Palm Sunday – The Pattern for Discipleship
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John 12:12-27
I. Hosanna!
Hosanna! That’s the word on the street! Masses of people are streaming into the streets in Jerusalem: Jesus’ disciples are there; perhaps thousands of other people who heard about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead; and some who saw it with their own eyes; there are even people from other nations (we hear today about Greeks coming). They pick up palm branches to wave. Why? Well, they’re not celebrating Ceasar or the Roman Empire that’s oppressing them. No, they’re celebrating Jesus and directly protesting Ceasar! “Hosanna,” they cry! Hosanna – in Hebrew it means literally, “Please save us!” or “Save us now!”
You see, they existed in what history calls the “Pax Romana” or Roman Peace, which offered peace by force. The imperial government created peace for all who submit to their taxation, for all who abide by the rules of a government that says white wealthy Romans are supreme, and other ethnic groups are less than fully human. Everyone who hailed Ceasar as king, and as God, could live under Roman rule...in peace. That was the peace Rome offered.
The common masses of Jewish people were oppressed and forced to comply. That was life in the Pax Romana. And yet, there were some of the Jewish elite who collaborated with Rome. If you were a person of color – Hebrew, African – you were less. If you had a disease or disability, you were less.
Jesus’ love for everyone, was itself an act of resistance. His refusal to conform to evil and injustice was a confrontation of this evil and injustice. Jesus confronted the oppressive ways of Rome and the Jewish leaders that collaborated with them. Jesus’ life and teachings revealed another way. Jesus’ way included loving and valuing people who are poor, people who are outcast, people from every tribe and nation. He preached that everyone was welcome at the banquet table of God, yet no one was coerced. His miracles that we’ve been looking at these past few weeks (turning water into wine, healing the sick, feeding the masses, and raising the dead), these revealed that He had power far beyond any human power.
But, Jesus never forced anybody to follow. His is not a Pax Romana. His life and teachings invite anyone and everyone to a different path. Jesus offers a different kind of peace. This peace is the result of love – first from God and then freely shared. This peace is a different kingdom. In fact, neither the disciples or the masses understood this peace. Years later, the apostle Paul later describes this way of Jesus as a peace that passes all understanding.
And until now, Palm Sunday, his disciples and many others have been mostly watching Jesus.
As Jesus argued with civil and religious officials, they watched, tense and riveted.
As Jesus defended a prostitute, they gasped.
As he talked in public with a woman from Samaria, they winced.
As he defied the Sabbath laws, they cringed.
As he declared that the last shall be first, the first last, and the rich shall be poor, they glanced around guardedly to see who was listening.
As he touched lepers and healed those with broken bodies, they whispered in awe.
The disciples have been watching all this for 3 years. But, today, on Palm Sunday, everything shifts. The disciples are no longer just following after Jesus in awe, fascination, or fear. The crowds are no longer just listening. Today is different, because they move from passive listeners to people marching in the streets!
In front of God and Rome and everybody, they cry “Hosanna,” proclaiming that their hearts, their faith, it all belongs, not to Rome, but to Jesus. Jesus’ way seemed so good, and his power looked…capable of throwing out all the oppressive leaders! “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Save us, Jesus!” The Pharisees despair, as we heard in today’s reading. They say “the whole world has gone after [Jesus]!”
II. King for a Day
Today, in March 2026, is still that day. On Palm Sunday, we say to Jesus, "It's our turn, Jesus. You’ve taught us well. You have shown us and taught us what God looks like. Thank you, Jesus."
It's our turn now, our turn to show the world what God looks like, to show the world what love looks like, to show the world what it looks like to love your enemies, and not only your enemies, but to love the immigrant, the stranger, and the other. Show the world what it looks like to forgive those who trespass against you, to forgive the one who sinned against you-- to forgive this one not once, not seven times, but seventy times seven times. It’s our turn to show the world what the way of God, the way of love looks like.
In a manifestly violent world, it is now our turn to show our friends, our families, our neighbors, our colleagues, what it looks like to follow the Prince of Peace, to turn the other cheek. It is our turn now.
In a merciless world, a “dog-eat-dog” and “might-makes-right” world, it's our turn to show the world what mercy looks like, God's mercy. It's our turn, now, today, to give witness to mercy. For Christ's sake give witness to mercy. Show the world what God looks like and watch, just watch. The world will turn its head.
It won't be easy. It will be costly.
III. Jesus is Glorified
The disciples and the crowds waving palms and crying out “Hosanna” made Jesus King for a Day in their hearts and on their lips. But what they never expected was the kind of king He was.
It didn’t strike them, at that time, that Jesus was riding a donkey (not high on a horse like a military leader) – his borrowed donkey was a sign of peace not war…a sign of humility not pride.
They didn’t focus on the fact that Jesus would stop Peter from using a sword.
They imagined Jesus would be as forceful as Rome, but just nicer somehow.
What they didn’t understand was…why Jesus was troubled that first Palm Sunday.
When Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” No one imagined that being glorified would include being tortured and killed.
The disciples truly didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about when he said: “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit.”
The people made Jesus King for a day that first Palm Sunday. But, when Jesus suffered, most people ran away and abandoned Jesus. Who will make Jesus not just king for a day, but the Lord of their Life?
The glory of God is the way of love that we see in Jesus. The way of love will make you whole. The way of love doesn’t end in with suffering and death on a cross. The way of love BEGINS in an empty tomb, on Easter. The way of love is more powerful than any force, violence, hate, or oppression. Yet, the way of love is targeted by all opposing powers. The way of love leads through suffering. Perhaps you and I know that. Have you ever loved someone? Love is vulnerable, love is kind, love is patient, love does not count wrongs but forgives. And it makes us whole. God is love and God invites you this Palm Sunday to be transformed by love.
Let us pray. Dear God, on this Palm Sunday, grant us the courage and self-control to step out onto the stage of life and make you more than king for a day. Be the Lord of our lives, Jesus. Help us find courage to love like you love…to love enough to say no to oppression and hate in our government, in our society, in our families, and in our selves. Help us overcome hate and force with love. Open our hearts to love as Jesus loves and to live in the ways of your kingdom which has no end. Amen.[1]
One last thought. Today is the beginning of Holy Week. This Thursday, come again to explore how Jesus taught us to love. On Friday, come to listen to Jesus’ the last words from the cross. In scripture, music, and teaching we’ll look deeply at how Jesus “understands” every pain you and I ever suffer, truly forgives all our failures...and on Easter Sunday we’ll celebrate how God’s love brings life even when all seems to be lost.
Pastor Doug Cox