What are we up to with all these Palms?
Can be listened to here.
Gate Pa – Palm Sunday 2016 (year c)
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:
Explore
what Luke might have thought was going on in this story, and how the suffering
servant idea fits in all this. Then ask what do we think is going on with us as
readers of this story today?
What I want to happen:
People to reflect on what they are looking for this week?
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
What do you think is going on here?
How would you describe this story?
Often described as crowd welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem
then
same crowd turning on him by Friday.
is that what Luke is describing
is that what Luke thinks is going on here?
2. An opening story
to hear this story
we need to go back to beginning of chapter 19 –
Zacchaeus
in Jericho
then verse 11
“As they were listening to this, he went on to
tell a parable because they were near Jerusalem and because they supposed that
the kingdom of God was to appear immediately”
Jesus tells story of nobleman who wanted to be
king – so went off far away land to be made king
some people follow persuade kingmaker (Emperor)
not make him king
which
sounds bit like Herod Great’s sons
especially Archelaus
– went Rome
become ruler
returned
rule Jerusalem with great cruelty until finally deposed by Rome
his
“kingship” based on brutal power
Left 10 pounds with 10 slaves to do business
with
some had – told “well done good slave”
shown
to be trustworthy and were given even more
one had hidden it because afraid
master
harsh man
took where did not deposit
reaped
did not sow
Master gets all hoha and says should at least
put money in bank
take pound from him – give it to one made 10 pounds
tell you – all those who have more will be
given
those who have nothing even what have will be
taken away
slaughter’s all people not want him to be king
3. A Parade
“And having said this Jesus went on ahead,
going up to Jerusalem.”
when gets Bethphage and Bethany –
sends 2 disciples up pick up/ borrow colt
prearranged
to use
knew
would be available somehow
disciples get all keen and throw cloaks on
colt and on road ahead
no
palms in this story
only
in John it turns out
maybe
call this cloak Sunday
head off down path to Jerusalem on Mount
Olives
disciples and followers – no crowd as enters Jerusalem
just disciples and followers
repeating
chorus of angels in birth story
“Blessed
is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace
in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
while publishers call this –triumphal entrance
still
on his way
not
entered
not
triumphal entrance
4. Grumpy Pharisees
then bunch grumpy Pharisees
not at all happy with this commotion and would
like it to stop
Jesu says that even if they did the stones themselves
would shout out
the stones themselves
what stones are being talked about here?
Luke is writing this after catastrophic events
of 70 AD
when Jewish revolt against Roman rule
revolt
that some had hoped
some
had feared
Jesus would spark
led
destruction of Jerusalem
temple
being left as pile stones tossed around and over mount
millions
Jews either killed or carted off into slavery
some commentators wonder if these are stones
that cried out in Luke’s time
crying
out against all those walked in ways of nobleman
ways
violence
impoverishment
treated
others as less than
this is the end point if we fail to heed Jesus
way
5. Jesus way for Luke
WE began with triumphant parade of returned
king – Archelaus
Brutal
Roman puppet
brought
death and poverty
story ends with Jesus weeping over Jerusalem
charred
stones of temple crying out
There is no peace in the ways of empire
no peace in ways of ruling families
no peace in ways wealthy Judean elite who add
to poverty of rural folk
no peace in Rome and their puppets
no peace their ways
and all those who seek use their ways
overthrown them and impose their own version of peace
always end in death and destruction
and those who hope in their ways will find not
peace
As Jesus rides down the Mount of Olives
where
tradition taught that God’s final intervention would occur
on this Passover
festival
commemorates/celebrates God’s actions
liberating
slaves oppressed in Egypt
recued them
made them God’s people
gave them life and peace
festival trembling with anti-Roman sentiment
every year
festival provided flash point Romans,
Herodians, High Priests and wealthy Judean elite feared every year
was this the year the war for peace would
begin?
face of that we are reminded by disciples cry that
Jesus is way of peace
6. So what does Luke think is going on here?
Jesus procession down mount olives not
triumphal entry
statement that peace not found triumphal
entries – Archelaus
Pilate
Herod
High
Priests
Way of peace way laid out in Nazareth
good
news is proclaimed to the poor.
and
liberty is proclaimed to the captives
recovery
of sight to the blind,
liberty
those who are oppressed,
the
year of the Lord's favour.”
this is Jesus way
this for Luke is the way of peace
As we join in this year’s Palm Sunday
where
way of peace being proclaimed
where
are stones crying out for those with no peace
how
might we join with those disciples on Mount of Olives
“Blessed is
the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in
heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”
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