Collect for Palm Sunday—Almighty and everlasting God the Father, who sent Your Son to take our nature upon Him and to suffer death on the cross that all mankind should follow the example of His great humility, mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ in His patience and also have our portion in His resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
PALM SUNDAY / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
Series A
Isaiah 50:4–9a
Philippians 2:5–11
Matthew 26:1—27:66 or Matthew 27:11–66 or John 12:20–43
Now Is the Hour When the Son of Man Is Glorified
“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming.” He comes in gentle humility, “sitting on a donkey’s colt,” yet also as the King of Israel “in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13, 15). His royal glory is faithful obedience and self-sacrificing service “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). The love of God is manifested in the cross and Passion of His Son for the salvation of sinners. Since He has borne our sins and suffered our death, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9), and He exalts us in His resurrection. Our Lord did not hide His face “from disgrace and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6), but He trusted His God and Father, who raised Him from death and the grave and exalted Him to His right hand. This same King Jesus now comes to us in gentle humility in His Supper, where He feeds us with His body and cleanses and covers us with His blood, so that “after his resurrection” we also shall rise and enter the holy city (Matthew 27:52–53).
Series B
Zechariah 9:9–12
Philippians 2:5–11
Mark 14:1—15:47 or Mark 15:1–47 or John 12:20–43
The Son of David Ascends His Throne and Reigns in Love from His Cross
The Son of David comes in gentle humility, “sitting on a donkey’s colt,” yet as the King of Israel “in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13–15). He comes to be lifted up in glory on the cross in order to cast out “the ruler of this world” and draw all people to Himself (John 12:23–32). The Church is thus called to “rejoice greatly,” because her King comes with salvation, and “he shall speak peace to the nations” (Zechariah 9:9–10). As He is anointed “beforehand for burial” (Mark 14:8), He also ascends His royal throne as “the King of the Jews” by way of His Passion (Mark 15:2, 17–19, 26). He goes “as it is written of him,” wherefore “you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power” (Mark 14:21, 62). For the glory of God is love, which crescendos in the humble obedience and voluntary self-sacrifice of the Son of God for the salvation of sinners. So, God the Father has “highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9), that He might reign over us in love with the forgiveness of His cross.
Series C
Deuteronomy 32:36–39
Philippians 2:5–11
Luke 22:1–23:56 (or Luke 23:1–56 or John 12:20–43). Or John 12:12-19
The Cross and Passion of Our Lord Are the Hour of His Glory
The King of Israel comes into His royal glory by the path of humble obedience “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). He “goes as it has been determined” (Luke 22:22), according to the Scriptures, willingly submitting to His Father’s plan for the salvation of sinners. “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). His suffering and death open the way of repentance for the forgiveness of sins because He goes to the cross bearing the sins of the world. In His resurrection, God the Father vindicates His people and has compassion on His servants (Deuteronomy 32:36). He kills to make alive; He wounds in order to heal. In remembrance of Him, we praise God, confessing “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11).
John 12.12-19
John 12:12 –
Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὁ ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται [b]ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα,
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
dative of time the crowd who was already there had heard...
John 12:13 –
ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐκραύγαζον· Ὡσαννά, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου, [d]καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
they took branches of the palm trees, they came out and began to cry out "hosanna blessed is the coming one..."
This is what they would do to a returning King...and we shall greet Him when He comes and we shall meet Him...quoting Psalm 118:25-27 John the Baptist's question, "are you the Coming One..."
How do they misunderstand this? What kind of Jews are these? Galileans, Zealots, a common crowd, did they understand who He was? The gospel He accomplishes all things in spite of people's understanding/expectations. See "what tramp of feet" See Lev. 23.40; 2 Maccabees 10; 1 Maccabees 13; - the feast of booths....did they get the holiday mixed up or was this merely a celebration...was this the day they selected the lamb...Selection Sunday...
John 12:14-15 –
εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ’ αὐτό, καθώς ἐστιν γεγραμμένον· 15 Μὴ φοβοῦ, θυγάτηρ Σιών· ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται, καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου.
And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!”
illustration Christ comes in on a young colt the new covenant now replaces the old. This is victory, but it doesn't fit people's expectations - He is a crazy, irresponsible, reckless King illustrated by his parables. See Matthew's quote Zachariah 9, Isaiah 40:9, see Luther's sermon on Advent 1 - the God Who comes to us. See also "Luther on the Psalms," see Ps. 113
John 12:16 –
ταῦτα οὐκ ἔγνωσαν αὐτοῦ οἱ μαθηταὶ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ’ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη Ἰησοῦς τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ’ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ.
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.
at first his disciples didn't understand these things only after He had been glorified...in John's gospel "being glorified" always refers to good Friday. cf. the Emmaus disciples event. John writes these event so we get it...see LSB setting #4 - John is admitting confusion here...we did not understand.
John 12:17 –
ἐμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ’ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν.
The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.
therefore the crowd who was with him from the time of Lazarus. Are there two crowds, one telling/confessing, the other seeking/coming.
John 12:18 –
διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος ὅτι [h]ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον.
The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
many came out to greet him because of the miracle, see Vv. 9-11
John 12:19 –
οἱ οὖν Φαρισαῖοι εἶπαν πρὸς ἑαυτούς· Θεωρεῖτε ὅτι οὐκ ὠφελεῖτε οὐδέν· ἴδε ὁ [i]κόσμος ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ἀπῆλθεν.
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
this is getting us nowhere...see how the whole world is going after him.
Sources:
-The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
-ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
-Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts, ‘The Triumphal Entry’© WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
-LCMS Lectionary notes © 2018
-Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing
