I think I can safely assume that most of you know something about the Palm Sunday story. You probably know how it came to be called “Palm Sunday”. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people waved palms.  A crowd of eager celebrants waved palm branches, put their coats in the road and shouted ”Hosanna”. In addition we have always had palms to pass out after worship. We have palms for you today. 

I have preached the Palm Sunday story at least once a year since 1965. That means some 42 Palm Sunday sermons.  I have told the story every possible way. I have told it from the viewpoint of the crowd. I have told it through the imagined eyes of Jesus. I have told it from the view point of the leaders who stood by grousing about what was going on. I even told the Palm Sunday story once though the eyes of the donkey owner. Jesus sent a team of two disciples ahead to borrow the donkey. How would you feel if two guys came up to you and wanted to borrow your car, or  your neighbor’s  car  Young  donkeys  were a valuable commodity in those days. They provided transportation, they provided some status and possibly a bit of income. Maybe I should have entitled the Palm Sunday sermon “Horse thieves for Jesus!” 

I have this story from the viewpoint of the rocks on the road. When the enemies of Jesus asked him to make his disciples be quiet, Jesus responded, “I tell you that if these are quiet even the very stones in the road will cry out.” 

The point being this: is there anything new to be said? Are there any new angles? Are there any new perspectives on the Palm Sunday story? My answer this morning is, “yes”.  I have a new ingredient, a new element, a new feature!  Let me explain. 

Jesus rode down the Mt. of Olives and through the eastern gate of the City of Jerusalem. I followed that path myself many years ago. I re-lived the moment. The people of Jerusalem turned out to welcome him. Mostly they were peasant people. And they cheered. They believed Him to be the long awaited Messiah. It was the Sunday morning before the Passover. 

However, in all probability there was another parade on that day - a much different kind of parade. This parade came through the western gate of the city - the other side of the city. It was a parade of Roman soldiers. They were in full regalia, full armor carrying weapons. They rode fully dressed horses of war. Some of them were probably on foot. They carried banners. They had symbols of golden eagles on poles. They were probably beating drums. They came not to attack Jerusalem, not to make trouble for the city. But to make sure there was no trouble. 

When Rome marched it was a symbol of power and military might. It was a symbol of imperial domination. Rome ruled the world. The Emperor knew that at every Jewish festival the population swelled in Jerusalem. At Passover it was enormous. Jerusalem moved from a city of about 40,000 to probably 200,000 or more. The Emperor knew there could be a riot or an uprising or worse. He simply would not be embarrassed! 

Rome was not particularly religious but Rome knew that centuries earlier the  Hebrew people had over thrown a Pharaoh in Egypt and escaped to liberation and freedom. He did not want that experience to be repeated or attempted. As a symbol of power and authority, Caesar sent show of force. Caesar wanted crowd control. He sent Pilate and his troops to be sure. 

This second Roman parade happened at every Passover in Jerusalem. This year was no different – except for the Jesus parade.[I] I find this picture reverently imaginative and highly believable.     

Rome’s parade was a theological statement. It emphasized the Power of empire and the divinity of the emperor as a “Son of God”. The Jesus parade was also a theological statement. This parade told of the Kingdom of God and what that Kingdom would be like. Rome’s parade said that power and glory and violence ruled the world. Jesus’ parade embodies an alternative vision. 

I think Jesus knew about the Roman army parade. I think Jesus timed his ride to coincide with the other parade. He wanted to demonstrate an alternative to Roman imperial power. His was a pre-arranged counter-parade. It was even what I would call a “planned political demonstration” Jesus was countering what was happening on other side of the city. 

Consider the story. Jesus sent two disciples to find a colt or a donkey. Such an animal was a very simple and humble creature, much different from a war horse. Jesus knew the animal would be where he said it was – waiting to be borrowed. He gave instructions as to what his disciples should say to owner or bystanders if anyone questioned them. And in Mark’s Gospel he promises to return the animal. Jesus had prepared this moment very deliberately and very carefully. 

As the military show of force rode in through Western gate, a very different procession rode through Eastern gate.  

Perhaps Jesus was remembering the Psalm

Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,

but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.

            They will collapse and fall,

but we shall rise and stand upright.

                                                (Psalm 20:7-8)

Or, maybe another Psalm (33:16-17)

              A king is not saved by his great army;

              a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

              The warhorse is a vain hope for victory,

              and by its great might it cannot save. 

Matthew makes the connection between this parade and the

interpretation explicit. He quotes from Zachariah 9:9-10   

Rejoice greatly, 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.

He will cut off….the war-horse from Jerusalem; 

and the battle bow shall be cut off,

and he shall command peace to the nations…

I think Jesus was setting up an intentional contrast that first Palm Sunday morning. It was stark contrast. The world wants to rely on military might. The kingdom of God relies upon gentleness, servanthood, and peace. On one side are all the forces of imperial power and pomp. On the other side is the the power of a servant and of simplicity.

The Kingdom is about something totally different than Rome. The day will not be won by military might. The day will be won by kindness, love, and justice.

The crowds watching Jesus on that first Palm Sunday probably did not understand. They cheered for a very different kind of Messiah. But Jesus turned out to be much more, much different than they bargained for.

This world has still not learned his message. This world has still not bought this picture. We say that the Jesus message is unrealistic, naïve, silly, even foolish.

I do not believe that Jesus is not necessarily saying “We should have no military or no defense.” Rather what he is saying is something like this, “Don’t rely on these things to save you, not as a kingdom person, not as my disciple because there is no salvation in these things.”

I think Jesus knew his message would not be an easy sell. Jesus knew that this would be a very hard lesson. Jesus knew there would be stiff resistance. Jesus knew it would require great inner strength. Many years ago I read a book of sermons by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  It had a fascinating title. It was called simply, “Strength to Love”. The implication was that it takes great strength to do what Jesus did and what Jesus calls us to do.

So what shall we do with this new Palm Sunday picture? The story at least gives me pause. I am still processing this rather new piece of Biblical news!

But I am convinced that it was not a spontaneous spur of the moment happening. Rather it was a deliberate plan by Jesus to make a point!

AN ALTERNATIVE EXISTS

The story reminds me that an alternative exists. I may not like it. I may not think it’s very realistic. But centered and rooted in Jesus of Nazareth – whom I try to follow.

The word Hosanna is literally a prayer. It means, “Save Now.”  OR “Save, I pray.”

Even the words given to the disciples about the donkey are interesting. The disciples say to the bystanders,  “The Lord has need of it” But wait a minute!  Caesar is Lord.  No, Jesus is Lord! This is no accidental statement.  In many ways I would say that nothing in the Gospel of Mark is accidental!

God’s purposes are always bigger and better than ours. We still say, “We will be saved by a great army or by strength or by great wealth.” God says, “No, I have a new and better way. Will you trust me on this?”

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Secondly, the story gives me hope for the future. It provides a new and fresh picture of unprecedented strength. How willing are you and I to lean into that strength?

I recently saw a list of paradoxes or oxymorons:

            Pretty ugly

            Down escalator

            Authentic reproduction

            Jumbo Shrimp

I can add two words to that list this morning:

            Triumphant servant!

Can we use the enormous resources of this great nation in a new way? Can we exercise a gentler, servant style mission toward Iraq or Iran or Palestine or North Korea or Pakistan or Afghanistan? What would happen if we tried to be the Christian Nation we profess to be?

Here is the question for you and me this Palm Sunday morning of 2007: Which parade will I join? Which parade will you join?  Which procession do you want to be in?

Will you be in the one from the East, the Jesus parade? Or will you be in the one from the West, the Roman military parade? Which parade sets the bar for you? Which Palm Sunday parade holds the future?