We begin the solemnity of Holy Week this weekend on Palm/Passion Sunday. The reading (Matthew 21:1-11) of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem has a joyful tone of victory and we will join in the celebration by waving palm branches. But the celebratory tone will diminish as we read the passion narrative and enter into Christ’s deep suffering and pain leading up to His crucifixion.
Fully aware of His fate, Jesus had been slowly journeying toward Jerusalem. While on the way, Jesus taught the good news of God’s kingdom, healed the sick, fed people, and cast out demons. Before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 20:20-28) narrates a conversation between Jesus and the mother of James and John. The mother asked Jesus to grant her two sons the honor of sitting on His right and left hand when He ushers in His kingdom. Jesus responded by explaining that “whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”
Jesus Himself living this humility, entered Jerusalem not on a mighty warhorse, like conquering kings, but on the lowly colt of a donkey, as foretold by the prophet Zechariah. Jesus entered Jerusalem confidently as the One true King who conquers through servant-like humility, service, and sacrificial self-giving. The entry into Jerusalem was indeed a grand moment of exaltation. Jesus’ presence, His way of being, openly declared that He is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One sent from God. And the crowd made His physical path smooth and befitting a king, as they spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road on which He was traveling. Their shouts of triumph further accentuated Jesus’ victorious, kingly status as recalling the words of Psalm 118, the people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jesus’ life and ministry had set their hearts on fire. They were giving praise to God. But their perception was that Jesus’ amazing deeds proved that He was the promised Messiah who came with power to save Israel, to liberate Israel from political domination.
The crowd’s worldly perception of Christ’s kingship led to an expression of humanity’s contradictory life. The same crowd that laid garments on the road for Jesus’ majestic entry, and shouted jubilant praise, was present at Jesus’ passion and joined in shouting, “crucify Him!” We too are prone to spiritual contradiction. We may worship Christ yet dismiss Him from some areas of our lives and live like the world when our faith seems inconvenient. Jesus desires to enter our hearts, souls, and minds fully, for He is Lord and King. He is the One exalted by God that at His name “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth….” He calls us to “be of the same mind” like Himself; humble and self-giving. Living our faith, therefore, compels a choice in favor of our humble and exalted Lord. Laying down garments and palm branches is for us a metaphor that announces our decision to lay down our lives at Jesus’ feet, in humble, obedient, loving service for His glory.
On Sunday as we wave palm branches and sing, “All glory, laud, and honor to thee Redeemer King…” and listen to the passion narrative, let us laud and magnify our humble Suffering Servant who lived and died as the exalted Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world. Amen.
