Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-11; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 27:11-54
Jerusalem is in turmoil (Matthew 21:10). The festival of the Passover may have multiplied the regular city population by 6-fold. Israelites from all over the Mediterranean sea have arrived to observe their religious piety. They all bring different coins from their place of residence and must exchange them for silver shackles, the only currency accepted on temple grounds. That is necessary for the purchase of fresh animals to offer as a sacrifice. The commerce is in full steam. There is money to be made and lots of taxes to be collected. In the background, the fear of a revolt is real. The Jewish Zealot militia used such occasions to create havoc and undermine the Roman presence. One Roman soldier has already been killed by a militant named Barrabas.
It is under this already very tense situation that the procession of Galileans who begin their journey of 100 miles from Caesarea Phillipi (Matthew 16:3, 21) arrive at the city gates. And they are making themselves noticed. They are announcing their king with them. The humble one promised who was to bring peace, sitting in a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Some immediately react and ask, “who is this?” “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee,” they reply (verse 11). Oh, no! Nothing good comes from that place, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, the land of deep darkness (Matthew 4:12-17). These crowds are bound to collide and collide they will. The resultant will lead the one who comes in the name of God to go through hell on earth and humankind to fully reveal its stench and bondage to death. However, we know who and what prevails in the end.
In his letter from imprisonment to the church in Phillipi, Paul urges the congregation to not look after self-interest (2:4) but to have the same mind as Christ (verse 5). What follows is perhaps one of the earliest creeds of the church that confesses as Lord the Messiah who emptied himself and gave up power to give life.
Isaiah speaks of prophecy! Even amid the striking and spitting (50:6), God will not allow those who together proclaim in God’s name to be shamed and disgraced (7-8).
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love (Psalm 31:16).
Bridging Faith 