4-9-06 Sermon by Pastor Barbara Currie
PREPARING FOR EASTER
Palm Sunday Sermon
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Psalms 118:1-2, 19-29
The final act of the great drama of Easter has begun. Today is a challenging day for preachers. I spent two days of researching and thinking before I put a single word on paper. Early on I decided this year I would not combine the Palms and Passion liturgies as I had last year. Now what do I mean by that sentence? The Passion liturgy is the scripture that describes Jesus’ journey that last week of his earthly life leading up to crucifixion. For folks who go to church many days of Holy Week, these scriptures will be read on Maundy Thursday and/or Good Friday. We ministers are encouraged to include both on this the 6th Sunday in Lent so that folks that go to church only on Sundays won’t go from Palm Sunday celebration to Easter celebration. It is important to reflect on the rest of Jesus’ week and I do hope that most of you will be with for the Maundy Thursday service later this week. One of our esteemed preachers, Fred Craddock, has said that it is often difficult to tell the difference between Palm Sunday one week and Easter the next week. The tone of the services is identical; the only real difference is in the foliage: palms one week and lilies the next. So today we will focus on the festive atmosphere of the parade into Jerusalem, yet also look at what we may have to do to prepare for Easter.
I just love the Hosannas and the palm branches waving, having the children and some of the adults process into the sanctuary. From ancient times, palm branches were symbols of victory and triumph. The Romans would reward their champions in the Olympic games by giving them these branches. Throughout the Old Testament there are indications that the Jewish people carried palms with them for festive occasions. Last year one of the children, 5 year old Jack, was sick and so missed church on Palm Sunday. When his family came home with the palms, he asked how come, what were they for? His brothers replied, “People held them over Jesus’ head as he walked by.” Little Jack fumed, “Wouldn’t you know it, the one Sunday I didn’t get to go to church, Jesus showed up.”
In the early pagan world this time of year was like New Year’s is for us, a new beginning. For Christians, Easter is that new beginning. Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, our preparation to understand and accept the resurrection that we celebrate on Easter Sunday. This was the time of Passover, the greatest of all the Jewish feasts. People from all over Israel made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the liberation or freeing of the Jews from slavery in Egypt during the days of Moses. Our Gospel lesson tells us about the crowd of people gathering, like for a parade. When they saw Jesus, they yelled out Hosanna and even put their coats on the ground for his passing by. Remember for the past three years, he had been traveling the region performing miracles, raising the dead, curing illnesses, teaching about love and peace, often accompanied by the less than desirable people: women, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, Samaritans. I’m sure these folks and the twelve disciples were part of this procession. The whole community was excited. Yet don’t forget, the same people that called Hosanna or Save Us on Palm Sunday, yelled “Crucify him,” on Friday. The same folks that shouted, “Give us Jesus” as they waved their palms, yelled, “Give us Barabbas” on Friday. As much as we can enjoy the festivity of the Palm Sunday crowd, yet in retrospect we know that this cheering crowd either disappears or becomes a jeering crowd just 5 days later.
In our Mark scripture, we are told that at the end of the parade Jesus enters the temple, looks around at everything and then leaves with his disciples. It is the very next day in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that Jesus enters the temple, upsets the tables, and drives out the moneychangers and the merchants with their animals. . He emphasizes that his Father’s house is a house of prayer and these folks have made it a den of thieves. I talked to you about this story a few weeks ago as in the gospel of John this passage comes earlier in the life of Jesus. In the other gospels it is after the “cleansing of the temple” that the authorities get together and decide how to do what they have to do: arrest, try, and kill Jesus. Even though the people cried “Save us!” the day before, there could be no salvation in that world at that time. They and we have to patiently follow Jesus on his journey to the cross. This is not an easy thing to do. There are many things that stand in our way.
I’m going to ask you now to go on a visual journey with me. You can close your eyes or keep them open—whatever works best for you: Imagine the road where you live. Picture in your mind what it looks like, where the trees and the fields are, where the other houses and barns are. Are there parked cars in sight, any ducks or geese, any dogs or cats? Imagine yourself standing outside along the road. Now imagine seeing a large crowd of people coming down the road. In the middle of the crowd you notice a man riding on a small donkey and when he gets a little closer you recognize him as Jesus. You can see that some people are putting down branches, throwing flowers, some of your neighbors are also rushing to the street and laying things down. What would you lay down? How would you praise him? As Christians, one of our missions is to praise God and to praise his son, Jesus. There are many ways of praising him: written, spoken, sung, painted in a sign, performed in a dance. It’s what we’ve been called to do. In 1 Peter 2:9, “..you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called your out of darkness into his wonderful light.” What about each of you? Do you praise him? Is there something stopping you from praising, making a joyful noise along with this Palm Sunday crowd? Is there anything standing in your way of yelling out praises? Do you withhold your joyful shouts because of pride? Because of temperament? How many of you have looked down upon those Christians that yell out, faint, maybe talk in tongues? Have you made excuses that it’s just not your temperament? Maybe saying, I’m not expressive; that’s not the way my social/religious group does things?
Or I wonder if maybe it’s fear that stands in your way. The classic example here would be Peter, the Rock, who denied Jesus 3 times before the cock crowed. Peter had the perfect opportunity to witness, to testify. He could have told the crowd about how he stood beside Jesus when he healed a deaf man, a blind man, made the lame walk, walked on water in a storm, brought people back to life that had died. He could have said, “Yes, I follow him, he is my Lord.” But instead he responds that he did not know this man! There’s lots of reason to be scared. Think about what happened to one of the Christian peacemakers in Iraq. What if you praised Jesus to your neighbor or to your co-worker and they thought you were a religious nut? So if Jesus was riding the donkey down your street and it’s fear that stands in the way of your praise, would you be willing to lay it down?
Maybe it’s not fear but doubt. Maybe you are not at all sure of this Easter stuff, this Savior stuff. Even if you come to church regularly, you may doubt deep down inside that Jesus could possibly be God, to say nothing about rising from the dead. Maybe you come to a United Church of Christ denomination because they aren’t like those Baptists or Roman Catholics that have to believe all these impossible, non-scientific things. It’s true that everyone is welcome here wherever they are on their journey! It’s tough to praise Jesus when you are filled with doubts and disbelief. Could you possibly lay any of these things down as you see Jesus pass by? Maybe it’s guilt, maybe it’s riches unshared, maybe its just too many worries and burdens that keep you from praising Jesus.¨
There may be many different reasons that we would not take the opportunity of Jesus walking up the street to connect, to praise, to worship at his feet. I now call you back to Deering Community Church for a poem and then a few closing remarks about the journey of Jesus. Bruce Prewer wrote this poem about five people in the modern world and how they dealt with the arrival of Jesus. Although it kind of breaks the flow of my sermon, I’ve decided to take that risk as I really like what he has to say. This poem is about a farmer in town buying a new car, a young woman busy in an office, a real estate agent, a bored wealthy woman at home, and a university professor. Let me share it with you now.
THE ARRIVAL : On the day when Jesus the prophet arrived in our town,/Joe Farmer was very busy choosing a new car./He heard the distant cheering:/"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."/Mentally he made a note and promised himself /to hear the prophet; some day,not now./Joe was far too occupied with trade-in price, fuel consumption,/and the virtues of the ST or the LJ model,/and whether either car was better than his neighbour's.
At coffee break 22 year old Esther Romantic/ also heard the uproar coming from High Street./ She felt an impulseto go and join the crowd/with those who welcomed the prophet, /for stories about him had strangely shaken and encouraged her./ But Esther's wedding day was only seven weeks off./ and she still had thinking to do about the flowers, shade of eye shadow,/or whether on the tables /she wanted with every place card a wishbone. /
For Jim Smiley the real estate agent/ it was infuriating: Time was money!/Here he was stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of town,/thanks to these idiots with grins, slogans and palm branches,/ supporting this new fool Jesus /who had said some rotten thingsabout real estate. /Jim was due in four minutes at Toorak Place /to meet with a wealthy client. /Jim yelled at a policeman patrolling the edge of the procession:/"How about some law and order!"/
Some did not even hear the cheering nor cared./Beth Goldsmith with fingers covered with rings /was watching "Days of our lives"when the prophet/ walked within one block of her residence./They interrupted the programme for an eyewitness report/ on the progress of the street demo. /Beth took the opportunity/to fetch another pot of coffee and two aspirin.
Professor Nicodemus was lecturing at the Uni./He noted the small number who had turned up today,/and even they were restless./He asked the reason./They gave him the news that the prophet /Jesus was leading a demo to the Central Mall. /On an impulse Nicodemus dismissed the surprised students /and hurried off down High Street where, /somewhat embarrassed,he joined the crowd /and found himself shouting "Hosanna!"/At the sound of his own voice,the Prof felt his own soul/-as if a birth was about to take place-leap for joy within!/ And it seemed as if /all things were becoming new./ Opportunity knocks. Sometimes.
The ones who praised him and then deserted or jeered him may have done so because Jesus did not fulfill their expectations. They wanted a royal King, one that would lead them into battle and be victorious over the Roman powers. They were disappointed with the Messiah they got. Instead, Jesus did not bear arms; he did not lead armies. He came in peace, bearing a message of peace and love; he died asking forgiveness for those who have contributed to his death. One of the last things he said to his disciples was to put your sword away. We are called to follow Jesus, to be vulnerable, to love and care for others, to be humble. Will we hear the Palm Sunday story today and forget it until next year? Or will we have the courage to lay down the things that keep us from praising and following Jesus. I invite all of you to walk in the spirit of Christ. We can’t save the world, but maybe we can make a difference this very week in someone’s life. Remember that Jesus has promised us that we will not walk alone, but that we will have the Holy Spirit, the Divine love and comfort of God wherever we go till the end of time.
¨ The structure of this part of the sermon is taken from Rev. Matthew Rogers at SermonCentral.com.
Palm Sunday Sermon
Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Psalms 118:1-2, 19-29
The final act of the great drama of Easter has begun. Today is a challenging day for preachers. I spent two days of researching and thinking before I put a single word on paper. Early on I decided this year I would not combine the Palms and Passion liturgies as I had last year. Now what do I mean by that sentence? The Passion liturgy is the scripture that describes Jesus’ journey that last week of his earthly life leading up to crucifixion. For folks who go to church many days of Holy Week, these scriptures will be read on Maundy Thursday and/or Good Friday. We ministers are encouraged to include both on this the 6th Sunday in Lent so that folks that go to church only on Sundays won’t go from Palm Sunday celebration to Easter celebration. It is important to reflect on the rest of Jesus’ week and I do hope that most of you will be with for the Maundy Thursday service later this week. One of our esteemed preachers, Fred Craddock, has said that it is often difficult to tell the difference between Palm Sunday one week and Easter the next week. The tone of the services is identical; the only real difference is in the foliage: palms one week and lilies the next. So today we will focus on the festive atmosphere of the parade into Jerusalem, yet also look at what we may have to do to prepare for Easter.
I just love the Hosannas and the palm branches waving, having the children and some of the adults process into the sanctuary. From ancient times, palm branches were symbols of victory and triumph. The Romans would reward their champions in the Olympic games by giving them these branches. Throughout the Old Testament there are indications that the Jewish people carried palms with them for festive occasions. Last year one of the children, 5 year old Jack, was sick and so missed church on Palm Sunday. When his family came home with the palms, he asked how come, what were they for? His brothers replied, “People held them over Jesus’ head as he walked by.” Little Jack fumed, “Wouldn’t you know it, the one Sunday I didn’t get to go to church, Jesus showed up.”
In the early pagan world this time of year was like New Year’s is for us, a new beginning. For Christians, Easter is that new beginning. Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, our preparation to understand and accept the resurrection that we celebrate on Easter Sunday. This was the time of Passover, the greatest of all the Jewish feasts. People from all over Israel made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the liberation or freeing of the Jews from slavery in Egypt during the days of Moses. Our Gospel lesson tells us about the crowd of people gathering, like for a parade. When they saw Jesus, they yelled out Hosanna and even put their coats on the ground for his passing by. Remember for the past three years, he had been traveling the region performing miracles, raising the dead, curing illnesses, teaching about love and peace, often accompanied by the less than desirable people: women, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, Samaritans. I’m sure these folks and the twelve disciples were part of this procession. The whole community was excited. Yet don’t forget, the same people that called Hosanna or Save Us on Palm Sunday, yelled “Crucify him,” on Friday. The same folks that shouted, “Give us Jesus” as they waved their palms, yelled, “Give us Barabbas” on Friday. As much as we can enjoy the festivity of the Palm Sunday crowd, yet in retrospect we know that this cheering crowd either disappears or becomes a jeering crowd just 5 days later.
In our Mark scripture, we are told that at the end of the parade Jesus enters the temple, looks around at everything and then leaves with his disciples. It is the very next day in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that Jesus enters the temple, upsets the tables, and drives out the moneychangers and the merchants with their animals. . He emphasizes that his Father’s house is a house of prayer and these folks have made it a den of thieves. I talked to you about this story a few weeks ago as in the gospel of John this passage comes earlier in the life of Jesus. In the other gospels it is after the “cleansing of the temple” that the authorities get together and decide how to do what they have to do: arrest, try, and kill Jesus. Even though the people cried “Save us!” the day before, there could be no salvation in that world at that time. They and we have to patiently follow Jesus on his journey to the cross. This is not an easy thing to do. There are many things that stand in our way.
I’m going to ask you now to go on a visual journey with me. You can close your eyes or keep them open—whatever works best for you: Imagine the road where you live. Picture in your mind what it looks like, where the trees and the fields are, where the other houses and barns are. Are there parked cars in sight, any ducks or geese, any dogs or cats? Imagine yourself standing outside along the road. Now imagine seeing a large crowd of people coming down the road. In the middle of the crowd you notice a man riding on a small donkey and when he gets a little closer you recognize him as Jesus. You can see that some people are putting down branches, throwing flowers, some of your neighbors are also rushing to the street and laying things down. What would you lay down? How would you praise him? As Christians, one of our missions is to praise God and to praise his son, Jesus. There are many ways of praising him: written, spoken, sung, painted in a sign, performed in a dance. It’s what we’ve been called to do. In 1 Peter 2:9, “..you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called your out of darkness into his wonderful light.” What about each of you? Do you praise him? Is there something stopping you from praising, making a joyful noise along with this Palm Sunday crowd? Is there anything standing in your way of yelling out praises? Do you withhold your joyful shouts because of pride? Because of temperament? How many of you have looked down upon those Christians that yell out, faint, maybe talk in tongues? Have you made excuses that it’s just not your temperament? Maybe saying, I’m not expressive; that’s not the way my social/religious group does things?
Or I wonder if maybe it’s fear that stands in your way. The classic example here would be Peter, the Rock, who denied Jesus 3 times before the cock crowed. Peter had the perfect opportunity to witness, to testify. He could have told the crowd about how he stood beside Jesus when he healed a deaf man, a blind man, made the lame walk, walked on water in a storm, brought people back to life that had died. He could have said, “Yes, I follow him, he is my Lord.” But instead he responds that he did not know this man! There’s lots of reason to be scared. Think about what happened to one of the Christian peacemakers in Iraq. What if you praised Jesus to your neighbor or to your co-worker and they thought you were a religious nut? So if Jesus was riding the donkey down your street and it’s fear that stands in the way of your praise, would you be willing to lay it down?
Maybe it’s not fear but doubt. Maybe you are not at all sure of this Easter stuff, this Savior stuff. Even if you come to church regularly, you may doubt deep down inside that Jesus could possibly be God, to say nothing about rising from the dead. Maybe you come to a United Church of Christ denomination because they aren’t like those Baptists or Roman Catholics that have to believe all these impossible, non-scientific things. It’s true that everyone is welcome here wherever they are on their journey! It’s tough to praise Jesus when you are filled with doubts and disbelief. Could you possibly lay any of these things down as you see Jesus pass by? Maybe it’s guilt, maybe it’s riches unshared, maybe its just too many worries and burdens that keep you from praising Jesus.¨
There may be many different reasons that we would not take the opportunity of Jesus walking up the street to connect, to praise, to worship at his feet. I now call you back to Deering Community Church for a poem and then a few closing remarks about the journey of Jesus. Bruce Prewer wrote this poem about five people in the modern world and how they dealt with the arrival of Jesus. Although it kind of breaks the flow of my sermon, I’ve decided to take that risk as I really like what he has to say. This poem is about a farmer in town buying a new car, a young woman busy in an office, a real estate agent, a bored wealthy woman at home, and a university professor. Let me share it with you now.
THE ARRIVAL : On the day when Jesus the prophet arrived in our town,/Joe Farmer was very busy choosing a new car./He heard the distant cheering:/"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."/Mentally he made a note and promised himself /to hear the prophet; some day,not now./Joe was far too occupied with trade-in price, fuel consumption,/and the virtues of the ST or the LJ model,/and whether either car was better than his neighbour's.
At coffee break 22 year old Esther Romantic/ also heard the uproar coming from High Street./ She felt an impulseto go and join the crowd/with those who welcomed the prophet, /for stories about him had strangely shaken and encouraged her./ But Esther's wedding day was only seven weeks off./ and she still had thinking to do about the flowers, shade of eye shadow,/or whether on the tables /she wanted with every place card a wishbone. /
For Jim Smiley the real estate agent/ it was infuriating: Time was money!/Here he was stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of town,/thanks to these idiots with grins, slogans and palm branches,/ supporting this new fool Jesus /who had said some rotten thingsabout real estate. /Jim was due in four minutes at Toorak Place /to meet with a wealthy client. /Jim yelled at a policeman patrolling the edge of the procession:/"How about some law and order!"/
Some did not even hear the cheering nor cared./Beth Goldsmith with fingers covered with rings /was watching "Days of our lives"when the prophet/ walked within one block of her residence./They interrupted the programme for an eyewitness report/ on the progress of the street demo. /Beth took the opportunity/to fetch another pot of coffee and two aspirin.
Professor Nicodemus was lecturing at the Uni./He noted the small number who had turned up today,/and even they were restless./He asked the reason./They gave him the news that the prophet /Jesus was leading a demo to the Central Mall. /On an impulse Nicodemus dismissed the surprised students /and hurried off down High Street where, /somewhat embarrassed,he joined the crowd /and found himself shouting "Hosanna!"/At the sound of his own voice,the Prof felt his own soul/-as if a birth was about to take place-leap for joy within!/ And it seemed as if /all things were becoming new./ Opportunity knocks. Sometimes.
The ones who praised him and then deserted or jeered him may have done so because Jesus did not fulfill their expectations. They wanted a royal King, one that would lead them into battle and be victorious over the Roman powers. They were disappointed with the Messiah they got. Instead, Jesus did not bear arms; he did not lead armies. He came in peace, bearing a message of peace and love; he died asking forgiveness for those who have contributed to his death. One of the last things he said to his disciples was to put your sword away. We are called to follow Jesus, to be vulnerable, to love and care for others, to be humble. Will we hear the Palm Sunday story today and forget it until next year? Or will we have the courage to lay down the things that keep us from praising and following Jesus. I invite all of you to walk in the spirit of Christ. We can’t save the world, but maybe we can make a difference this very week in someone’s life. Remember that Jesus has promised us that we will not walk alone, but that we will have the Holy Spirit, the Divine love and comfort of God wherever we go till the end of time.
¨ The structure of this part of the sermon is taken from Rev. Matthew Rogers at SermonCentral.com.
posted by Sermons given at Deering Community Church @ 2:39 PM
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