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April 1, 2007 (Palm Sunday)
Scripture: Luke 19: 28-40
Title: “Blessed is the King”

As I prepared this sermon and tried to imagine what it would have been like to be in Jerusalem that day, my mind began to wonder what it would be like to have a celebration or parade in my honor. Kind of like, a Macy’s Day Parade in my honor! I have been practicing my wave.

I can honestly say that it has never happened and probably will never happen. Sure, I have been in parades during high school and college. But I have never had a parade in my honor.

The closet thing that I could come up with to relate to this experience in our Scriptures today happened in high school. Our high school marching band had traveled to Jacksonville to compete in the Gator Bowl Marching Band contest. We were all sure that we would not win. No of us thought that we had marched a very good show but surprise! Our high school marching band actually won the competition and was given the great honor of marching the half time show for the Gator Bowl one year.

We left Jacksonville on an emotional high that we had just accomplished something amazing. By the time we reach our town in North Carolina, it was dark and most of us were asleep on the charter buses. And then suddenly when we make it past the county line, blue lights and siren flip on in front of us and behind the charter buses! We had a police escort to our high school and then when we pulled into our school parking, we were greeted by our adoring fans with banners, with cheers, and noisemakers. It really was exciting! This crowd was welcoming their conquering heroes home and giving us an amazing and uplifting welcome. We had a small impromptu parade celebration in our honor. It was a moment of possibilities.

An impromptu celebration. A parade welcoming the hero home. A parade that celebrates the possibilities of a future unknown.

That is probably the best way to describe the scene in our scripture today. For Luke, everything in Jesus’ ministry has been leading up to this entrance to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the key to establishing the Kingdom of God. Jerusalem is the city of God. And Jesus knows that he has come to Jerusalem as an agent of the Kingdom of God, to bring love, justice, peace and community for all of God’s children.

But once again the disciples get it wrong when it comes to the purpose of Jesus’ ministry and who he really is. Jesus has been telling what will happen when they get to Jerusalem but they are just not listening. Sure, Jesus, we’ll get to Jerusalem and you will be turned over, mocked and insulted. Sure, Jesus, you will be killed.

What’s that you say, Peter? You see the gates of Jerusalem! Yeah, yeah, whatever Jesus! It’s time to celebrate, because now you are really going to show them how you are and you are going to really show them your power. Now you are going to take over, kick the Romans out of our city, and we will be in power!

And the disciples plan an impromptu celebration. A parade to welcome the conquering hero home. A celebration of Possibilities of a future unknown.

We must understand that the author of Luke is very careful and watchful of the language that he uses while telling this story. He is very determined to point out that the crowd that has gathered at this point are disciples of Jesus’. People who have been with Jesus since the beginning of his ministry. People who have witnessed the great power of God through Jesus. They have seen him healing the blind, getting the lame to walk, healing people with demons. They have heard him speak and have given them a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.

Luke wants us to understand that Jesus is called King by his followers, not the public of Jerusalem. They have experienced Jesus as the King who will bring about the Kingdom of God. They know that he is King!

Luke is also very careful to show that this procession is a royal procession but not a military or political procession. In Luke’s record there is no mention of Hosannas or palm branches. These are All signs of national demonstrations and parades. But they are not used in this impromptu parade by the disciples. Luke wants to show that this is a procession of the Kingdom of God, which is above our earthly understanding and norms. This procession is bringing in the Kingdom of God. It is beyond our rules, our regulations, and beyond our military and political strengths.

There is a parade that ushers in a King. There is a celebration to celebrate a King. There is a parade for a King.

“A king of fisherman, tax collectors, Samaritans, harlots, blind men, and cripples…The cloaks thrown on the road that day were not expensive robes but tattered shawls and dusty sweat stained rags. Jesus was the King of the oppressed and suffering. He shared their hardships, relieved their suffering, accepted them when others deemed them unacceptable, gave them hope, and embodied God’s love for them.”

Yes, this impromptu parade is for a King. This celebration is for of a Messiah! Yes, this impromptu parade is for a King who has shown us the hopes and possibilities of a future unknown.

And Luke goes one step farther in laying claim to the Kingship of Jesus. the author of Luke adds a couplet to a well-known psalm to the Jewish people that was used in royal processions. The readers of this account would have recognized this psalm as a royal psalm and understood that it is proclaiming a King. He goes one step farther by adding “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Does that sound familiar?

Think back to a hillside outside of Bethlehem where shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night. “And a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’

The birth of the King was announced to shepherds. The birth of the King was announced to the poor and oppressed. The birth of the King was announced to people who would have definitely not been mistaken for royalty.

We as readers have been told from the very beginning that there was something special about this baby who will grow up to be a man who will flip the world around, who will make the rich poor, and the poor rich, who will make the mighty weak, and the weak mighty.

Jesus is the Heavenly King who has come into Jerusalem to bring the Kingdom of God into fruition. The angels announced it on a hillside. People who were healed proclaimed his kingship. And now the disciples who have been there and seen the signs are joyfully crying out, “Blessed is the King!”

That’s the reason for this celebration. That’s the reason for this parade. That this reason for this impromptu display of joy and praise from the disciples. Now is the moment in time that holds endless possibilities.

The King has entered the city. God’s Kingdom is here. The King has entered the city. Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the King of the poor, the oppressed, the suffering. Blessed is the King of the weak, of the sinners, of the outcasts. This is a different kind of king. Not one of might. Not one of war.

Blessed is the King of love, of grace, of peace. Blessed is the King of mercy, of hospitality, of hope.

And nothing will silence this joyful cry! Even creation will join in the celebration of this King! Nothing will silence this joyful celebration. Nothing will stop this parade. Nothing will stop the Kingdom of God from coming about! Not the powers of armies. Not the political minds and strengths of our world.

The Kingdom of God is happening right now! The Kingdom of God is coming for all. The Kingdom of God is bringing peace and hope to all who serve God even the lowliest creature.

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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