2025.04.13 | Holy, Wholly, Hosanna
Scripture reading: Matthew 21:1-11
Greetings! Today we gather to celebrate Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. It is a tale rich in imagery, metaphor and paradoxes. Let us remember that throughout the Bible, God uses the most unlikely people as his agents:
Joseph, a child sold into slavery by family who winds up saving the Hebrew people.
Moses the stutterer and exiled murder sent by God to free the Hebrews from Egypt.
David, the small meek boy-child not even worthy of consideration who becomes the great king of Israel.
Esther who saves her people from slaughter by her husband the king.
Paradox is at the heart of our Christian faith. We know them well, but tend to forget that they are paradoxical.
A virgin gave birth.
The son of God was born in a manger, a stable.
The baby who was king.
That Jesus was born a male but without male seed, without male matter.
Jesus was both God and human or God in the Flesh.
That through the brutal execution of crucifixion, there was victory.
That through death we have received life.
These are ideas that we understand and accept in our faith. But they are paradoxes, something made up of two 1opposite things which seems impossible but is achievable or true. With that in mind let us re-examine today’s scripture. Let us pray…
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This is the setting for our story:
The year is about 30 AD or CE.
The nation of Israel has been occupied by Rome and the people are oppressed.
Rome actively suppress political opposition and publicly executes political insurrectionists.
Pontius Pilot is the Roman governor appointed over Judea to keep the peace, or the Pax Romana.
But generations of Israelites have been awaiting a new Moses, a Messiah whom they expect to defeat their enemies and establish a new kingdom.
Framing in the context of Jesus’ ministry -
The opening chapters of Matthew’s gospel tell us that Jesus’ ministry begins with him moving through Galilee telling people to “Repent, (because) the kingdom of heaven has drawn near. He also begins healing people and crowds begin to follow him.
In the next chapter, he gives the sermon on the mount, surprising his listeners with words of comfort and favor for the meek and the poor. The kingdom he describes is the antithesis of what they have experienced under Roman rule.
Jesus then goes out and brings this kingdom into people’s very lives through his acts of healing, feeding and forgiving sins.
People begin to believe various things about him. So Jesus asks the disciples who they believe he is and Peter correctly declares that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus sternly tells them not to tell anyone.
As we explored a few weeks ago, Jesus then takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain top where they encounter Moses and Elijah and see Jesus transfigured before their eyes. This confirms Peter’s declaration, but again Jesus tells them not to tell anyone.
Jesus perceives that the disciples are still expecting a messiah who will reign victoriously through military power. So he begins a series of teachings designed to further illustrate how God’s loving kingdom turns all of our value systems upside down.
Then, as they are preparing to go to Jerusalem, the Gospel of John tells us that Jesus went to Bethany and raised Lazarus from the dead. News of this traveled fast and far. Some were excited. Some were afraid.
As Jesus and the disciples approach Jerusalem for the Passover,
The city of Jerusalem is teaming with tens of thousands of people who have come for the annual Passover festival, a commemoration of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian oppression and slavery.
The city is over crowded with Jewish pilgrims, crafts people, food servers, bankers & merchants of every sort. Plus thousands of animals for the sacrifice.
All the religious authorities and temple priests are assembled and prepared to help the pilgrims make their sacrificial offerings.
The Romans are determined to keep the crowds calm and Pilot has prepared to occupy the city of Jerusalem to keep things under control.
And the Roman governors compel the religious authorities to assist in keeping the people calm.
This is our backdrop.
That morning, Jesus sends some disciples to get a donkey (a Colt? Matt 21:2-5). Surprisingly, the donkey’s “owner” just lets them walk off with him. Symbolically, the donkey represents, lowliness, humility or peace (prophesy of Zechariah 9:9). (I am reminded that a friend once said “If God can use a jackass, he can surely use me.)
So Jesus sets out for Jerusalem on this “un-ridden” donkey (Luke 41-44) and as he makes his way from the Mount of Olives he sees Jerusalem and weeps over it saying,
“If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Soon your enemies will crush you and your children to the ground…; because you did not recognize THIS, the time of your visitation from God.” (Luke 19:42-44)
As Jesus continues, people begin to follow him. Word has spread among the crowds about how Jesus raised Lazarus from death. There is anticipation and excitement that he is going to Jerusalem. Soon they begin to spread their cloaks on the road as well as leafy branches. (Why Palm leaves?)
In Matthew: Trees
Luke: cloaks only
Mark: leafy branches cut in fields
John: Palm leaves, no cloaks
In our tradition we commemorate this using Palm leaves. But it’ not likely it was palm leaves. More likely it was olive branches from the fields surrounding Jerusalem. Olive branches also represent peace, while the spreading of cloaks was a sign of respect for a new king.
Meanwhile, Pontius Pilot rides through the grand front gate of Jerusalem with his soldiers mounted on large, mighty steeds with banners flying high and the trumpets sounding the fanfare. Guards can be seen high up on the walls of the city and the emblems of the empire are on display as are the uniforms, armor and weaponry of Romans. Pilot brings his military might into the city in show of force, a grand display meant to exert Roman power and authority.
Everyone was expected to pay attention.
The religious authorities were required to be present.
Anyone who wanted to gain favor and influence were there.
Those who wished to be seen honoring those in power were there.
As were the merchants, food sellers, bankers and the city’s own military.
So as Jesus nears the back gate of the city it is busy, bustling and chaotic. People begin to notice the Jesus parade approaching – a small crowd surrounding an itinerant, humbly clad preacher riding on a donkey. They start asking “Who is this?” “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” comes the reply. Others begin to share the stories they’ve heard about how Jesus called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead. And because of this the crowd runs to meet him picking up the cry:
“Hosanna!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor, David!”
Now this was Jesus’ grand coming out event! Throughout his ministry, he constantly told people not to tell others about him. But this day was different. Jesus was entering Jerusalem with healing energy. As the crowd sang his praises, some of the Pharisees implored him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” But Jesus replied “I tell you, if they were quiet, the very stones would shout out.” (Luke 39-40) And later, in John 12:28, the crowd hears God’s voice speaking to Jesus from the heavens. These were proclamations so that the crowd would know that the anointed one had come.
But who were these people? Mostly pilgrims probably – the faithful who did not live in Jerusalem but had long hoped for a new Moses. Then there were certainly those Jerusalemites and others who craved political change and secretly hoped for insurrection. But all were expecting a fighting Messiah, one who would bring back the high kingdom of David and return Israeli autonomy. And here they were passionately proclaiming that he had come!
Now these were disturbing developments for those in power. The Romans certainly did not want to have a city full of a subjects to begin hailing this prophet as a Messiah or King. As for the religious leaders, they were appalled and offended perhaps, maybe equally scared of being replaced, but definitely afraid that the Romans would punish all of the Jews as a result of this trouble…this trouble maker.
But Jesus did not intend to bring about the military victory they all anticipated. He did not lay low the people’s oppressors and lift up the afflicted in the way they expected him to. And, ironically, it is precisely BECAUASE he did not smash Rome and fulfill their expectations that many would turn on him a few days later and shout “crucify him!”
Look at the contrast between these two parades!
Pilot and the military parade enter the city in grandeur through the front gate,
while the meek and humble “King of Kings” comes in thru the back gate riding a jackass and is greeted by cloaks and olive branches.
Jesus arrives as a humble, Prince of Peace! He is demonstrating that the ways of the world are not God’s ways. Hail Jesus, the anti-king! Lord of the kingdom that is spread across the earth and people do not see! Herein lies the paradox of the “triumphant” entry into Jerusalem.
But Jesus wasn’t just mocking the systems of political power and domination, he was also pointing out the subversion of the religious system, it’s leaders and the insincerity of their rituals. Honest, meaningful repentance and atonement had been lost and given way to empty ritual sacrifice. Systematized, industrialized sacrificial burnt offerings.
A pilgrim brought their money to the city and then changed their currency into temple coins in order to buy animals to be sacrificed – and (WIPE HANDS) they were done. (Which is quite similar to the practice of purchasing
of “indulgences” which led to the Protestant reformation 1500 years later.)
In both instances, true repentance and atonement was replaced by a business transaction.
This put the letter of the law before the heart of the law.
Tradition had become more important than “loving kindness, doing justice and walking humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)
This is the crux of Jesus’ prophetic critiques of the religious leaders.
Tradition had become treason!
Tradition (which means something “handed down”) had become treason (which means a breach of faith or violation of allegiance). This is confirmed in Mark 12:33 where we read that a scribe wisely answered Jesus by saying that “loving (God) with all thy heart, mind, strength,’ and ‘loving thy neighbor as thyself,’—are much more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” To which Jesus responds saying, “YOU are not far from the kingdom of God.”
This is why, I think, Jesus does something very out of character: he gets mad – and he gets mad in the temple. In fact, the only anger and violence to be seen in Jesus was directed not at the Romans, but at the Temple leaders. Just like the prophets, his critique was of Israel itself - NOT foreign military powers.
He turns over tables and chairs
Clears out the buyers and sellers
Prevents anything being carried through and yells “you’ve made my Father’s house a den of thieves!”
He reminds them that the Temple was supposed to be a house of prayer
And then he turns the situation upside down and starts curing people in the Temple, embodying that peaceful, agape love!
He brings the Kingdom of Heaven right into the Temple.
His cleansing of the Temple and his healings bring restoration of wholeness on Holy ground.
He was rebuilding God’s shalom!
This made the traditionalists furious!
In those few short days, Jesus was showing us how the power systems that surround us become corrupted. What then becomes paramount is the survival of the system itself and power of those in control. The abundant life and resources that God desires for all people is impaired. God’s shalom, broken.
Neither the powers of Rome nor the religious authorities cared for the people of Israel, their ailments or their needs.
What matters most to God mattered least to them and the more Jesus pointed this out, the more the “powers that be” wanted to kill him.
He would not be silent.
Complicity keeps injustice alive. In Charles L. Campbell’s book “The Word Before the Powers” he puts it this way:
“When Jesus is arrested, we see the disciples flee and deny him.
The priests say they are bound by the tradition of the law and must condemn him.
Pilot wants to free Jesus, but the laws of Rome and the passion of the crowds have his hands tied.
The crowds along the Via de la Rosa stand watching the scourged and beaten Jesus struggle to carry his
cross to Golgotha. “Rome,” they say, “has our hands tied.”
Everyone tows the line.
Everyone in the story is complicit. NO ONE takes the initiative to act or intervene for God’s BE-LOVED, on God’s behalf.
Another paradox in this story is that Jesus can be seen as representative of all the poor, powerless, dispossessed and persecuted people on this planet - then and now. As we move through this holy week walking with Jesus toward the cross, I invite you to consider how things might have been different if someone had spoken up for him? Perhaps during his interview with Pilot? Or when Pilot presents him to the crowd? Or as he, a guiltless man, walks publicly to his execution? Wouldn’t we hope that our friends, family and peers would speak up for us? Especially now, in the times we are living through!
How is our complicity keeping injustice alive today? (REPEAT) How many of us will answer the call? Who will speak up? Who will TRUST GOD and do what he requires of us - to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God? Will we, like David, find the conviction to say “I will act because…the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
Consider how even small acts of kindness can be used by God for much more grand designs. Like those done by the owners of that lowly donkey, or the keeper of the Passover inn. Like the many kindnesses that Jesus’ received during his ministry. He was, after all, homeless, surviving by the grace and goodness of those that believed. Like them, our deeds may not cause history to remember us by name. But we are Holy vessels and our God will remember. He extends a greater grace to all of us. And who knows when we might encounter the returned Jesus in our midst, our Emmanuel? We can’t know. But we do know that God seems to love a paradox and most certainly will use the most unexpected messenger. So look not with your eyes, but with your heart. Don’t be afraid to love kindness and do justice. For blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.
Amen.