Luke 19: 28-40; Philippians 2: 5-11
These were
dangerous times in the days of first century Galilee…
Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week – the week
of anticipation; the week of deep, deep meaning; symbolic action and ultimate sacrifice. The week when loyalties
will be tested to their limits and most will be found lacking.
This is Palm Sunday -
the day when Jesus’ mission is finally realised; once he enters the city wheels
are set in motion, which will be unstoppable.
Once it was all over; if we fast forward a few months when
Jesus’ earthly mission is complete, and those who were left begin the task of
sharing the news of the Kingdom – God’s Kingdom, there will be many more
dangerous times.
Paul, once known as Saul of Tarsus – is a Roman citizen; he
is not an uneducated fishermen; he is an educated Jewish man; a man of letters.
Thus he has authority. He writes to his churches from jail; with fervour, love,
passion and a desire to share everything he could, as quickly as he could – for
he too, was living in dangerous days.
For, once Jesus had entered Jerusalem that fateful day, nothing
would stop the tide of God’s power.
People would die for the cause; they would be imprisoned and
persecuted; this tide was unstoppable. For God’s love is unstoppable.
Paul, writing from Jail, has a sense of urgency; he wants
everyone who hears his letters to understand who Jesus was; what Jesus
stood for, and why Jesus was worth dying for.
The letter to the church in Philippi is full of
encouragement; and it tells the story of Jesus in plain language.
According to William Barclay in this passage we have one of
the most important verses in the New Testament – not from the gospel, but from
the epistle. Barclay says, “Verse 11 is one of the most important verses in the
New Testament. In it we read that the aim of God, the dream of God, the purpose
of God, is a day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
The aim of God
The dream of God
The purpose of God…
To proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.
You may not realise just how radical this is.
Remember the Pharisees ordering Jesus to tell the crowds to
stop calling him Lord?
Calling anyone Lord, other than Caesar was treason. People
were expected to declare “Caesar is Lord!!” and to declare anyone else as Lord was
subversion.
And here is Paul; a good Roman citizen, doing that exact
thing: Jesus is Lord!!
This passage in Romans is beautiful; it is passionate; it
sums up all that Jesus did: and for Paul, it explains to those who read, why he
is willing to be incarcerated; why he is willing to live dangerously.
The whole of the epistle to the Philippians reads like a love
letter between God and humanity; it is full of encouragement and enthusiasm for
faithful living; it is underpinned with love and bathed in prayer.
And this passage is its “raison d’etre” its purpose: to
outline what Jesus did.
What Jesus did, was to enter Jerusalem; surrounded by crowds
of happy, excited people. People who were anticipating some wonder; some
marvel.
They thought they were about to witness Jesus overthrowing
the ruler and re-establishing Israel to its rightful place.
Truth is they were right, it was indeed a conquest, but not as they expected it to…
Jesus knew that the days remaining were few; and so he
allowed the very people who in just a few days’ time would be baying for blood,
to proclaim him God’s chosen one.
Jesus knew all that would happen in the week to come.
He knew Judas would get impatient and take matters into his
own hands
He knew that Mary would realise something was about to happen
and would bathe him in tears and strong perfume.
He knew that Peter would act impetuously; and then hide away;
that Peter would be so afraid he would deny even knowing him.
Jesus knew that his beloved friends; his closest followers,
would all run away; terrified; confused.
He knew that the scribes and the pharisees would call for his
death, and a weak and terrified governor would give in to their commands. And
that he would be put to death in the most horrible way.
Jesus knew all of these things.
And still, he moved forward.
Jesus was in the business of living dangerously.
Palm Sunday is the day it begins: they day that God’s plan;
God’s dream; God’s purpose; God’s Love would set in motion the greatest act of
love in all of history.
In a week from today we will be celebrating joyfully that
once again, death is conquered; heaven’s gates flung wide; Jesus is risen.
Today, we begin the journey to the tomb: in between there are opportunities to
come and remember what happened in between those two Sundays.
Betrayal and fear
Anger and denial
Anguish and death
Today is hosanna in the highest…
Tomorrow brings fear and anxiety.
Living dangerously
Living faithfully
Living with Jesus in our hearts
Amen
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