Palms to Passion Sunday

Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14—23:56

Luke 22:14—23:56

¹⁴ When the hour came, [Jesus] took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵ He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, ¹⁶ for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves, ¹⁸ for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. ²¹ But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. ²² For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” ²³ Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

  ²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. ²⁵ But he said to them, “The kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. ²⁶ But not so with you; rather, the greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
  ²⁸ “You are those who have stood by me in my trials, ²⁹ and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

  ³¹ “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail, and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” ³³ And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” ³⁴ Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day until you have denied three times that you know me.”

  ³⁵ He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” ³⁶ He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless,’ and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” ³⁸ They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”

  ³⁹ He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” ⁴¹ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” ⁴³ [[Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. ⁴⁴ In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]] ⁴⁵ When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

  ⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” ⁴⁹ When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹ But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a rebel? ⁵³ When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness!”

  ⁵⁴ Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶ Then a female servant, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” ⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” ⁵⁸ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹ Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean.” ⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.

  ⁶³ Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; ⁶⁴ they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it who struck you?” ⁶⁵ They kept heaping many other insults on him.

  ⁶⁶ When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. ⁶⁷ They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe, ⁶⁸ and if I question you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” ⁷⁰ All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” ⁷¹ Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

 ^23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man inciting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” ³ Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” ⁴ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” ⁵ But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

  ⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷ And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. ⁹ He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

  ¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people, and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him.”
  ¹⁸ Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” ¹⁹ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, ²¹ but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” ²² A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” ²³ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

  ²⁶ As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. ²⁸ But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ ³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ ³¹ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
  ³² Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³ When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ [[Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵ And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
  ³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” ⁴³ He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

  ⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” ⁴⁸ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

  ⁵⁰ Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹ had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. ⁵² This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴ It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. ⁵⁵ The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶ Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
  On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

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Hell Unleashed

Grace to you, beloved of God, and peace from our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ!

One of the most memorable movie scenes for me is the opening of Gladiator when General Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe, is overseeing the last preparations for the battle to ensue between his legion and the barbarian rag-dog army, full of bravado but destined to be slaughtered and conquered. On my signal, says Maximus to his second in command, unleash hell – hell being also the name of his war companion dog. Upon his command, hell is unleashed, not only the canine but a barrage of fiery projectiles launched by catapults that almost annihilate the opposing army before the battle starts. 

That, beloved,  is one example of the deadly power at the hands of a very anxious Pontius Pilate, eager to accomplish two things during that Passover Festival that were sort of at odds with each other. On the one hand, Pilate did not want to raise any further displeasure among his superiors in Rome,  notably Emperor Tiberius Ceasar Augustus, also known across the Empire as the son of god. The Pax Romana that assured the flow of the temple tax proceedings to Rome was to be kept at all costs. On the other, he needed to ensure that the powder keg that was a rebellious and overcrowded Jerusalem would not explode in bloodshed. It was a somewhat impossible situation for the overseer of Judea. It was, however, the perfect one for evil to throw the kitchen sink at the real Son of the Living God. 

If you remember Jesus’ partial win over the devil in the wilderness, Luke tells us that the ruler of this world departed until an opportune time. If Jesus wins here, it’s game over. This is it—the last but perfect opportunity. Hell is about to be unleashed into everyone.

Once Jesus and his entourage arrive in Jerusalem, one can feel the presence of evil in Luke’s narrative. Almost immediately, the hostilities begin. Someone shouts over the loud, singing crowd, teacher, tell your disciples to stop! It’s the first jab! No, Jesus seems to reply. Even if they were silent, the stones would be shouting. There is no stopping this. It is on.

Jesus can tell, and he is feeling it.  Following the gospel of Luke from the triumphal entry on, he weeps over Jerusalem; gets frustrated over how the business of the temple is conducted; has his authority questioned; dodges an attempt to get him to speak against the Emperor; denounces the scribes who devour widows houses and praises the one who gives only two coins; foretells the destruction of the temple; and warns everyone to keep watch; all while the plot to kill him thickens and evil keeps making strides until the collective of the possessed enemies of the gospel reaches Judas. Evil had been at work and fomenting resentment and anger all along. Now, with the betrayal, it kicks in another notch. 

Yet, Jesus gathered the disciples for their Passover meal. The hour had come. He blessed the bread and the cup and shared it with his closest disciples, who had been with him through thick and thin but had not seen anything yet. Evil did not seem to be able to penetrate that sacred space of the first Eucharist. As soon as it is over, it resumes its attacks, almost as if it used the sanctity of the meal break to reload. Out of nowhere, Jesus denounces one among them as a betrayer without naming names. That triggers divisions and disputes among them. Who is the betrayer? Who is the greatest? Jesus seems to attempt to bring things back into focus there. He reminds them there are no lords or benefactors in his kingdom. The greatest is to become the lowest. The rewards for the trials to come will be delayed, but sure. He is faithful. 

Then evil interferes again, and Jesus is once more its target. He prays that they will resist it. Upon Peter’s assurances that he was willing to partake in their teacher’s destiny, he discloses to his chief disciple that he will stumble. Peter, you will deny me three times before the sun comes up! Things are getting tense again.

Tense and weird, Jesus brings up the fact that they were provided upon when they were sent alone before, but now they are to make sure they have the necessary supplies to endure the storms to come, even swords! I mean, I get it. A pep talk is always good, but the timing and delivery seem off here for Jesus. And swords, really? Evil is at work, sisters, and brothers, and it may be getting under Jesus’ skin. The evidence of it comes next.  

After the meal, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives to pray, as usual. What is unusual is that he seems afraid. I wonder if he feels alone, even with the disciples nearby. He displays concern for his disciples and asks them to pray so they can resist what is to come. Jesus knows his destiny and the challenges that await his beloved students. I wonder if the thought of it all causes him to pray for the Father to stop it, if possible. For a split second, evil sees a crack in Jesus’ armor. The heavens sense how precarious the moment is.  Jesus is tended for, prays harder, and musters the strength to go on. There is no false bravado here. This is real and authentic. I told you, folks, evil is playing a strong hand.  

Then Judas arrives, and he brings hell with him. When the rubber meets the road, Jesus steps up to the plate. Violence unfolds, obviously, but he manages to de-escalate the initial confrontation for the safety of his beloved disciples. The good news resists. 

There is a barrage of evil now:  unjust imprisonment, beatings, slandering, gaslighting, and mockery. The real Son of God remains steadfast. Peter falls. That gotta hurt for Jesus. Evil is relentless. After taking over the supreme council of religious authorities – the Sanhedrin – it unites Pilate, vassal King Herod Antipas, and even the crowd. I wonder how many who sang before “Hosannah in the highest” are now shouting, “Crucify him!”

It goes on: more beatings, severe beatings, more mockery, more torture, more shame, increasing pain. Jesus is now lifted to the cross and nailed to a tree. From that vantage point, he can see and feel everything evil has done. The women are beating their breasts in despair. The people are tearing their clothes. He sees his beloved weeping in horror and grief. The one who set with sinners and ate with them is dying among criminals. Disgrace and desolation are all around.

At this moment, evil plays its ace up its sleeve. It wants Jesus to fail, for the Lamb of God to vindicate himself. Evil desires Jesus to use all his power to come down from that cross. “If you are the Messiah, save yourself!” If Jesus does that here, he loses, for everything he came to teach and reveal becomes null. 

Evil forgot or maybe could never see that God had announced long ago that what God was about to do was new. Evil thought it could prevail by using our tools against the Son of God—fear, violence, selfishness, anger, avarice, etc. Jesus was at least partially human, anyway. He would have a breaking point. Everybody does. 

However, God had left the building, the holy of holies, and even the highest heavens to spend time with God’s people. And God had come down, in person, to the gates of Jerusalem. He rode no horses and carried no weapons, yet God was present in its fullness: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Jesus was never alone. 

God was not there to punish but to take upon Godself the punishment we deserve. God was not there to condemn but to restore. God was not there to retaliate but to reconcile. God was not there to be great, at least not in how we think. The God who sees us differently wanted to be seen by us in a different way. 

Luke was given a little Easter egg, if you will, to share with us as a gift. After breaking bread that night and teaching us again how to be great, our Savior says, “Ego eimi, I AM, Elohim, the Lord, as one who serves. Evil never had a chance. Thanks be to God. Amen.