Servants of the servant king (Palm Sunday)

 I like Palm Sunday because it is a happy time when Jesus reveals His identity as the Servant King. The symbolism is important. Jesus is honoured as a king riding into his capital city – the gold of Epiphany. Not on a horse as a worrier – on a donkey no one else has ridden on – a humble holy man, a priest – the frankincense of Epiphany. He is teaching us how to live as a servant of the servant king.

 

1.   Servants listen to their Lord

Self-Sacrificial Love is Humble (Palm Sunday)

The scene of Jesus riding toward Jerusalem is a picture of how the world is supposed to be. It is a scene where Jesus is celebrated as Lord by people in a right relationship with Him. It is a scene of joy and harmony and peace. This is love in action. We can see that real love is humble.

1. Humility is an attitude people can choose

It is an attitude people often confuse with fearfulness, weakness and indecision. 

Palm Sunday is A Celebration of Courage

(Fr. John – 30^th. Anniversary of Ordination)

 

I chose to be ordained a priest on Palm Sunday because it is a joyful celebration of Jesus courage in ministry. It was probably the happiest time in His ministry as He was claiming His authority as Messiah at the gates of Jerusalem. The people who were there because they recognised His teaching and miracles as evidence of His authenticity. It was courageous because challenging the authority and teaching of the religious establishment would lead to the most horrible and painful death possible. Jesus trusted that His Father would honour the New Covenant in His blood and raise Him and those who believed in Him from death.

 

1.  Jesus Proclaimed the Truth with Courage & Love

Palm Sunday - New Covenant of Servant King

 Palm Sunday is a celebration of Jesus “coming out” and revealing His identity as the Servant King. Up to this point He has been keeping under the radar of the Roman and religious authorities,  teaching and healing people in more remote areas. With the raising of Lazarus just outside Jerusalem His identity and authority has become public – and very dangerous. I love  the line  from CS Lewis where Lucy asks if the lion Aslan, who represents Jesus, is dangerous. “Of course He is!!” is the reply. I chose this Feast for my ordination as a priest because it is where Jesus reveals the New Covenant of self-sacrificial love, forgiveness and eternal spiritual life of joy by coming humbly on a donkey as opposed to a king on a horse with an army. 

1. The Servant-King guides believers with the Holy Spirit

Jesus is the Lord of a New Covenant (Palm Sunday)

The readings are preparing us for the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Experience. The Readings remind us that Jesus had great courage in facing opposition, modelled humility and obedience and made a New Covenant of forgiveness with believers. This New Covenant includes the Ten Commandments but adds the possibility of forgiveness through repentance and faith in the shed blood of Jesus. The Readings help us understand that Jesus is more than a teacher of goodness. Jesus is the Lord of a New Covenant relationship with God. As we prepare ourselves for the Easter experience it is a good time to examine our lives for evidence of humility and obedience to our half of this New Covenant – which is our Baptismal Covenant.

1. Have you “set your face like flint”?

Palm Sunday Is the Roll-out Of the New Covenant

·         Chose Palm Sunday Readings for my Ordination as a priest in 1992

·         ‘set His face like flint’ gave me the courage – hard to be different, face ridicule

·         Roll-out: new word for introducing a new program / computer system
·         Readings reveal who Jesus is, how to respond & how to celebrate
Pause at Eucharist Prayer words “New Covenant” to let them sink in

Palm Sunday Is the Roll-out Of the New Covenant

•  Chose these powerful and exciting Palm Sunday Readings for my Ordination 20 years ago
•  Words ‘set His face like flint’ gave me the courage to seek ordination
•  Roll-out: new word for introducing a new program / computer system
• Readings roll-out - reveal who Jesus is, how to respond & how to celebrate
• I pause at Eucharist Prayer words “New Covenant” to let them sink in - very dramatic moment

1.     On Palm Sunday Jesus reveals who He is publicly

a.     The disciples had begun to see this but were still  confused

b.     Many people had figured it out when He raised Lazarus

c.     Riding a donkey into Jerusalem was a claim to authority

d.     This was a claim to the religious authority of the Messiah

e.     Riding a horse would be a claim to political authority

f.      Even the crowd figured it out as fulfillment of prophecy

g.     Revelation includes quoting the Isaiah 57 Prophecy and throwing the money changers out of Temple – “my Fathers’ house”

2.     Jesus defines the New Covenant