally arrayed as king.
Beloved, while the soldiers acted out of ignorance, malice, and spite, yet this was all a part of God’s plan to save sinful human beings like you and me—even those soldiers. We gather together each week around the body and blood of Jesus in our worship—we prostrate ourselves before the Holy One of God who was stripped of His life on the cross, thereby gaining eternal glory.
For herein at Jesus’ crucifixion His true stature is revealed, albeit mockingly. Yet, this is precisely how and why Jesus is given Kingship and Dominion over all things—for He willingly subjected Himself to the will of the Father and laid down His life for you and me—scorning the shame and the misery of the beatings, the torture, the cross itself—so that by His blood sinners might be forgiven.
Jesus is glorified by the Father precisely by His passion and death. By being clothed in our sin—our wretchedness—our failures—our death—He is given honour and awarded the highest place of power and authority at God’s right hand. Jesus didn’t do all of this for His own selfish benefit—but for yours and mine. We humbly receive His body and blood—that same body and blood that was pierced with thorns, nails, and spear—in bread and wine to eat and to drink—thereby receiving the crown of everlasting life.
Jesus stripped us of our sin—clothed Himself in it—so that He could suffer the Father’s wrath and displeasure in our place. The blood of Jesus flowed so that we could be given forgiveness and life. In Baptism our sin is removed and we are clothed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Just as the soldiers placed the inscription above Jesus’ head on the cross, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews,” so also in Baptism you have His name placed upon your brow in water and Word. You are washed in the blood of Jesus that He shed to cleanse you of all sin. The name that is above all names has been applied to you so that you may be saved.
Jesus’ triumphal entry only began on Palm Sunday. It would be carried on throughout the rest of the week, culminating in His royal reign from the cross as He bore the curse of sin for all people. Though it would seem as though Jesus was defeated—though it would seem as though all was lost—yet on the First Day of the week—the First Day of the New Creation—the Eighth Day—the Lord Jesus would rise in everlasting glory and honour—Victor over all sin, death, and hell!
His triumphant reign continues to this day for He is the sinless One who took our place—the place of the sinner—so that we could be set free and bear the name “Barabbas,” which means “son of the father.” Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are freed from the bondage and curse of sin and death—and we are made children of the heavenly Father—adopted by His grace through faith in the blood of Christ.
And so, dear friends, we are led each week to this place of worship—not just to talk and laugh and smile with one another—but to gather around the Lord Jesus. As we gather around His Word of Gospel to us—as we celebrate and rejoice in His Sacraments—we share in His sufferings and His death and resurrection become ours—the forgiveness of sins is given to us over and over again. To reassure us of our new right standing with God the Father by the work of the Son on our behalf.
The Holy Spirit, who works mightily through the Gospel to save sinners like you and me by gathering us around Jesus, moves us to confess with the centurion, “Truly this was the Son of God.” This is a confession we make not only to ourselves, or to God, but to the world. This is not easy. The world fights against the truth of Jesus Christ alone as Saviour, but we do not waver. For we are centred, rooted, and grounded in the Word of Christ Jesus—in His body and blood we rejoice and give thanks. We gather around Him in humble adoration and praise, and He holds us in His tender loving arms of mercy.
For Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. And He serves you richly with His grace and forgiveness in worship each week to strengthen your faith and to claim you as His own. For He is a king like no other—a king whose greatest glory was not won on the battlefield—or the political arena—but on the place of the Skull—on the tree of the cross—crowned with thorns—His bloody agony and sweat is His greatest glory—for by it He redeemed me, and you, and all people. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 27:11-54
Gathering Around Our King
v.27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before Him.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The day in which the crowds of people gathered to welcome Him with songs of thanksgiving and praise, shouts of “Hosanna!” ringing from their lips. They gathered around Him as they would have around a conquering king, returning from a successful military campaign—a king who has vanquished all his enemies. Such is the joy of the people!
That is our joy today as well, isn’t it? We, too, begin this day with smiles waving our palm branches and singing God’s praises. And yet, we cannot separate this day from the rest of the week that follows. To be sure, Jesus is welcomed like a victorious king—and King of kings He truly is—but He is a king like no other. For He enters His own holy city in great humility—mounted on a simple donkey—for He comes not to receive all glory, laud, and honour—at least, not yet. First, Jesus must humble Himself even further—to the point of death on a cross.
Which is why even though we began this service with the Gospel reading regarding Jesus’ triumphal entry, yet the appointed Gospel reading in the lectionary takes us five days further—to Jesus’ cross and passion. In both cases we see people gathering around Jesus, but for very different purposes. For though Jesus is hailed like a king on Sunday, He will not be dressed like a king until Friday. In all of Jesus’ earthly, public ministry, at no other time is He garbed like a king, but here, during His cross and passion—and this only in mockery and ridicule.
After Jesus’ mock trial among the Sanhedrin, He is taken before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. There, He is falsely accused before Pilate, who, under extreme political pressure from the Sadducees, gives in to their demands and hands Jesus over to be crucified. Then Pilate’s soldiers—all 600 of His men—took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered/assembled/synagogued around Him. It was there that Jesus was stripped bare and dressed in a scarlet cloak, given a crude crown of thorns upon His brow, and a reed in His right hand. There, they mockingly knelt down/prostrated themselves before Him before shamefully spitting upon Him and beating Him with His own “sceptre.” Here—at the very end of His earthly ministry—Jesus is finally arrayed as king.
Beloved, while the soldiers acted out of ignorance, malice, and spite, yet this was all a part of God’s plan to save sinful human beings like you and me—even those soldiers. We gather together each week around the body and blood of Jesus in our worship—we prostrate ourselves before the Holy One of God who was stripped of His life on the cross, thereby gaining eternal glory.
For herein at Jesus’ crucifixion His true stature is revealed, albeit mockingly. Yet, this is precisely how and why Jesus is given Kingship and Dominion over all things—for He willingly subjected Himself to the will of the Father and laid down His life for you and me—scorning the shame and the misery of the beatings, the torture, the cross itself—so that by His blood sinners might be forgiven.
Jesus is glorified by the Father precisely by His passion and death. By being clothed in our sin—our wretchedness—our failures—our death—He is given honour and awarded the highest place of power and authority at God’s right hand. Jesus didn’t do all of this for His own selfish benefit—but for yours and mine. We humbly receive His body and blood—that same body and blood that was pierced with thorns, nails, and spear—in bread and wine to eat and to drink—thereby receiving the crown of everlasting life.
Jesus stripped us of our sin—clothed Himself in it—so that He could suffer the Father’s wrath and displeasure in our place. The blood of Jesus flowed so that we could be given forgiveness and life. In Baptism our sin is removed and we are clothed in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Just as the soldiers placed the inscription above Jesus’ head on the cross, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews,” so also in Baptism you have His name placed upon your brow in water and Word. You are washed in the blood of Jesus that He shed to cleanse you of all sin. The name that is above all names has been applied to you so that you may be saved.
Jesus’ triumphal entry only began on Palm Sunday. It would be carried on throughout the rest of the week, culminating in His royal reign from the cross as He bore the curse of sin for all people. Though it would seem as though Jesus was defeated—though it would seem as though all was lost—yet on the First Day of the week—the First Day of the New Creation—the Eighth Day—the Lord Jesus would rise in everlasting glory and honour—Victor over all sin, death, and hell!
His triumphant reign continues to this day for He is the sinless One who took our place—the place of the sinner—so that we could be set free and bear the name “Barabbas,” which means “son of the father.” Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are freed from the bondage and curse of sin and death—and we are made children of the heavenly Father—adopted by His grace through faith in the blood of Christ.
And so, dear friends, we are led each week to this place of worship—not just to talk and laugh and smile with one another—but to gather around the Lord Jesus. As we gather around His Word of Gospel to us—as we celebrate and rejoice in His Sacraments—we share in His sufferings and His death and resurrection become ours—the forgiveness of sins is given to us over and over again. To reassure us of our new right standing with God the Father by the work of the Son on our behalf.
The Holy Spirit, who works mightily through the Gospel to save sinners like you and me by gathering us around Jesus, moves us to confess with the centurion, “Truly this was the Son of God.” This is a confession we make not only to ourselves, or to God, but to the world. This is not easy. The world fights against the truth of Jesus Christ alone as Saviour, but we do not waver. For we are centred, rooted, and grounded in the Word of Christ Jesus—in His body and blood we rejoice and give thanks. We gather around Him in humble adoration and praise, and He holds us in His tender loving arms of mercy.
For Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. And He serves you richly with His grace and forgiveness in worship each week to strengthen your faith and to claim you as His own. For He is a king like no other—a king whose greatest glory was not won on the battlefield—or the political arena—but on the place of the Skull—on the tree of the cross—crowned with thorns—His bloody agony and sweat is His greatest glory—for by it He redeemed me, and you, and all people. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.