Isn’t It Peculiar?

Mark 11:1-11

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.  

Let’s set the stage for this very peculiar day in the life of Jesus that we call Palm Sunday. Jesus and his disciples travel to the region of Judea and the crowds gather around them. The Pharisees test Jesus on the practice of divorce. Jesus tells them that it is only because of their hardness of heart that Moses allowed a man to divorce his wife. In creation the two were to remain one. So he says to them, don’t tear apart what God has joined together. 

Then the people bring little children to Jesus so that he might bless them. The disciples object. In response Jesus tells them that the kingdom of God belongs to the little children, who, by the way are the lowest people on the socio-economic scale.

Next a man runs up to Jesus and asks him,“What must I do to the inherit eternal life? Jesus tells him, Go! Sell what you have and give the money to the poor. Aggrieved, he goes away for he was rich in possessions. Jesus tells his disciples it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Then he adds,  “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. Peter replies, “Look we have left everything to follow you.” Jesus tells him, “Many who are first will be last and the last will be first.” 

Then Jesus tells the disciples what is going to happen to him. He says, “The Son of Man will be condemned by the chief priests and scribes. He will be handed over to the gentiles who will mock him, spit on him, and kill him. After three days he will rise again.”

Were they listening? Did they get what Jesus was saying?

Immediately, James and John, only thinking of themselves respond, “Teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Which is…they want Jesus to let one of them sit on his right hand and the other on Jesus’ left hand in his glory. It sounds pretty arrogant to me, doesn’t it to you? It is not surprising that the other disciples become angry with James and John. Then Jesus reminds them that the Gentile rulers laud their power over others and are tyrants. But, whoever wishes to become great must be a servant and whoever wishes to be first must be slave of all in the topsy-turvy kingdom of God.

As they come to Jericho, a blind beggar is sitting  by the roadside. He hears Jesus is nearby. He begins to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!  Those around him tell him to be quiet. But not Jesus. He says, “Bring him here.” To the blind man Jesus says, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind mans says, “Teacher, let me see again.” And Jesus proclaims, “Go, your faith has made you well.”The faith-filled, blind man, who sees, follows him on the way.

What I find interesting is that these events leading up to today’s peculiar lesson come to fruition in the days ahead. More about that later. Let’s look at our gospel lesson.

Jesus, the King, rides into Jerusalem on a colt that has never been ridden. He doesn’t come riding on a chariot, but on a colt that has never been ridden? My rational brain says, if the colt had never been ridden, why wasn’t Jesus bucked off? Don’t you find that peculiar?

The people cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Say it with me…with gusto!! “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

This is a peculiar phrase for them to proclaim. Why?  What does this phrase sound like? I mean, what does the word Hosanna sound like to you? Well, to me it sounds like praise and adoration!! Hosanna! Praise to the Lord, Blessed are you Lord Jesus! 

Isn’t it peculiar that Hosanna doesn’t mean Praise to you O Lord at all? Actually, hosanna is a Greek transliteration. In other words, it is a word that sounds like the Hebrew word (hôšaꜥ-naʾ) hosanna, which means: “save, please” as found in Psalm 118:25. This verse says, “Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! In other words, its meaning is more like the people are desperately calling upon God for help…asking Jesus to save them from their enemies, rather than extolling praises upon Jesus. So, why does the word Hosanna seem to function as an expression of joy or homage in the gospel of Mark? It’s peculiar, isn’t it?

In the gospel of Mark, there are no palm branches strewn. Have you ever noticed that? The people simply spread branches they cut from their fields. It doesn’t say palms. Only the gospel writer of John tells us they were palms. I find this detail peculiar!

When I was a little kid, Palm Sunday was a joyous celebratory day of Jesus the King’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. My understanding was the people were happy to see Jesus!  Their  Lord  and  King  was coming into the city to them. In celebration, the children’s choir, of which I was a part, would get all dressed up wearing red skirts with a white surplus and a goofy red bow. Then we would walk down the aisle, holding one or two palms branches joyously singing, “All Glory, Laud, and honor to you redeemer, King. To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.

After church I’d try to figure out how to make a cross out of my palm. In those days we didn’t have Google to tell us how. We just figured it out ourselves. Then I’d put it inside my Bible so that it wouldn’t get all curled up. At any rate, Palm Sunday was a happy day and we looked forward to Easter.

Today, many Lutheran churches, rather than  celebrating Palm. Sunday call it Passion Sunday. Beginning with Jesus’ triumphal entry, they turn to the lessons of Holy Week. The thought is that people like Palm Sunday and they like Easter, but they seem to want to forget about what happened to Jesus in-between these two happy days. So, the passion lessons are read on Palm Sunday.

Here at Good Shepherd, on Maundy Thursday we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples and that Jesus’ came to us as a servant-king who washed his disciples feet, not a warrior-king.

On Good Friday we read the lessons reminding us of the great suffering, death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the King of the Jews; the tremendous sacrifice he made for us; and the unconditional love he has for us. Is that peculiar?

No! It is not peculiar, especially if we realize that Hosanna! means Lord save us! In setting the stage and reviewing the lessons that lead up to Jesus Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem we find a little nugget in each one of these lesson that leads us to Palm Sunday and Holy Week. Jesus reveals the Pharisees’ hardness of heart in practicing the law without grace. Jesus blesses children—the lowest people in society. Jesus tells the rich man the first will be last and the last will be first in God’s kingdom. Jesus tells his disciples what will happen to him—that he will be condemned by the chief priests and scribes; handed over to the gentiles who will mock him, spit on him, and kill him. After three days he will rise again. And, they don’t seem to hear or understand what he is telling them. Jesus tells James and John that to be great they must humbly embrace servanthood.

And finally, the man who can’t see, can see because he is a man of great faith.

The good news today is, that on this joyous day we call Palm Sunday, Jesus comes into Jerusalem to save all his beloved children. He doesn’t do it like a warrior-king with power and strength. Rather he in enthroned on a cross. Jesus saves us from our sinful selves in humility, lowliness, and never-ending love. Something the world finds very peculiar, but we don’t!

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Raise your palms and say it with me…with gusto!

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

In Jesus name,
Amen.

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