Palm Sunday
God's saving plan, "the mystery of his will" mentioned in Ephesians 1:9, teaches that all creation makes one big circular movement from God and back to God- to "recapitulate" all things in heaven and on earth in Christ (Ephesians 1:10)…
….Which is why Jesus did not want the sword or even legions of angels to stop his saving plan from being accomplished, through his Passion and death on the Cross.
E.g. “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52).
We heard Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 3:38-48 during Lent: Do not counter violence with violence or it will bring evil upon you.
2. Pilate’s wife could not stop the Passion. She sent Pilate a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.”
3. Judas’ returning the thirty pieces of silver could not stop the Passion of the Christ either---
The kiss of betrayal was to fulfill and complete what happened to King David during the Sheba uprising. David sends his general Joab to the northern front where he meets his political rival Amasa. After extending a fraternal greeting, Joab grabs Amasa by the beard, tenderly kisses him, and fatally stabs him. As the commentators say, “Joab’s kiss and Judas’s were very much alike.” (Matthew Henry). In both, the traitor leaves Jerusalem with a large group, comes upon a brother, greets him, seizes him, kisses him, and brings about his death.
It was also a low point for Peter, perhaps the worst moment of the worst day of his life.
Lastly, Peter denied Jesus three times, under oath, but unlike Judas, Peter did not kill himself.
Peter returned to the disciples who reminded him that Jesus forgives sinners. Judas never went back. He deeply regretted what he had done, returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us?
Poor Judas confessed to the wrong people.
When one is burdened by sadness or regret, isolation is tempting but dangerous. (Prov. 18:1) The wise course is to stay close to fellow believers and regain spiritual strength (Heb. 10:24, 25).
4. A parade could not stop the Passion of the Christ--
Author John Naisbitt remarked, “Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it.” Jesus wasn’t looking for a parade. The parade was looking for him.
Only if we don’t repent from sin can we stop the Passion of the Christ from saving us.
We act by reason and will, but we don’t always choose God’s will. And if we sin gravely and don’t fully repent, then we won’t make it back to God. This is the great tragedy of human life.
But thanks be to God! For he sent his only Son to save us and bring us back to God.
Jesus says: I’m not going to ride above you, all high and mighty. I’m going to be here on your level.
Jesus take my donkey's reins!!
And we call out--
“Hosanna,” which means “God, come to save us,” through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
