Palm/Passion Sabbath

March 14/16, 2008

Victor H. Nixon

ON THE ROAD: SHOUTING HOSANNAS

Matthew 21:1-11

Today we visit three places on our continuing Lenten journey with Jesus in Matthew’s gospel: the village of Bethphage, the road through the Kidron Valley, and Jerusalem. Along the way we hear voices—voices of faith, celebration, and wonder. On this Palm/Passion Sabbath we listen to these voices at the beginning of Holy Week and learn about its significance for Jesus and for us.

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Some of you know my hometown is Lavaca, Arkansas, in Sebastian County. "Lavaca" is Spanish (la vaca) meaning "the cow." Nobody really knows how the town got its name since Hispanics never seem to have lived in the area. It’s a bit like Bethphage, the village in our text. In Hebrew, Bethphage means "house of unripe figs." Nobody knows how Bethphage got its strange name either. We do know that the village was located about two miles east of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives, although the exact location has never been determined. It appears only in this story in the New Testament and literally disappears.

Nevertheless, an important incident occurred in "House of Unripe Figs" on a Spring day at the beginning of the week of Passover, the most sacred week of the Jewish year, the same day Christians now celebrate as Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. With its climax of Good Friday and Easter, it is the most sacred week of the Christian year.

The voice we hear in Bethphage is from Jesus, telling two disciples to go into the village, find a donkey with a colt, untie and bring them to him. He said, "If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And they will be sent immediately." Matthew says this took place in fulfillment of messianic prophecies in Isaiah 62:11 and Zechariah 9:9.

"Just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And they will be sent immediately." Jesus’ statement to his disciples amazes me. You don’t even have to ask! If someone inquires about why you are taking the donkey and colt, just say I need them and the owner will send them! Simple. Nothing to it! Not even a receipt! Did he know the owner? Was this nameless person a follower? One must assume so for Jesus to be so confident of the owner’s trust.

It happens. A member once said to me, "Just let me know if you or the church need anything and I’ll be happy to help." It was an authentic offer because I later followed up when there was a major need in the church and the member came through with flying colors. God loves us all very much, but there must be a special place for people who take the initiative, who say, "The Lord needs it." No questions asked. They are ready to help with serving, caring, leading, financing—whatever Christ needs. If that nameless owner in our text had refused, put up a fuss, or equivocated, Palm Sunday might have turned out very differently. A lot of things turn out much differently when we respond in faith because the Lord needs what we have to give for the good of the Kingdom. Do you hear the voice of Jesus in this story?

The disciples brought the donkey and colt and put their cloaks on them. Jesus mounted and they began the next phase of this journey "on the road" down the Mount of Olives and across the Kidron Valley toward Jerusalem filling with Passover pilgrims. As they walked along some took off their cloaks and put them on the road for Jesus. Others cut branches and placed them on the road, the biblical equivalent of rolling out the red carpet to honor a dignitary. Then, we hear the voices of those who have joined Jesus on the road, shouting:

"Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes

"Hosanna" literally means "Save us," found in a number of psalms. It is also used as an acclamation, like "hallelujah!" Hosanna! The crowd was shouting Psalm 118:25-26, usually sung in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles while the congregation waved leafy branches, that were sometimes called "hosannas." We are witnessing liturgical tradition here. The "one coming in the name of the Lord" was understood to be the Messiah, the anointed Savior. So, these voices shouting and singing on the road were proclaim acclamations of praise and hope that Jesus was, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah.

Marcus Borg and John Crossan comment that two processions entered Jerusalem that day, one a peasant procession, the other an imperial procession.(1) From the east, Jesus rode a donkey, cheered by his followers. He was from the peasant village of Nazareth, his message was about the kingdom of God, and his followers were mostly peasants. They had journeyed from Galilee in the north toward Jerusalem, arriving with Passover crowds.

The other procession occurred on the western side of the city. Pontius Pilate, Roman Governor of Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, entered Jerusalem at the head of an impressive column of imperial cavalry on horses and soldiers in helmets and armor. Jerusalem was an occupied city of the Roman Empire. No voices shouting and singing, just the sounds of drums, marching feet and clink of metal. Onlookers were silent, curious, awed and probably resentful. The army and Pilate came, as usual on crowded holiday celebrations, to keep the Pax Romana. There could be and often was trouble, especially during Passover, a festival that celebrated the Jewish people’s liberation from an earlier empire in Egypt.

Jesus’ procession proclaimed the kingdom of God; Pilate’s proclaimed the power of empire. Jesus was hailed as "son of God," "lord," and "savior," and so was the Roman emperor, Augustus, considered to be a god. The two processions embody the central conflict of the week.

The meaning of the pre-planned procession for Jesus is clear in Matthew’s quotations from the prophet Zechariah describing a king coming to Jerusalem "humble, and mounted on a donkey."(9:9) Zechariah describes the rule of the king as having no chariots, war horses, or weapons—a rule of peace.(9:10) Jesus’ procession provided an alternative vision: the kingdom of God. No political oppression, no economic exploitation, no claim to rule by divine right.(2) This confrontation between two kingdoms continues through the last week of Jesus’ life.

Do you see the clash between the kingdom of God and the empires of our world? Do you hear hosanna voices for an alternative vision of peace in our Holy Week? Which procession are you in? Which procession do you wish to be in?

Matthew says that the whole city was in "turmoil" when Jesus entered Jerusalem. Agitation, restlessness, and commotion come to mind. Out of that turmoil we hear voices. "Who is this?" What is the peasant procession about? We’re trying to have Passover here? Who is this person on that ridiculous donkey? Well, it depends on whom you ask.

If you ask the crowd that followed Jesus in Jerusalem, they’ll tell you, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." (21:10-11). He certainly was a prophet, a spokesperson for God who, immediately after entering the city, overturned the tables of moneychangers in the Temple, telling them they were making the house of God into a den of thieves, confronting sin and wrong wherever he saw it.

If you were to ask religious leaders in Jerusalem, they’ll tell you Jesus is a blasphemer, claiming to be God and King of the Jews, breaking Sabbath at will and other laws of Moses.

If you ask Matthew, he’ll tell you that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Son of God, who preached the kingdom or rule of God in human lives (Matt. 16:16; 26:63), and a Rabbi who taught a radical love that fulfilled, but went beyond the Mosaic Law (Matt. 5-7), and called disciples to follow him.

If you ask me, I’ll tell you that I agree with the crowd who followed him into Jerusalem: He was a prophetic spokesperson for God who still confronts unjust religious and political systems and individuals as well when we let something or someone other than love of God and neighbor be our ethical standard.

If you ask, I’ll tell you that Jesus is my Rabbi, my Teacher, who provides answers to my primary theological questions: What is God like? What does it mean to be faithful? How should I live in relationship with others? What is my purpose in life?

I’ll tell you that I stand with Matthew in pledging my allegiance to Jesus as my Messiah, the Son of God, who leads me to affirm the government of God above all else in my life—above other kingdoms, empires, persons, principalities and powers in this world—who loves you and me. I call him my Savior.

And that’s why I want to be in his procession this Palm Sabbath and join with the voices of his followers who shout:

Hosanna!

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