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Sermon for Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-9 + Philippians 2:5-11 + Matthew 26:1-27:66
You’ve already heard a better sermon this morning than any pastor could ever preach, so instead of a sermon, let me simply encourage you: Consider the Passover that brought Jesus to Jerusalem one last time in humility. Consider Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, who went uncomplaining forth, in obedience to His Father’s will, to bear the sins of all, that His blood might mark the door of our hearts and keep us safe from everlasting death. Consider the upper room and the Garden of Gethsemane. Consider the denials, the desertion, and the betrayals of Jesus’ closest friends—men whom we still revere as men of God and apostles, except for Judas, who didn’t repent. Consider the trials of Jesus before the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman court. Consider His floggings, the purple robe, the crown of thorns, the mockery and abuse He endured. Consider the hatred He received at the hands of those He came to save. Consider Jesus’ crucifixion, death and burial.
And then, then go back again and consider how we began our service today. Consider the palm branches, and the donkey, and the King who sat upon it. Consider how great was His love for sinners, on display in His determination to ride into Jerusalem with the foreknowledge of all that would happen during that Holy Week. Consider the words of the prophet Zechariah, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey.
Let the world hate Jesus, if they want to. Let the world hate Christians. But you, Rejoice, O daughter of Zion! Rejoice, O Church of God! This is your King! This is your Shepherd and how desperately He seeks the lost! His suffering and death were not in vain, because here we are, still singing our Hosannas to the One who has rescued us from sin and from the power of death. Rejoice in Him, and pray that His Holy Spirit will build and fortify your faith this week as you hear His Word and receive the Sacrament by which you proclaim His death until He comes. Amen.
