Palms to Passion
Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14—23:56
Holy Week arrives on this Palms to Passion Sunday. The believer may not lose sight that God in human form, the Lord, as the promised new thing that no one saw coming, is at the gates of Jerusalem – a city in turmoil by social-political tensions at the days leading to the Passover, occupied by an oppressive foreign army willing to go to great extremes to keep the “peace,” or the Pax Romana. This is a powder keg. The “wrong” move can ignite a dumpster fire and send someone to the cross.
This pressure cooker becomes a great next opportunity for Satan (Luke 4:13). Reading through the passion narrative in Luke gives rise to feelings of evil lurking and attempting to take hold of everyone around, even Jesus himself.
First-century Christians, trying to comprehend how the scandalous event that took place in the place they called “The Skull” could be good news for them, found solace and inspiration in the prophetic words of Isaiah. “The Lord God has given me … [so] that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word (50:1).” “I gave my back to those who struck me … I did not hide … from insult and spitting (6).” “I know I shall not be put to shame (7).”
The infant faith community in Philippi was certainly among those struggling. In an attempt to comfort and encourage those remaining faithful, Paul alludes to Christ’s mind as one who resisted evil not by defending his honor but by renouncing power (2:1-8).
The psalmist sings:
“But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love (Psalm 31:14 – 16; NRSVue).”
Bridging Faith 