From Triumph to the Cross
Mark 11:1-11
Today is Palm Sunday. Our focus today is remembering the time when Jesus and his disciples came into Jerusalem in triumph. Today in some churches they wave Palm branches in honor of Christ Jesus. Like the First Century crowd, we call out our “Hosannas!” We honor Jesus as he entered Jerusalem as God’s King coming in peace. Everyone loves a parade. The first Palm Sunday parade was a short one as it only consisted of Jesus, his disciples and the crowd. However, it was a parade that rocked First Century Jerusalem. Do you know why it was such a big deal? Do you know what Jesus was really up to? Do you know what the powerful people of Jerusalem were planning? Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was more than a parade.
Jesus was making a public statement without using words. First Century rabbis and the people knew the prophesies. They knew that long ago the prophet Zechariah made a prophesy about God’s King coming into Jerusalem and ushering in a new era. They knew that the Messiah would enter the city from its eastern most boundaries, the village of Bethphage. They knew that the Messiah would enter the city riding on a donkey. The prophet Zechariah (9:9) tells us, “Rejoice gladly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus was making a statement, a big public statement of who he really is.
Without saying a word, Jesus was telling everyone, “I am the Messiah.” As everyone knew Zechariah’s prophesy, the crowd responded to Jesus by honoring him as the Messiah King. The disciples spread garments on the road in front of him. This was a custom reserved for royalty. In spreading their garments in front of Jesus, they were honoring him as King. The crowd waved Palm branches to welcome him. Everyone who saw what was going on would see this as a symbol of Jewish nationalism. They would see Jesus as King. The crowd shouted words which honored Jesus as being in the lineage of King David who reigned a thousand years before. The crowd shouted, “Hosanna!” Hosanna literally means, “Save us!” The crowd was welcoming Jesus as Messiah King who would literally save them.
Do you know what the crowd wanted saved from? The crowd likely was excited as they saw Jesus as the one who would lead the people in rebelling against Roman occupation and oppression and defeating them. Rome had an occupation army in Jerusalem not far from the Temple. The Roman fortress overlooked the Temple, and the Romans would have seen Jesus coming as a potential threat to their power. On Palm Sunday the Roman army went on alert. They would see what Jesus was doing as a potential danger.
Jesus came into Jerusalem and the crowds welcomed him. The crowds followed Jesus throughout his ministry in Galilee and Judea. They were among his greatest supporters. In the Gospel of Mark, one of the major themes is the crowd. Throughout Mark, there are a number of references to the crowd or a great multitude of people following Jesus. Wherever he went, the crowd followed or was there to welcome him.
In chapter one, Jesus was up on Mount Eramos north of the Sea of Galilee in prayer when his disciples found him. They told him, “Everyone is searching for you (Mark 1:37).” In chapter two, he was by the Sea of Galilee and the crowd was present and he taught them. In chapter 3, we read, “Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea beyond the Jordan and the region around Tyre and Sidon (Mark 3:7-8).” That covers a large territory in the Near East. The crowd came from all over to follow Jesus. In chapter 4:1-2, a very large crowd gathered around him and he got into a boat and taught them. In chapter 5, “…a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake (Mark 5:21b).” In chapter 6, he fed a crowd which numbered over 5000 people. “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things (Mark 6:34).” In Chapter 7, the crowd is still with him. In chapter 8, he feeds a crowd numbering 4000 people. In chapter 9, “When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him (Mark 9:14-15).” In chapter 10, the crowds again gathered around him. And in chapter 11, the crowds were present and they welcomed him into Jerusalem as Messiah King. The crowds were everywhere Jesus was. He taught them. He fed them. He healed the sick. He cast out demons. He led them. The crowds were among Jesus’ greatest supporters.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph, the crowds were there. They were there when he taught in the Temple. In chapter 12, the Temple officials wanted to arrest him “but they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away (Mark 12:12).” Jerusalem’s powerful people saw Jesus as a threat to them and wanted to arrest him and kill him. However, they feared the crowd might react negatively if they did so. In chapter 14, the temple officials were still worried about Jesus and the reaction of the crowd. They worried that the crowd might riot if they arrested him. A riot would draw the attention of the Roman officials. It would be very bad for the Temple officials if the crowd rioted. The Romans wanted everything to be at peace. They wanted no riots, no disturbances, and no threats to their rule. The crowds followed Jesus everywhere.
It is nice to have the support of people. This is an election year and politicians, even those running for minor offices, will spend enormous amounts of money trying to gain the support of the people. They would certainly envy the support Jesus had. The crowd was behind him. However, in chapter 15, the crowd appears again. Do they wave Palm branches? Do they shout “Hosanna?” Do they welcome him again as King? Do they remember all the wonderful things he did for them? Do they remember his teaching and miraculous healings? Were they still in awe of him?
The Temple officials and one of the disciples, Judas, got their heads together and developed a big plan to apprehend Jesus quietly at night and out of the sight of the crowds. The plan works. Judas betrays him for 30 denarii and Jesus is arrested. The Temple officials held a kangaroo court and convicted him of blasphemy. They wanted to kill Jesus but only Rome could execute a prisoner. Therefore, they then shuttled him back and forth between the Roman puppet, King Herod and the chief Roman official, Pilate. Pilate interrogates Jesus and finds him harmless. Mark tells us that he actually wants to release him.
The first Palm Sunday was during the feast of Passover and Pilate had a custom of releasing a prisoner to the people. The crowd appears again and asks Pilate to honor his custom. Pilate asks them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews? (Mark 15:9)?” The crowd is likely the same people who followed Jesus. Surely they will rescue him! Surely the crowd will save Jesus. Surely they would honor Jesus by telling Pilate to release him but they did not call for his release. The crowd indeed was like sheep without a shepherd. Mark tells us that the chief priests stirred them up to call for the criminal Barabbas’ release. Pilate asked the crowd, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews? (Mark 15:12).” The crowd shouted, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why? What crime has he committed (Mark 15:14a)?” “But they (the crowd) shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him! ‘Crucify him!’” (Mark 15:14b). Pilate then gives into the wishes of the crowd and releases the criminal Barabbas. He has Jesus flogged and hands him over for crucifixion.
For centuries so-called Christians have called the Jews, “Christ-killers.” Atrocities have been committed in the name of Jesus. Many pogroms have been carried out in which Jews were murdered, beaten, raped and had their homes burned and property stolen all because the so-called Christians saw them as “Christ-killers.” Today we are seeing anti-Semitism rear its ugly head again. The Islamists and the leftists have joined together to demonstrate and riot against Jews. Are the Jews “Christ-killers”? Mark tells us who actually killed Jesus. Was it the Jews? Was it the Temple officials? Was it the Romans? Mark tells us who sentenced Jesus to death. It was the crowd. It would be easier to blame the Romans, the Temple officials, and others. However, Mark pulls us chapter after chapter toward that hellish moment, when we, the crowd who followed Jesus answered Pilate, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
This Holy Week is not a family holiday like Independence Day or Memorial Day. It’s not a time for picnics or warm beaches. We are entering the season of betrayal and crucifixion. It is a time when people of faith recognize their sinfulness. Every time we dishonor Jesus by doing something that is sinful, which is contrary to the will of God, we again yell out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Holy Week and Good Friday is a time for remembering that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. It is a time to remember just how much Jesus loved us that he would even go to his death on a Cross. It is a time when we need to grieve for our sins and pour out our hearts in prayer to the God who loves us so much that he sent Jesus to teach us, to heal us, and to die for us. Holy Week begins with a triumphal parade and ends with a crucifixion. How will you honor the Lord of the Cross during this holy season and in the months and years to come?
A sermon preached on Palm Sunday
at Veterans Memorial Chapel
by CH (COL) Michael W. Malone