Why Do Passion and Palms Go Together So Well?
Good Morning Friends,
As we continue our Lenten journey moving ever closer to Holy Week and on this day of all days, it is good to review the lessons from the palm tree. First they grow in adversity even in deserts. They break the bond tied around them. In storms they bend but do not break. They will even make it through the typical Florida brush fires. And when it comes to dates…that fruit of the palm grows sweeter and more abundant with age just as we are to grow. At the heart of the palm is life. It is on the inside not the outside like most trees. Its message is that if we are healthy inside nothing can stop our spiritual growth. It can take abuse because its life is protected and when joined with other palms they form an oasis in the desert and in Florida a hammock for wildlife to flourish. The Palm is a wonderful example of the Christian life…. a victorious life. The events of 2000 years ago with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem prompted people to cut branches of palms and lay them down on what must have been a pretty messy road. I think it demonstrates that good and evil cannot coexist easily. So there is tension today for it is Palm Sunday but it is also Passion Sunday, and yes Lent is almost over but not yet. So this day in a way hinges Lent and Holy Week with Jesus as the door to the way to conquer the greatest challenge of all. And so it is a good day to explore the question: Why Do Passion and Palms Go Together So Well?
Scripture: When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 27:45-56 (NRSV)
Message: Most great memories last only a generation or two but in today’s text we are prompted to remember something from generation to generation forever.
That means remembering something beyond the palm crosses we have made in celebration of King Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem 2000 years ago. It means remembering something beyond our chancel choir’s singing or our bell choir ringing in celebration of our worship together. No the focus is to be on Jesus and the Way. And we are not only to remember Him, but take him all in, as today, we celebrate the return of the victorious King into Jerusalem and more. So, imagine hearing the crowds in the streets calling out for Jesus to save…to rescue…to deliver….to rise up. But do not linger here for we are to be drawn with an unimaginable power to the cross and Jesus’ coming victory over death. Friends, in a few days we will imagine hearing the sound of the water in the basin Jesus uses to wash the feet of each disciple. We will imagine hearing the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the cup. We will imagine hearing the footsteps as we walk with Jesus to the place of the olive press. And here we will imagine hearing Jesus’ prayer as the disciples sleep. And the imagination will takes us to hear the guards…the words of betrayal…the insanity of the arrest and trial. Then it is as if we actually hear the lash of the whip and the pounding of the nails. And we listen to what Jesus says…what Jesus breaths on the cross. But first today we enter Jerusalem with Jesus. Today is Passion Sunday and also Palm Sunday and they go together because they cannot be separated. And they demonstrate just how difficult it is for good and evil to exist in such close proximity. Friends, we too are to join in memory of a revival going on in Jerusalem on that day 2000 years ago when Jesus was ending his earthly ministry but starting something that would extend out to all creation. We are to experience Jesus riding upon a donkey as people threw and waved palm branches in his path. We too are to welcomed and praised Jesus as a conquering hero. But there is more, for we too are drawn to the cross. We too are being drawn to the center point of all History. This place where the Body of a man…the body of God is broken so that creation itself might be reformed… here we discover that Christ’s separation was intentional….that Jesus died on purpose so we might live. Friends, a conquering King has to ask the question how many casualties one is willing to take. Jesus answered to question for at the heart of his ministry is the saving of lives.
Pray in the mystery of the palm and the passion that Jesus be exalted. Pray that we share His powerful Word inside of us. Pray we believe and share what is true and sweet and abundant fruit in us. Pray we promote love to God and to each other despite the tension.
Pray that our walk this day and during Holy Week prepares us for what is to come. Pray we experience a God who created the power of life. Pray we never lose our focus on the cross and its message of salvation. Pray we have victory over separation.
Pray with rejoicing not just in the celebration of this day but also for the fact that Jesus did not run away from our darkness but instead conquered it. Pray that Jesus remembers us. Pray we have life on the inside that honors Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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