"Our Crucified King" - Luke 19:28-40
Luke’s telling of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his reception as a king contains more than a hint of irony. Jesus’ riding on a donkey, the laying of cloaks upon his path, and the crowd’s singing of “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord,” all indicate Jesus’ kingship. Yet those who expect Jesus to rule as any other king- those who anticipate his establishing a political kingdom- are sorely mistaken. Jesus is the king who lives in service to others, who heals and liberates and feeds; he is the king who gives up his life for the people of his kingdom. Many of those cheering his entry to Jerusalem will soon betray him, abandon him, and even cheer on his crucifixion.
The crowds present during Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem can be forgiven for their failure to understand the nature of Jesus’ kingship. After all the events of Holy Week, the crucifixion and the resurrection, had not yet occurred. We, on the other hand, have the benefit of hindsight. We know how the story ends. We know that Jesus is not at all like the kings of this world and yet we still celebrate his triumphal entry as king each year on Palm Sunday. What does it mean for us to celebrate a crucified king?
To follow Jesus after that first Easter should mark us off from the rest of the world in certain ways. Claiming Jesus as Lord means putting our allegiance to Him above all other allegiances. It means finding greatness in service to others. It means swearing off revenge and bitterness in favor of forgiveness, grace, and love. It means acknowledging the last as first and the first as last. It means being willing to sacrifice on behalf of others. Yet following Jesus, our crucified King, is not only a path of sacrifice and service. It is also the path that leads to eternal life here and now. It is the way to live in the love, joy, and peace of God now and forever. May our celebration of Palm Sunday renew our allegiance to our crucified Lord and bring us ever greater love and joy.
Rev. Andrew Greenhaw