Who is this king of glory? (Zch 9:9-12; Mr 15:1-47),

* The readings for this Sunday of Lent suggest to us to cry with joy. But for the untrained people it is

impossible to do, if it doesn’t come to them naturally. On the other side, the majority of modern people are

accustomed for most occasions to be joyous in favor of looking nice and tidy. If it is so, we can understand

why some Christians prefer a happy Palm Sunday instead of the lamented Sunday of Passion. Then, by what

way should we go, wide or narrow? Should we enjoy or sorrow? Certainly, we won’t mistake if we follow

Jesus’ example contrary to the habit of the majority. As to the mentioned idea “cry with joy,” Jesus suggests

to us to mourn so that in the end we may be comforted.

* At the start, we contrast the verbal portraits of the people and the Messiah where they are seen at their

best in our Sunday readings. Then, we’ll accomplish the examination with the conclusion leaving the ancient

track from Bethany to Jerusalem free from stones.

* Based on the prophecy from (Zch 9:9-12), we delight in an image of the righteous, and having salvation;

lowly, and riding on a donkey Messiah, (v.9). Isn’t it a touchable picture of our Savior Jesus Christ? Please

bring to your attention a fact that this picture was drawn along with the predictions of the 30 pieces of silver

as a prize to a betrayer (11:12) and of the piercing of the Messiah’s side, (12:10). As far as these remarkable

prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus’ life, the other details of these prophecies are also should be true; the text

says that he is absolutely just, having salvation, patient, meek, and a lowly Man, yet the King. Surely if we

treasured up this beautiful image in our hearts, we should be comforted in the time of lament.

* Zechariah didn’t mention the worshipers of the King, but it was done through the four Evangelists -

(Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19: 29-44; John 12:12-19). They mentioned the large crowd built from

the disciples and the festive pilgrims, all those people were waiting the Messianic kingdom. As far as

the resurrection of Lazarus was made public, many believed in Jesus as the successor of the Davidic throne.

When people had heard that Jesus was approaching Jerusalem, they came out of the city to meet him with

leafy branches in hands and with Hosanna-shouts of welcome on their lips. 'Hosanna to the Son of David!

Blessed be He that comes in the Name of the Lord. . . . Blessed the Kingdom that comes, the Kingdom of our

father David. . . . Blessed be He that comes in the Name of the Lord. . . . Hosanna . . . Hosanna in the

highest . . .Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.' It is traditionally believed that Jesus entered Jerusalem

through the Eastern Gate, and he remained there until the evening. Then, he once more returned with

the twelve to Bethany and took his rest.

* Now having the detailed picture of the Palm, we are ready to reach a point by way of contrasting it with

the picture of the Passion. The Sunday text from (Mr 15:1-47) recalls to our minds the passion account

beginning from the investigation of Jesus’ identity. When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus a provocative question

regarding his kingship he didn’t deny his kingship but it was done through the official himself.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” said Pilate. But Jesus took this question on the connotation of being an answer,

saying, “You have said so.” At this point, the picture of the King of the Jews questioned by Pilate supplements

the picture from Zachariah who said truth about the dominion of this King, it doesn’t have boundaries,

it is from one end of the earth to another, (v. 12). Therefore, taken all pictures together, we received the true

image the Almighty King. Surely if we treasured up these attributes as we did it before, we should be

comforted in the end.

* But how about the King’s humility that combines with gentleness, are the both pictures identical on this

matter? Yes, they are. The image of the King riding a donkey symbolizes two things - the King’s humility and

his peacemaking character. Thus many years before Christ, the rich men and the judges used to ride upon

donkeys until the riding of fine horses replaced the older habit. Soon the riding horse became more

prestigious among the kings and nobility. Meanwhile a donkey was used by the poorer people who could not

afford a horse. From this prospect, the King of the universe riding on a donkey appears to many as a humble

servant, rather than an Almighty King; yet he voluntarily put aside the ‘nuclear power' of his little finger while

being on the cross. Isn’t it again the comforting truth in favor of our spiritual well-being?

* Finally, the harmony regarding Jesus’ identity perceived from the picture of the Palm and the picture of

the Passion comes to the end as soon as we call your attention to the people. It is disrupted by a fierce

outbreak of the scream, “Crucify! Crucify!” Please note that neither Jesus nor an earthquake nor anything else

caused this disturbance but the people. We might be surprised again on hearing the two slogans addressed to

the same person probably by the same people; from one verbal picture we hear the joyful 'Hosanna to the Son

of David! and from another we hear, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” It is unbelievable but this fact was mentioned

by all Evangelists. Now, because of the limit of time, we won’t give an extensive analysis this cacophony,

except of a single sentence pointed to the shocking fact. Most scholars point out that the expectations of

Messianic Jews were not met in Jesus because he didn’t assume an earthly kingship, because he didn’t free

Jews from Romans, and because he didn’t perform any miracles, except for drawing out ‘strangers’ from the

temple. These becauses caused frustrations among the worshipers, and they acted inadequately toward the

true Messiah!

* As sinful beings, we are all the same, even though nobody taught us how to hate and how to do the nasty

things to a person who didn’t meet our expectations. It came to us with genes and with the blood of our

ancestors. But now we should be different by virtue of Christ’s satisfactio vicaria for us, and by virtue of our

faith in our spiritual Ancestor, Jesus Christ. From him we receive remission of our sins and inheritance of

eternal life dwelling in our mortal bodies by the Holy Spirit. If it is so, we were separated from the destiny of

the people who hate Jesus and adhered to those who thank and worship him in truth and the Spirit. Now,

as much as we’ve treasured up with comforting truth about Jesus’ character, let’s all together say aloud,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be He that comes in the Name of the Lord. . . . Blessed the Kingdom

that comes, the Kingdom of our father David. . . . Blessed be He that comes in the Name of the Lord. . . .

Hosanna . . . Hosanna in the highest . . .Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.’

* After these Hosannas we follow Jesus through the Eastern Gate; soon it brings us to the headquarters of

the Roman governor where people condemned Jesus to death, the most righteous and peacemaking Man.

We see how they mocked and scourged him. Then as they led Jesus out, we follow after him to Golgotha

where the Roman soldiers crucified him. Yet it seemed to the opposition not enough, and they continued to

mock the most righteous Man nailed on the cross. “Aha! they said, You who would destroy the temple and

rebuild it in three days, save yourselves, and come down from the cross?” (v.30). Fortunately all these terrible

things were left behind. Yes, Jesus had died, but on the third day he rebuilt his wounded, dead body by rising

from the dead so that we may believe in him and not mourn only but enjoy in the Spirit the assurance of

everlasting life.

* So, being on the joinery, we mourned for awhile but in the end we are blessed with joy according to his

promise. Now, let’s express our thankfulness to Jesus, the author of the unspeakable joy. Dear Lord Jesus,

as sinners we deserve to go to Hell to pay for our sins. But we thank You for dying on the cross to pay our sin

penalty and for rising from the dead to be our Savor. We thank you for being accepted as members of your

heavenly family. And for this privilege, we promise to follow your humility with gentleness, by the narrow way,

trying our best for your sake, and with your help.

Amen.