Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday (A)

April 5, 2020

Text: John 12:12-43

            There is a pretender to the throne seeking the hearts and loyalties of Israel.  Adonijah, David’s son, has exalted himself in his father’s old age, gathering about him Joab the great military commander, Abiathar the priest, all of his own brothers (with one notable exception), all the royal officials of Judah, chariots and horsemen and an army of loyalists.  He offers a great sacrifice and makes a great feast.  Interestingly, he did not invite those most loyal to his ailing father.  Zadok the priest was not invited.  Benaiah, the mighty warrior, was not invited.  Nathan the prophet, known to speak the Word of the LORD faithfully no matter the personal risk or cost, was not invited.  And Solomon, of all the king’s sons, was not invited.  And not a word of it breathed to David in his bed.  It’s a coup!  And if successful, it will mean the death of Zadok, and Benaiah, and Nathan, of Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, and of Solomon, the son of David.  To make way for his own rise to power, Adonijah must kill Solomon.  For David promised, a solemn oath: “Solomon… shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne” (1 Kings 1:13; ESV). 

            So when the thing is made known to David, there is only one thing to do.  Quick Zadok, quick Nathan, take Solomon down to Gihon outside Jerusalem, and there anoint him with holy oil.  Benaiah, set him on my own mule and blow the trumpet before him and have my servants shout, “Long live King Solomon!” (v. 34).  Solomon rides up into the city in the midst of a great, rejoicing throng.  Zadok and Nathan, the priest and prophet of the LORD, Benaiah, the valiant warrior, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, they all go up after the LORD’s anointed shouting and playing on pipes and rejoicing with great joy, “so that the earth was split by their noise” (v. 40).  The whole city was in an uproar for joy.  There was no question that the true King had come.  And Solomon ascended the royal throne and sat down on it.  And David himself bowed down on his bed to his son.  So the thing is done.  The usurper is defeated.  His days are numbered.  Solomon, son of David, the Lord’s man, reigns.

            There is a pretender to the throne seeking the hearts and loyalties of all people.  Satan, the fallen angel, has exalted himself.  And he gathers about him the elite and mighty of the world.  The rulers of the nations, great military powers, even religious leaders fall under his spell.  He offers what appear to be very pious sacrifices so that evil appears to be good, and good appears evil.  He gives a great feast, all the passions of the flesh readily available, all the things that tickle our pride and lust and covetousness, all the things we think are so beautiful and good for food and able to make one wise, but in fact incite greed and wrath and idolatry, all the things that lead us away from God.  See, it’s a coup!  And if successful it means the eternal death of us all in hell.

            But God promised, a solemn oath to David: “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam. 7:12-13). 

            So Jesus, anointed by God Himself with the Holy Spirit at His Baptism in the Jordan River, rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the image is unmistakable.  This Son of David is God’s promised King, the Messiah, the Christ, come to ascend His throne.  The people shout, “Hosanna!” which means, “Save now!”  It has become an acclamation of praise, but it is also a desperate prayer, one which we pray, especially in dark days like these: “Please, Lord, save us!”  And then they sing Psalm 118, the same words we sing when the same Lord comes and enthrones Himself on the altar to give us His body and blood in the Sacrament: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” and they even know to add, “even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13).  They strew their cloaks and their palms before Him.  They rejoice and sing.  If they don’t, the very stones would cry out, the earth would split!  They know this is the One who raised Lazarus from the dead.  The Pharisees grumble and plot an assassination.  But the crowds expect great things.  Jesus is about to ascend the throne to rule Israel and free her from her chains!

            And they’re right!  But not in the way they think.  They are expecting a political and military revolution, complete with supernatural fireworks.  All the people are in expectation.  Some Greeks want in on it, too.  They rightly recognize that our Lord’s salvation is not just for Israel.  It is for the world.  But hold on!  “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (v. 23).  And in the Gospel of John especially, the hour always means the cross.  Jesus is glorified by dying for the sins of the people, for Israel, for the world, for you.  It is time for the grain of wheat to fall into the ground and die, that it may arise and bear much fruit (v. 24).  Now is the judgment of this world… in the body of Jesus who pays for the world’s sins!  Now will the ruler of this world, the usurper, Satan, be cast out... by Jesus’ death!  The Son of Man will be lifted up… on the cross!  That is His coronation.  The cross is His throne.  His crown is woven of thorns.  His jewels are the nails in His hands and His feet.  His scepter is a spear that pierces His side.  And Pilate writes the official document ceding all the power, and he posts it right above our Lord’s sacred head: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19).  As a matter of fact, He is the King, period. 

            This is the glory for which our Lord asked.  This is how He wins His Kingdom.  The Father confirms it with His own voice from heaven in our Holy Gospel.  Jesus suffers the judgment against this world.  He pays the penalty.  To redeem us.  Jesus casts out Satan by His death.  Satan may think He is winning when Jesus is crucified.  But it is actually the fulfillment of the first Gospel promise (Gen. 3:15): Jesus is the Seed of the woman.  And as the serpent crushes His heel with his mortal bite, the Lord crushes the serpent’s demonic head.  He voids all claims Satan has on us, because He gives Himself in exchange for us.  He doesn’t just come into Jerusalem to sit on a royal throne.  He comes into Jerusalem to be enthroned on the cross.  The usurper is defeated.  His days are numbered.  Jesus, THE Son of David, God’s own Son, reigns.  And He is risen from the dead.  Long live the King.  Forever live the King.

            These are dark days to be sure.  The virus has isolated us all so that we can’t even gather together, congregate as congregations do, for Holy Week and Easter.  To earthly eyes, it appears the evil one is winning.  Don’t buy it for a moment.  Jesus faced the darkness of sin, death, and condemnation head on.  He rode into Jerusalem for this very purpose, not to ascend an earthly throne, but to ascend the throne of the cross.  Adonijah does not reign!  Satan does not reign!  These usurpers have no claim on you.  You belong to Jesus Christ.  Repent of your sins.  Confess them.  And behold what your Lord has done for your forgiveness and life.  Jesus is your Light always, and even and especially in dark times.  In the preaching of the Word, which is still going out thanks be to God, He shed His Light abroad.  And He shines His Light on you.  You are sons of Light.  You are a child of God.  Cling to Christ.  Walk in His Light.  Abide in His Word, which is a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Ps. 119:105).

            The darkness is nearly done.  Jesus is risen, and He is coming soon.  Hosanna, we cry.  Please Lord, save us now.  He will.  He does.  He comes.  Wave your palms with great rejoicing.  Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord: Our King.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son (+), and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.