Palm Sunday (2024)

John 12:12-19

Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name fo the Lord! Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to finish His journey and His purpose here in the land of Israel. It was for this purpose that He was born just a few miles down the road in Bethlehem 33 years before. He is greeted by a great crowd who sing his praises and give thanks to God for all the miracles they have seen him perform. But not all in the city are glad to see him. The Pharisees that have been challenging Jesus throughout his ministry think that it shall be their finest hour as they end his life. Even though the evidence that death is not enough to stop Jesus is before their eyes.

The King of Israel

The Crowd celebrates as David’s heir enters.

Jesus’ fame had been growing over the last 3 years, and though He had been to the city before for Passover, they knew that this time something was different. So they hail him as the King of Israel. The Pharisees would object to this title on Good Friday, claiming that it was a title that Jesus called himself a King. It is the voice of the Crowd that lifts up Jesus who is not just King of Israel, but of all kings.

Jesus comes in the name of the Lord.

Jesus was sent here to earth with the purpose of fulfliling the willing of His father in heaven. The Pharisees have been challenging Him and claiming that He is false, and yet all the miracles that He has performed confirm that He has been sent by the Father in heaven, for who else had the power to do all the mighty works He had been performing except the Lord in heaven above.

He is fulfilling prophecies.

The disciples didn’t understand. They would have to wait until Jesus was glorified, when the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to them, then everything would come to mind. This may seem strange to us, but we must remember the Scriptures are a closed book without the gift of the Holy Spirit who grants wisdom and understanding and He had not yet been poured out upon them. So don’t feel bad, if there is something you struggle with in your reading of the Scriptures, rather ask God for His Holy Spirit to enlighten your heart and mind.

The Crowd Bears Witness

They had been present when Jesus rose Lazarus.

This was a cause for joy amongst the followers of Jesus. For there a man had died and been in the grave for days, and Christ called him forth.

They proclaimed the mighty works of God.

For who else could raise the dead and bring them back to life, who has that power and that authority? The crowd that went forward that day shared with everyone what Jesus had done for them, for they wanted everyone to know who Jesus is.

People came to see Jesus.

If you heard that there was a man who fed thousands, raised the dead, healed the sick, cured the blind, made the deaf hear, the lame walk, and whose teaching attracted thousands of people. That is a cause for a celebration and joy as Jesus enters into the city of Jerusalem. But not everyone was happy.

The pharisees grumbled about this.

Jesus and the pharisees had clashed many times before. They were not happy to see the wonderful reception that Jesus had amongst the people, as this frustrated their plans to silence him. This is why the trial would be at night and then happen early friday morning so the crowds that shouted Hosanna wouldn’t be there.

The People Didn’t Understand

Jesus had told them about His death.

Jesus had told the disciples several times, and they didn’t understand that the son of man must suffer many things and even die. They had what we call a theology of glory, that looked only at the things that were beautiful in the eyes of the world. They thought that it would be easy sailing and that there wouldn’t be suffering or a crucifixion or the death of Jesus it would all work out without any problems.

The crowd didn’t understand.

The people had seen the miracles and knew the great and mighty works that Jesus had accomplished, but they didn’t realize as they hailed Jesus the son of David, the King of Israel, that He was the lamb led to slaughter that would take away the sin of the world. Jesus came to be the suffering servant that Isaiah had foretold.

The pharisees understood dimly.

After they would have Jesus crucified they called for guards to be placed at His tomb, because they understood Jesus discussion of the resurrection when the disciples were unaware of it. The pharisees grasped ever so slightly the work of Jesus, but sadly they

They were going after the world.

They wanted to keep their positions safe, they are the ones who loved money and acclaim and fortune, and Jesus’ kingdom threatened to take them from those positions of comfort.

Why Did Jesus Come Here?

Jerusalem is where prophets go to die.

Jesus knew this and that is why He went there with full knowledge of the sacrifice that He would have to make and all that He would have to endure. The one who performed miracles, who is the Son of David that would sit upon David’s throne would perish? It was inconceivable, but it had all been foretold, not only by the prophets, but by Jesus himself.

As Christians, we know this is necessary.

When Jesus prays in the garden that if there was any other way to let this cup pass from him and yet the father says, there is not. Blood must be shed to make atonement for the sin of Adam that infected the entire human race. Jesus must go to the cross to pay this terrible price, and if He does not, then the entire world is doomed on account of sin. For no matter how good a person might be. You cannot satisfy God’s Law.

Jesus does it to save us.

They are right to praise Jesus, and that is why we join our voices with theirs this morning and give thanks to God for everything that Jesus goes to Jerusalem to do. We know the whole account, we know Jesus’ suffering, we know his pain, we know the cost that He must pay for our sins, and our failings. It’s ugly and brutal, but Jesus goes forth to die because He is going to save sinners, he goes to save you.

Bearing Witness

We proclaim something greater than Lazarus.

For Lazarus died on account of his own sins and Christ raised him again, but he would later perish. Jesus dies for our sins, He covers our debt, and He was raised again to eternal life for you. That is why the Scriptures call him the firstborn of the dead. For even though others were raised to life, Jesus lives still.

Jesus is already victorious.

He has won the battle not against flesh and blood as the Crowd thought on that day, but against the powers of sin and darkness, against Satan himself who had held mankind enslaved, and still holds many captive. Jesus came to earth to bind up Satan and to set us free from these chains. This is the good news that we get to share with our neighbors.

We are more than conquerors.

Through him who loved us, for there goes our Champion who will fight on our behalf, and not only does He win, but He has walked even through the valley of death and guide us through. So let us be

Let us be bold in our witness.

For if Satan has been overthrown, if the King has returned even from the grave, and He has promised to give that victory to us, then why would we shy away from sharing that good news with others? For Jesus didn’t just die for us, He did for all the world. So who doesn’t know that, and with whom might we share the good news of salvation?

Our King is Coming

We mean this in two ways.

This is what we can share with our friends and our neighbors. The first thing is that

Jesus promised to return.

That there will come a day that he returns for the judgment to separate the sheep from the goats, and all those who rejoice in his salvation, and believe that He lived, died, and rose again not just for the world, but for me. Will be saved. All those who reject him will perish. That is why we desire that everyone knows for without faith, they do not receive these gifts.

Jesus also promised to be with us.

But what does that mean? Well He has promised to be with believers wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in his name, but there is also a special way in which Jesus has remained in the church and why we gather together on at Service.

When do we sing Hosanna in the Liturgy?

We sing it right before the Service of the Sacrament. Well why would we choose to sing that song right then? Well what we receive at the altar is the body and blood of Christ. Not a symbol, not a representation, Jesus tells us this is my body, this is my blood. Christ descends from the heavenly realms and gives to us the gifts of His sacrifice on Golgotha that we might have eternal life. Which is truly a reason to sing Hosanna in the Highest.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this week think of those who do not know of what Christ has done, of those who have fallen away, or those who may have wandered away. Invite them to hear the Word of God, that they might share in the victory that Christ. For if they reject him as their champion, if they refuse to receive this gift, they will miss out on a most wondrous blessing. So invite them be to Good Friday to hear how Jesus took upon himself our sins for our salvation. Or Easter Sunday to hear about His resurrection and how death has no claim on him. May we bear witness to the mighty works of Jesus Christ our Lord, for He entered Jerusalem for you, for me, and for the whole world. that whosoever believe in him may have eternal life. In Jesus name. Amen.