March 24, 2024 – The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

One of the questions I have is whether Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was accidental or planned. Did Jesus one day decide to make a trip into Jerusalem and a parade broke out? Or was this God’s plan in a deliberately chosen and planned out way to make a statement at this specific time? We may never know. But what we do know is that the author of Mark tells us that Jesus spent most of the first part of his ministry telling people not to tell who he was – to keep it a secret. And then, Jesus all of a sudden makes a big announcement.

Jesus rides this donkey into the city of Jerusalem, and his followers walk with him shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Neither of those were random acts. A king going to war rides a horse; a man proclaiming himself a king of peace rides a donkey and enhances that statement of peace by choosing an unridden colt. The words that were spoken come from one of the enthronement psalms, used when a new king was coming into power.

Hard to miss, really. This was a slap in the face to all those who thought they were in charge – a declaration of authority and power in a place of power and authority that saw him as an outsider. The one who appeared powerless is the one who is the King of Kings. The one who rode into a war zone with the authorities out for his blood is the Prince of Peace.

“Hosanna” was a common word in royal psalms. Most folks understood it to be a statement of celebration, a shout of joy and welcome. And it was. But originally it had a translation that meant, “Save us” or “Save now!” For leader after leader, the crowds would shout, “Save us,” to one who more often than not was more concerned about his own safety and prosperity. And now, they shout “Hosanna” to the one who can save them, but most of the city doesn’t know what is going on.

When we lifted our palms and waved them this morning, we declared our allegiance to the Prince of Peace, the very one the world considered a fool and did its best to destroy. And perhaps we are fools for holding this parade, remembering this death. But on the other hand, sometimes the fools become the foolers. Maybe a better description is to acknowledge that the world resists being turned upside down. Or at least it won’t stay that way for long. The powers and principalities of this world come rushing back in, and order, as they understand it, is restored.

That is why Palm Sunday is not just Palm Sunday, it is more properly The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday. That detail is important. It is a reminder that there is risk involved in taking the side of the marginalized. There is danger in trying to upset the status quo. And just when you think you’ve won your point and gathered your crowd, you discover you are alone again.

At least that was Jesus’ experience this Holy Week. From the parade to the way of sorrows, from the King of Peace riding on a donkey to a hated criminal hanging on a cross, from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him” in a matter of days.

Who’s the fool now? Maybe it is us, for clinging to hope in a hopeless world. Maybe it is us, for embracing life in a world obsessed with death. Maybe it’s us. Maybe it’s him, proclaiming Easter joy in a Good Friday world.