Central Presbyterian Church (USA)

April 5, 2009 – Palm Sunday

William H. “Billy” McLean

Sermon Title: “Pointing Us Toward Good Friday!”

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 11:1-11

NOTE TO READERS: The series on Lenten Passages by Dr. Paul Achtemier, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation at Union-PSCE in Richmond, VA appearing on the Presbyterian Outlook website have been very helpful. Appreciation for the help and insights of Dr. Achtemier were acknowledged prior to reading the scripture.

I have always loved Palm Sunday since my earliest recall. There’s something about waving Palm Branches and the picture of Jesus riding the donkey into Jerusalem my “little child” loved; and, now, my “child of all ages” loves the pageantry and celebration.

I never thought of or realized something I hope is helpful or may become helpful...

In the Portrait Mark painted of Jesus, the people and disciples repeatedly miss, don’t “catch” what He is saying, and sometimes seem to misunderstand completely His role and mission...They get close but do not fully comprehend.

This is so true in today’s account of Palm Sunday, and we’ll see it next Sunday when we listen to Mark’s account of Easter morning.

When I was a child and long into my adult years, I had a very clear and perhaps simple picture of the Palm Sunday Entry story. It drew on the accounts in each of the 3 Gospels.

Preaching about Palm Sunday helped me as an adult to “see” or better “hear” each account of Palm Sunday and draw meaning and understanding.

This story appears in each of 3 of the 4 Gospels Matthew (21:1-9), Mark, and Luke (19:28-38)...NOT in John.

Years ago, I was preaching on Mark’s account of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus and had my childhood “picture” of Palm Sunday shaken.

Mark doesn’t even say they waved Palm Branches.

Instead, some in the crowd spread their coats on the road and others cut “leafy branches” they had cut in the fields.

I can remember my thought,

“Where are the Palm Branches...Could the Leafy Branches have been Palm Branches? Can Palm Sunday be Palm Sunday without Palm Branches...Should I tell the people?

I wanted and I am sure you want it to be clear, the people were ALL Waving Palm Branches.

Then, I listened and began to understand Mark’s telling of the story in a very helpful and meaningful way.

I hope to be able to help you as we focus on Mark’s account of the Triumphal Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem.

I soon realized, whether one or all were waving Palm Branches is not nearly so significant as other facets of Mark’s telling of the story.

It may help you to think about how each Gospel can be thought of be as a different “PORTRAIT” of Jesus...Each written and told to a different gathering or segment of people.

The Gospel writers didn’t have email and other means to exchange thoughts and get input or feedback.

With this understanding, let’s carefully re-visit today’s story according to Mark.

I believe Mark can help us come to a unique and helpful understanding of our Lord and what took place when Jesus entered Jerusalem.

I find Mark rich in meaning and helpful, I believe, you and I both have already benefitted from my having discovered the series.

As I thought of a title for today’s sermon, I came up with,

“Pointing Us Toward Good Friday!”

A subtitle might be,

“Out of Weakness and Humility Comes Salvation!”

Dr. Achtemeir titled this week’s commentary,

“The Lowly Messiah”

A lot of people will have trouble with the thought of “The Lowly Messiah” or Weakness and Humility being associated with our Lord and Salvation. If you are one of them who might be troubled with such implications of weakness and humility,

I want to point you to a number of facets of the story and help you “catch” my thoughts and see where and how the Gospel unfolds and will end on Easter Morning with deeper meaning.

Here are the facets or points to catch in the story:

1. The 2 villages, Bethany or Bethphage, don’t seem to carry much significance, BUT mention of the Mount of Olives carries us back to Zechariah (14:3-4) and has great significance. Zechariah reads,

“The Lord will go forth...On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives.”

Mark follows a rich understanding and tradition from the scriptures of the Old Testament, the Messiah in the last days must appear on the Mount of Olives.

2. Next, the Lord called for a Colt (or Donkey). This draws from Zechariah (9:9) and further shows us Mark did see messianic significance in this story, even if Jesus was not seen at this point by his disciples and followers to be The Messiah. It is clear, Jesus sent his disciples to get a colt, and likely not one he had prearranged.
3. Next, the people spreading the cloaks or coats along with the branches (Whatever they may have been) announces Jesus as King (2 Kings 9:13). No doubt, the people thought Jesus came as a King.

4. The cry of the people is taken from Psalm 118:25-26 and is part of the Scriptures read by festival pilgrims in celebration during morning prayers...The people are close but, as we will see they are not fully “seeing” what is happening.

5. The cry, Hosanna, in Hebrew means “SAVE US!” AND it carries ironic overtones. Here’s where Mark can help us... Jesus will SAVE his followers BUT he will do it on a cross in a way that will cause his followers to forsake him. The cry in Mark shows Jesus’ followers recognize Jesus as one blessed by the Lord, but they don’t recognized Jesus as David’s heir.... Hence the Messiah.

This is very typical of what we have come to expect in Mark.

The people do not recognized who Jesus is until he is crucified.

I am taken with this discovery that the Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem is...

Pointing us toward Good Friday when our Lord will die in humiliation and weakness on the Cross ONLY to show forth his power in his resurrection on Easter morning.

I hope you can see the story is rich with references to the Old Testament Scriptures. It points us to the heart of the Christian Gospel,

The lowly messiah whose death is to redeem people.

WE have seen:

1. The significance of the appearance on the Mount of Olives where the Lord is to appear in the last times.

2. The significance of the act of spreading garments in Jesus path is a way of acknowledging him as king.

3. The cry “Hosanna” is the cry of pilgrims to the Holy City.

4. The Choice of a colt reflects the announcement in Zechariah,

“Low, your king comes to you...humble and riding on a donkey.” NOTE: Matthew makes this point and amplifies for us the significance of Mark’s story.

Now, SEE THIS/OR as is announced on Navy Ships, “Now Hear This!”

What Mark unfolds in his account shows none of this was sheer happenstance.

Dr. Achtenmaier helped me to see afresh how,

“All things in Mark related to the Passion happen in accord with God’s plan.”

We who have followed Mark’s account of the Lord know this based on the 3 predictions our Lord made earlier in the Gospel of Mark...

We know the Son of Man must and did suffer for our salvation.

We may not fully understand the mystery of it, but we can be assured Mark is taking us toward Good Friday so when Easter comes, we are prepared to celebrate the hope and salvation of Easter.

The story according to Mark points us to the very heart of the Christian Gospel, namely the humility displayed by Jesus, even to the point of his shameful death on a cross.

The very death on the cross followed by his resurrection demonstrates God’s saving power.