A Quiet Savior in a Noisy Crowd of Sinners

PALMARUM

SIXTH SUNDAY IN LENT

+ HOLY WEEK +

March 25, 2018

ST. JOHN 12:12–16

A Quiet Savior in a Noisy Crowd of Sinners

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who went forth to die for our sins and today He is riding on a donkey. And He didn't say anything.

This might seem strange to us because this would seem like the perfect time to pause and preach and teach to the crowds. You can't buy publicity like this. And if this had been anyone else, we might have said that the man on the donkey had wasted an opportunity to preach the Gospel.

But the Man on the donkey is Jesus. He never misses anything.

The purpose of this procession was to tell by showing. Christ showed the crowds that He is the King of Kings and the Son of David. He is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. This royal Son of David was the Lord's chosen One who would be sacrificed to make atonement for all sinners.

Indeed St. John tells us:

ST. JOHN 12:16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

For three years God's Lamb had traveled all across the Holy Land. He spoke and taught publicly for all three years. The only times He had to hide Himself was when the mob wanted to grab Him and shove Him onto a royal throne or when they tried to throw big rocks at His face to kill Him. He hide Himself because at those times it wasn't time. But now the time had come.

While the eyes of so many saw the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world riding on a donkey, Jesus let the crowds speak for Him:

ST. JOHN 12:13 Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

At many key moments in Jesus' life songs were sung. And these songs and chants revealed who Jesus is. Angels had sung to the shepherds who tending their sheep in the fields nearby at Jesus' birth.

ST. LUKE 2:14 Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1984

Jesus is the One who brings peace. A few weeks after Jesus birth Simeon rejoiced as he held the Savior in his arms:

ST. LUKE 2:29–32 Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your Salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1984

Now days away from Jesus' death the crowds were book ending that hymn of praise. Even though many in the chorus did not grasp what they were saying, their shouts are still true. Jesus is the Hosanna, the One who saves. He is the Son of David the Lord God had promised to King David:

2 SAMUEL 7:12–13 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

This promise is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. And today, while He quietly rode on His donkey, the noisy crowd of sinners surrounding Jesus proclaimed it clearly. Today this noisy crowd of sinners here will join them:

Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thanks be to God!