Farewell Parties and Suffering Servants Today

 Gate Pa – Palm Sunday 2013

Readings:

Hebrew Scripture:     Isa 50:4-9a   

Psalm:             Psalm: 118                 

Epistle:            Phil 2:5-11      

Gospel:            Luke 19:28-40

What I want to say:

To explore the fact that Luke’s version of this story is a leaving party and not a welcome

Explore Jesus as a model for us, both as a “leaver” and as a suffering servant, using Henare Taratoa and Heni Te Kiri Karamu

What I want to happen:

People to enter more deeply into the story of Holy Week from today, so that story might shape how they see the world and live out their faith.

The Sermon

      1.      Introduction:

The gospel just hear is often summarised as welcome into Jerusalem

            do you agree?

one lessons is often that crowd welcomed him in less than week had either deserted him or turned against him

            fair reading of what just hear and what coming up?

want make few comments in light of that

       2.      Farewell Parade

first thing noted about Luke’s version is that story set Bethany and Bethphage

            not Jerusalem

            few miles away

Last week’s reading John tells us Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha in Bethany

            leads me think that Bethany place largely supports Jesus

            people come out cheer him on as leaves to go to Jerusalem

                        not welcome parade in Jerusalem

                        crowd present here – very different crowd those in front Roman Antonia less week later

they are here because see in Jesus and his ministry realisation of their hopes

            hopes for peace

            hopes end exploitation, oppression of poor

            hopes end exclusion

see in Jesus fulfilment of hopes contained liturgy used at Passover

                        hopes heard words prophets

hear in their chant – words Angels to shepherds in chapter 2

                        hopes generations before and since

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”

      3.      Jesus in Control

Second thing like note is that Jesus is firmly in control of what is happening

            not being swept along fervour crowd

            hate of Pharisees

He is in control

Luke 9:51 - "When it came close to the time... Jesus gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.",

story about colt always interesting one

            is it miracle?

-          maybe

-          or maybe either Jesus or supporter like Lazarus planned ahead

-          some sequence with preparation for last supper

-          Jesus is planning ahead

-          events happen to his timetable

-          things happen when he is ready for them to happen

       4.      Humble “King”

So he sets out when he is ready
      using mode that he chooses
      route that he chooses
      destination that can really only in death
very interesting contrast here in Luke
preceded by Jesus tale about ruler who went away to gain royal powers
       left 10 slaves behind with money trade with
       one not trade, and ones sent delegation stop ruler being given royal powers slaughtered
strong echoes story Herod’s son – Archelaus
     went Rome become ruler
     returned rule Jerusalem with great cruelty until finally deposed by Rome
     his “kingship” based on brutal power
by time Like wrote gospel
     Jerusalem had become victim Rome’s brutal power
     destroyed
     temple ruined
     became pile stones what we now call “temple mount”
                    or Haram-esh-Sharif
         stones that cry out against brutal power
         stones that cry out for God’s peace
If we were to continue this reading here Jesus stopping to weep over Jerusalem
      “If only you had recognised this day the things that make for peace”.
Jesus does not ride as triumphant king like Herod the Great,
        or son Herod Archelaus
        or Pilate
        or triumphant Roman legions under Vespasian,
Jesus journey is one of humble person – as described by Paul in letter to Philippians
comes as humble servant as described by passage heard Isaiah.

      5.      Humble Servant

passage heard Isaiah passage often applied to Jesus

title is one fits easily on him

when read this and other servant passages we can easily see them applying to Jesus

Reasonably common for them to be described as being prophesies about Jesus.

more accurate think them as passages initially applicable time written

            during exile in Babylon

            as passages about either writer himself, people still in exile, or to another group

passage offered to give hope then, and offer way forward to people loosing hope

not a prophesy about Jesus

but it is passage we can use understand Jesus and his ministry

as it may well have been passage Jesus used understand what was seeking to do himself.

       6.      Today

as I read description of suffering servant

            -realised that just not just about Jesus – applied some lived before

also not limited to that little group

as I read it I was reminded of the courage and selflessness of Henare Taratoa and Heni Te Kiri Karamu here at Pukehinahina on 29^th April 1864

despite taking up arms defend land

            their people

            their way of life

treated those came kill and dispossess with dignity and mercy

when would been very easy embrace violence only

            see other just inhuman invader

continued see and treat the other as worthy of care and concern

to be honest I am unsure I could be so “noble”

so as we begin journey with Christ from safety Bethany into peril Jerusalem

left pondering

            what choices am I invited to make this week allow me better walk with Christ

            as I recognise Christ as suffering servant – who are suffering servants today

            who embodies hope for Christ did

                        as Heni and Henare did

            how are we being invite join with Christ, to join with them as people of hope and mercy?