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 29th 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?
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