Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion | March 24, 2024 | Mark 11:1-11 | Luther H. Thoresen |
Note 1: All quotes in the sermon are from the English Standard Version.
Note 2: This sermon assumes that this service is likely to include a reading of the Passion Narrative in Mark’s Gospel. The sermon alludes to Passion events, but the sermon text could be adapted if the Narrative is not read. The verb tenses would change based on decisions about inclusion of the Passion, and its location in the service.
Note 3: This initial two paragraphs in italics of this sermon might be used as the basis for a Children’s message. If not used that way, one might adapt it as the beginning of the “usual” sermon, or insert part of it later in the sermon…or later in the service.
Good morning. Today is Palm Sunday – a day when we hear anew the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. In part because the people in the scripture waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna” we may also wave our palm branches and shout “Hosanna” today. It’s a special day. Wasn’t it fun to walk around the sanctuary waving our palms and singing? You can look forward to it again next year. We also will hear how this week in Jesus’ life ends when he is rejected, crucified, dies and is buried. Part of the drama of the week is that it is possible that some of the same people who shouted “Hosanna” and celebrated one day may have been part of the crowd a few days later that shouted “Crucify Him.” During the rest of the service, you might fashion your palm leaf into a cross like this.1
However, for now, I would ask you to help me with a chant. Ever heard, “We’re number one! We’re number one!” Sometimes people raise a single index finger as they shout that. Well, we will change that for today. When the people yelled “Hosanna” and other things when Jesus entered Jerusalem, it was something like yelling “Jesus is number one! Jesus is number one!” Would you raise a single finger and yell that a few times with me? (take a few moments to do this, perhaps encouraging the adults to join in). Thank you! To contrast with that, have you ever heard someone say something like, “I’ll get you! I’ll get you!” Usually they point a finger at them like this (demonstrate). Later in the week that began with Palm Sunday the people yelled “Crucify him.” They probably pointed their fingers at him as they yelled. For today, we could substitute, “We’ll get you! We’ll get you!” and point our fingers at this painting of Jesus. Would you do this a few times with me? (again, take a few moments to do this…perhaps encouraging adults to join in). Thank you! Would you pray with me? “God, thank you for this day and the opportunity to join the Palm Sunday celebration. Thank you for being the one who saves each of us. Thank you for being the number one in our world, whether or not we always live as if that is true. Thank you for your forgiveness when we might point our fingers at others in ways that are hurtful. Thank you. Amen.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
When do you pick up your clothes? It might be when they are dirty and on the floor and they need laundering. When do you put away your clothes? We do this usually when they have been washed and folded. We put them away in a closet or dresser so that they do not get dirty before we have a chance to wear them. When do you hang up your clothes? It might be when they are wet from rain or melted snow, and we want to wear them again. Or we might hang up clothes after washing so that they don’t get wrinkled. Or we just hang up our coats and sweaters until the next time we are going to wear them.
Clothes are an important part of our lives. Yes, they cover us for modesty, and they keep us warm in winter, and they protect us from the sun’s rays in summer. However, clothes serve other functions. We wear special clothes for special events. For example:
- Young women spend time selecting a dress for prom, and young men select special clothes for the same;
- Dresses for the bride and bridesmaids, as well as tuxes for the groom and groomsmen adorn most wedding days;
- People search for particular shoes and garments for football, basketball, softball , swimming and other sports;
- Parents purchase new clothes for the beginning of the school year; and
- Some people purchase new clothes just to stay in fashion.
This morning, I would like to reflect on clothes in Mark’s Processional Gospel reading and connect that to how clothes are important in the chapters of Mark’s telling of the Passion. This will be a way of noting the significance of some of the significant events, and of the dramatic changes in the story of Jesus.
With the Processional Gospel, we usually focus on the palms or branches the people were waving. But some also placed their cloaks on the donkey. Cloaks were an outer garment or robe. This was probably for Jesus’ comfort in riding the donkey. Others lay their cloaks on the road. Why? Well, have you ever seen something like that in a movie or in person? Usually a man takes off a coat and lays it across a puddle or mud? Why? So that the woman’s shoes will not get all wet or muddy. It is usually portrayed as a way to show honor to the woman. When people put their cloaks on the road for Jesus and the colt it is similar. That reading is full of honor and expectation. It is full of hope, even if it is misplaced. They probably expected Jesus to save them from Roman oppression. The word, “Hosanna” means “Save us” in the language of the Old Testament. They showed honor in laying their cloaks, and they showed honor in their words, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Those words and “hosanna” are side by side in Psalm 118. With words and cloaks the people show honor to Jesus. How might we show honor to Jesus in our day?
By contrast, later in the story you may recall that Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane. After Jesus prays; after Judas betrays him with a kiss; after Jesus in arrested and all the disciples scatter like sheep we hear that a young man is seized by the guards. He only had on a loincloth wrapped around him… something like a combination of pajamas and underwear. However, this young man is able to get away… naked. He leaves the loincloth in the hands of the guards rather than to be caught and stay with Jesus. Can you imagine leaving a scene without a stich of clothing rather than being caught with Jesus? We have definitely moved from honor to abandonment!
After the arrest, Jesus was taken to the house of Caiaphas. There Jesus is questioned or tried by the Jewish leaders while Peter warms himself by the fire… and denies Jesus three times. Inside, Jesus is asked by the High Priest, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (v 61) You might remember Jesus replied, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then, what? “The high priest tore his garments and said, ‘What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy.’” (vv 63-64a) What does the High Priest do when he has said this? He tears his garments! He rips his clothes, baring his chest in anger! Such ripped cloth is unusable without careful repair… maybe never usable again. I think that the ripping of clothes dramatizes a complete separation. Jesus is separated from the leaders, separated from his own people, and they call for his death. Have you ever felt separated from Jesus, or separated from others by your own anger or accusations? In those times our relationship needs repair, needs healing.
After the trial before Pilate, the soldiers mock Jesus in words and actions. In particular they take off Jesus’ garment and place a purple robe on him… and ridicule him. Purple was expensive, yes. But it was to be worn only by royalty in the ancient world – by the King and Queen and their immediate family. The soldiers place a crown on his head. But is it gold? No. It is made of thorns. Adorned in purple and a crown, Jesus is mocked as soldiers kneel and say “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then, it seems, the crown he keeps, but the purple is removed and his own tattered clothes he has again. Have you ever felt mocked or has someone made fun of you? Have you ever mocked another? Maybe in mocking any child of God, we mock Christ anew.
Near the end, Jesus comes to the hill of Golgotha where he is crucified. Again, Jesus’ clothes are taken from him. The soldiers cast lots to decide what each will get. This is a cruel “game.” Why? Because anyone who is crucified will not need their clothes ever again. Crucifixion was “the end” for anyone. When soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothes, this signals the end for Jesus. As Jesus hangs on the cross, he has maybe a cloth to cover his privates; maybe nothing at all, based on other accounts of Roman crucifixions. Regardless, the soldiers cast lots, similar to rolling a pair of dice. Jesus is at the end of the road. Jesus is at the end of his life. Jesus is at the end of his ministry and serving others. At the end, Jesus has nothing. At the end, Jesus is exposed to the world. Have you been at the end of your road, or at the end of your rope? Have you been at a place with nothing? Jesus has been there, and is with you there!
Finally for today, after Jesus dies, Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus’ body. Joseph wraps it in a linen cloth and places it in his own tomb. All of this to show honor to Jesus. Usually Romans would leave bodies on crosses for days or weeks as a visual message that says, “This is what happens to those who oppose Rome.” Pilate makes an exception. Joseph shows honor to Jesus’ body. The initial garments on the road also showed honor, but misplaced. It was also honor to Jesus for what they might get from him. Now, the body wrapped in linen cloth shows honor; but only as a way to serve. That is, Joseph expects to get nothing else out of this.
Throughout the story today, we could say that we have “picked up the clothes” in these part of the story of Jesus. We have “picked up the clothes” throughout the story of Jesus. We noted that we move from honor to abandonment; then to anger and accusation; then to mockery; then to the end of everything; and finally to honor again. We began with shouts of “Hosanna” “Save us” and more. We end in silence, with a body in a tomb. Through it all, we might kneel, bow before the one who is central to this story. This would connect us to ancient Christian hymn that Paul seems to quote in Philippians 2. There we hear, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (v 10-11) We might kneel now or any day in surrender to the one who is Lord.
Sometimes when people receive the bread and wine of communion, they receive on their knees to symbolize the honor they wish to show to Jesus. Or one might bow at communion to show the same honor. Kneeling or bowing might be today’s final response to Jesus. For, he is the one who saves us from Sin, Death and the power of the Devil. Jesus has given his life for us and to us. Jesus gives his life to us
- in, with and under the words of scripture;
- in, with and under the gospel proclaimed, in with and under the sacrament of Baptism and the sacrament of Holy Communion; and
- in, with and under the fellowship among God’s people.
In particular for today, I would remind you of Paul’s words in the third chapter of Galatians. He writes, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (v 27) The literal translation of “put on” is “been clothed.” Yes, each of us regardless of the clothes we might put on, we have been clothed with Christ himself. Regardless whether we honor or abandon, honor or accuse, honor or mock, honor or gamble away our life itself God is faithful to the promise, God is faithful to the Gospel. Since God is faithful, we can trust that we have ultimately been clothed with Christ. Period. Amen.
Now, may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen
—
Pr. Luther H. Thoresen, ELCA, STS, retired
1 I usually had printed “directions” for making “palm crosses” in the weekend bulletin. This way parents and other adults might fashion palm crosses, and assist children to do the same.
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