Today, we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where the people welcomed Jesus with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!” But as we remember this joyous occasion, we must also bear in mind that it was the beginning of a journey that would end not with what seemed to be victory but defeat. The crowds that hailed Jesus as their king will soon call for His crucifixion. Yet, amidst the pain and sorrow of the cross, there is also the hope and promise of resurrection which is where the triumph comes.
As we journey through Holy Week, we are reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, and the immense love that He has for each one of us. We are reminded that to arrive at the Triumphal Easter Sunday that we must first journey through the valley of the shadow of death in Good Friday. But we remember, as promised in Psalm 23 – that even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not be afraid. For you are with me to comfort me. Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus has won the victory despite what our eyes see. The crowds gathered at the foot of the cross see death and defeat. But on Easter Sunday morning his disciples will see the true triumphal entry out of the tomb. That was the message of Transfiguration when Jesus took Peter, James and John to the mountain-top experience to reveal his true hidden glory to prepare them for what seemed to be the defeat of death.
When the people thought Jesus was the one they were ready to crown him as their King. But they reject him when he doesn’t meet their expectations. Even Peter, head of the Apostles, reflects this same fallen nature. He had said to Jesus, “Even if everyone else abandons you, I will never desert you.” Sadly, Jesus says to Peter, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” We all face those moments so we shouldn’t be too critical. As we look at the world around us it is easy to come to a conclusion that God has lost the battle. The church seems powerless and irrelevant in a growing secular world that demands we fall into line with the ways of the world.
It is easy for us, like Peter, to deny our faith and fall into line. So Palm Sunday is a good reflection of our own faith cycle throughout our life time where we struggle between faith and doubts. How does Jesus respond to our doubts?
Firstly, he prays to God that we may be his, and that we not be lost. Jesus knows the struggles we face in the Garden of Gethsemane asking that if it is possible that his cup of suffering may be taken away from him. Hadn’t he rebuked Peter for not wanting to journey to the cross? Get behind me Satan. But he shows that with God’s strengthen we can overcome.
Jesus remains totally committed to his Father’s will. “Not my will, but your will be done.” And through this he has compassion for each of us in those times. Even after his betrayal and torture, as he is crucified, he prays,” Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”
How comforting to know that that request for forgiveness extends even to us just as it did to Peter after the resurrection for his 3 time denial. Jesus can do that because he takes upon himself the sins of all people who have ever lived, or who will ever live in the future. He who has never known sin, experienced the full extent of sin experiencing rejection from his disciples, rejection from his own people and the pain of rejection from God – my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.
We too know the affects sin has on our relationship with God. Much the same way as it had on Adam and Eve who hid in shame from God – Adam – where are you.
Sin is so much a part of our lives that we don’t even feel bad about “little” sins at all but justify them by judging the big sins of others. We experience the inner turmoil of Paul – the good I want to do I do not do. The evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing. But Jesus overcame sin and temptation by his death and resurrection. But he does not look down with judgment on those who sin but empathises with us as the writer to the Hebrews reminds us: Hebrews 4 says: we have a great high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses, who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. And that means we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus experienced the full extent of our sin so that we could experience the full extent of God’s grace and righteousness:
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. So we are never alone. Jesus is always with us as he promised at the Ascension – I am with you always till the end of the age – fulfilling God’s prophecy – he shall be called Immanuel – God is with us. Paul reminds us that the wages of sin is death and that Jesus pays those wages for us by his sinless death.
And so Palm Sunday really is a triumphal entry despite the cries for his crucifixion. Because it is our triumphal entry into Heaven through Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension.
It is our sins that nail Jesus to the cross and cause the shedding of his innocent blood which mysteriously pay the price of our sinfulness. Here in this mystery is the real meaning of Palm Sunday; not the human defined triumphal entry, but the entry of Jesus into our sinfulness and our entry into his righteousness, the greatest sacrifice ever offered which can never be forgotten. There is every chance we may have joined the crowd to shout, “Hosannah!” but we would also have joined the same crowd to scream, “Crucify him!” But there is a third lone voice that cries out in the quietness of Jesus’ death.
Let us pray that we can join with the centurion in proclaiming, in awe and humility, and even joy, “Truly, this was the Son of God.”
