“Christ Jesus…humbled himself and became obedient unto death – even death on a cross!” (A portion of Palm Sunday’s Epistle from Philippians 2:5-11)
Last Sunday, March 28, was Palm Sunday. For as long as I can remember, I’ve found myself humming the melody of “All Glory, Laud and Honor” (LBW #108) well before I walk through the doors of church on that Sunday of Holy Week. I’ve recalled past years’ celebrations singing that hymn, along with beautiful decorations, special choir anthems and festive processions. I’ve also smiled as I visualized the palm fronds handed out to kids…the same fronds later used for “sword fights” (probably by the Koehneke kids) after worship was finished.
Maybe that’s what encouraged me at some point in my ministry to hand out palm crosses to the kids instead…so that we all remember that Palm Sunday was about much more than just palms and a Sunday parade. After all, there can be confusion about this day in Jerusalem as people either forget (or purposely avoid) what happened in the days afterhosannas and palms.
I recall the story of the customer who went into a jewelry store looking for a cross to fit on a chain. The clerk waited on him, found out what he wanted and asked, “Well tell me, would you like a plain cross or one that has a little man on it?” For the clerk the cross had no meaning. It was just a decorative piece of jewelry, with or without a little man. And if truth be told, there were many others who didn’t understand Jesus from the very beginning either.
It’s true, when He entered Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed colt, the crowd was chanting “Hosannas” at the top of their lungs. But slowly, and gradually, the Hosannas became quieter and quieter. Then nothing. By afternoon, another chant had begun, almost in a whisper, “crucify him,” softly, louder and finally bursting with power, “Crucify him! Crucify that man! He’s an imposter. A fake. He’s no king, that’s for sure.” They wanted a warrior on a stallion, and instead they got a carpenter on a donkey. So, by week’s end, the cheers would turn to jeers, they would kill Him and put a poster above His head that said, “King of the Jews.” Big joke of a king. That’s the way it was on that first Palm Sunday.
Eventually though, the crowds brought Jesus before Pilate, and Pilate questioned Jesus. “You are Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews, are you not?” Jesus replied, “You have said so.” Pilate persisted: “Are you king of the Jews? Out with it, are you or aren’t you king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world. My kingdom is not like yours, Pilate. My kingdom is not of this world.” Then Pilate asked the crucial question: “Well, then, Jesus, what kind of a king are you?”
That’s still our question today, “What kind of king was this Jesus of Nazareth?” Obviously, He was a different kind of king. When He came to earth, He didn’t live in a palace, occupy a throne, wear a crown of gold or command armies like other kings. He didn’t rule with a queen, and He had no servants waiting on Him hand and foot. But then again, His kingship was not of this world. That’s what He said Himself.
So, “What kind of king was this Jesus of Nazareth?” It’s hard to recognize this king when you don’t look, act or behave like one. After all, can you imagine a king getting down on his knees and washing the feet of his disciples? That’s what He would do later this same week. Or, what kind of king goes out and tries to get His subjects to love him?
What kind of king is it who is like a rejected father, who goes out and waits at the fence for His wayward son to come back to him? What kind of king is it who searches for His lost citizens like a shepherd searches for His lost sheep? What kind of king allows you to address Him by His first name, who allows you to address Him so personally, instead of some glorious sounding title? And then, to top it off, this king does the ultimate.
What kind of king is this, when I have committed a crime, and I am about to be executed for my crime, that this king comes forward and volunteers to be executed on my behalf? Have you ever heard of a king like that? One who would die in my place? It’s crazy. It’s ridiculous. It doesn’t make any sense. But wasn’t it Jesus who said Himself: “My kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world? Pilate, you’ll never get it.”
In the epistle lesson for Palm Sunday, St. Paul says very clearly: “CHRIST JESUS...MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS. AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT TO DEATH - EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS!” (Phil. 2:5b,7-8) That’s who our King is. One who cares so much about His people, that not only does He declare His love...He proves it in the most demonstrative way. He goes from riches to rags, He empties Himself of His divinity, He humbles Himself and submits Himself to a humiliating death, He does all that...to point us to His love, to win our salvation, to help us trust even more strongly in Him and to give us quite an eyeful as to what this different kind of King is all about.
It’s this King who also wants to rule our hearts and lives. A king who wants to rule our lifestyles, habits, homes, marriages, jobs, friendships and our time. This king wants to rule everything about us. Not by using religious tricks. Not by using political power. This king wants to rule everything inside of us and around us, solely by virtue of the love that drove Him to the cross in the first place. What a different kind of king.
After the initial hosannas of that first Palm Sunday, there were few who realized Jesus for the King He really was. But the events to happen in the next week...not to mention the days, months, years and centuries that followed would add to the numbers of those who understood more about His kingship and realize that he truly was the “real deal.” He was a whole lot more than they ever expected. Believers and followers who would recognize a king who rules from His cross, whose cross is His throne, who rules through suffering, love and humility.
As we join another Palm Sunday crowd singing our hosannas, let’s praise and honor this different kind of King too. And let’s remember that this King is also very much a part of us, His citizens of God’s Kingdom. And as we relive those last days of the King’s passion for us, may they point us to the King who came into this world unlike any other. May we remember His supreme act of love on the cross and the model He would leave for us to imitate. For then we will be strengthened in the conviction that Jesus Christ is all He said He would be and all that we need Him to be...our Savior, our Lord, our Friend and our King. And we’ll wait with joy to hear the angel tell us without any doubt on Easter morn: “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”
All glory, laud and honor To you, redeemer, king,
To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring,
To you, before your Passion, They sang their hymns of praise,
To you, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. (LBW, #108, v. 4)
Pastor Dale Koehneke – March 28, 2021