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spalm06
Hosanna!
Text:
John 12:12-19
Date: Palm Sunday 4/9/06
He
arrived just as he was supposed to arrive, just as it had been written by the
prophet Zechariah. “Behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!”
(Zech. 9:9). So here he is. And at first it appeared that they remembered this
prophesy because they went out and greeted him with the kingly shout, the words
of the Psalm, “Hosanna!” that is, “save now,” “blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord” (Psalm 118:25-26). They even called him “the King of Israel!”
But John tells us it wasn't a cry of faith at all. He tells us “His disciples
didn't understand these things at first.” John should know for he was there.
Furthermore he says the real reason why the crowds went to meet him was only
because they had heard of his most incredible and final miracle of raising Lazarus
from the dead. So it had to be either faith in the Word of God being fulfilled
or some other enthusiasm at work because Jesus looked like anything but a king.
Earthly kings come riding into town on a powerful galloping steed with impressively
dressed saddles, girths and browbands, accompanied by a military entourage,
with uplifted fist receiving the accolades of the crowds. Well, the accolades
were there, but Jesus rode slowly, bareback on a young donkey of all things,
not even acknowledging the crowds. “Lowly,” “humble,” that's the way of the
kingdom of God.
So
will you greet King Jesus when he comes with cheers of faith? Or will you come
out only because there appears to be a party going on? Or will you just miss
his coming altogether by staying home? What “coming,” which “advent” are we
talking about? Many gather to celebrate and commemorate his first coming at
Christmas. After all the Christmas Gospel is so comforting with its images of
starry night skies, angels and shepherds, young Mary and Joseph and the infant
lying in a manger. You can almost feel “peace on earth” as the lights are dimmed
and we sing “Silent Night” to the glow of candles. A humble scene, yes. But
any mention that this might be a newborn king only results in the murderous
reaction of the king named Herod.
Neither
are we talking about his final advent when he comes as judge and victorious
Lord of all on the last day. The kingly cheer, “hosanna,” will be heard from
the faithful. But then every eye will see him and every knee shall bow and every
tongue be forced to confess that he is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
It is not his final advent that we're talking about today.
He
arrived in Jerusalem just in time for the Passover. But this would be no ordinary
Passover. This would be the last Passover ever to be celebrated. For all the
lambs slain through the centuries were but the “types” and prediction pointing
forward to The Lamb of God who, in his own flesh, would finally take away the
sin of the world, by whose sacrifice there would be no more angel of death,
and no more sacrifice for sin required. In Jesus the Passover finds its goal,
the symbol finds its substance. On that night when he would be betrayed he became
the Passover, he fulfilled it and he changed it. Now the blood of the lamb is
no longer painted on the doorpost, its broiled flesh and flat bread eaten in
remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt, but now he gives us his own blood to drink,
his own body to eat bringing our liberation from the bondage of sin. In this
sacrament He comes to us, brings and distributes His gifts, the benefits and
power of his cross, his sacrifice to each believer in every age and every place.
Yes. That's why we sing those kingly words at every communion, “Hosanna, blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” For then and there…here he comes to
us and gives us his own body and blood under the humble forms of bread and wine.
Here we sing the eternal Sanctus of the angels Isaiah heard and saw in the temple,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory,”
because here the eyes of faith see the King. We see him and live.
Like the
first disciples you cannot understand these things but with the eyes of your hearts
enlightened with faith in the glorified and risen Lord (John 12:16). All that
the mortal eye beholds is a little bread, a little wine and little groups of people
all over the world of every nation and language singing some ancient Hebrew word,
“Hosanna.” Before the eye of faith, however, unfolds the triumphant entry of the
King of the universe coming with healing in his wings, with forgiveness, life
and salvation in his body and blood. So let every heart welcome him with shouts
of faith fit for The King: “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed
it he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
____________________
Rev. Allen D. Lunneberg
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