A Palm Sunday "almost tradition" since I have been here has been for both pastors to participate in the sermon with one taking the palms (triumphant) side of the things and the other taking the passion (crucifixion) side. this grows out of the church's practice of beginning the service with palm waving and "Hosannas" and finishing the service by strippping the church (the practice of taking off the paraments and covering everything in the chancel area in black. This gives those in the congregation who will not be in worship for the Tenebrae service Friday a brief glimpse of what a service of darkness that focuses on crucifixion might be like. Certainly, it is better than going from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem straight to Jesus triumpahnt resurrection.
It is always fun to collaborate with my pastor colleague Dr. Patterson on sermons like this. Since we just had another dramatic interpretation style sermon two weeks ago when the sermon was on the prodigal son parable, the congregation might not have been eager for another one. But, that's the way the creative spirit was at work as we prepared Lent.
“Why are you untying the colt?” “Why do you not save yourself?”, Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; Luke
Luke 19: 28-38
Lisa: Our scripture readings today are from the Gospel of Luke, first in the 19th chapter: Listen for the word of God.
28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30saying,
Jonathon: “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you,
Lisa: ’Why are you untying it?’
Jonathon: just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32
Lisa: So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34They said,
Richard: “The Lord needs it.”
Lisa: 35Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38saying, “
richard: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39
Lisa: Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
(PAUSE)
Jonathon: now we turn to the 23rd chapter of Luke: 32-43 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ 34Then Jesus said, ’Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying,
Richard: ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’
Jonathon: 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying,
Richard: ’If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ 38
Jonathon: There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying,
LIsa: ’Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’
jonathon: 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘
Lisa: Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 4
Jonathon: 2Then he said,
Lisa: ’Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43
Jonathon: He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Jonathon: From Palm Sunday, we move into Holy Week and all its conflicting emotions and reactions.
Are we part of the crowds that shouted “Hosanna” as Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem?
or are we part of the crowds that shouted “Crucify him, crucify him?”
or are we part of the crowds who join with Jesus’ followers who helplessly watch him hang from the cross?
Or are part of all those groups, unable to avoid the missteps, but continually drawn to Jesus?
Our lectionary texts today give us glimpses of Jesus’ triumph and his death and ask questions like “Why do you untie the colt?” and “Why do you not save yourself?”
Let’s listen and imagine two people in Jerusalem for Jesus’ triumphal entry and his crucifixion as they ponder those questions.
Richard: “Why are you untying the colt?” I heard the man ask me.
Lisa: “Why do you not save yourself?” I heard the criminal on the cross next to Jesus ask him.
Richard: Why am I untying the colt?
It does feel strange to walk up to a colt that is not mine,
in fact, I do not even know who owns the colt,
and just take it.
Probably three years ago I never would have something like that.
But three years ago I did not know Jesus.
three years ago, I had not been following Jesus around watching him do so many things.
three years ago, I would have had question after question
why do you need the colt?
whose colt is it?
Why does it matter if the colt has been ridden before or not?
Do they know I am coming to get the colt?
Tell me again, why am I doing this?
But, I’ve learned that following Jesus means not always knowing the answers.
Following Jesus means not always doing something that is in my comfort zone. I remember when all the people were gathered listening to Jesus talk and it was dinner time. We asked Jesus what to do about all the people, and he told us, “you feed them.” And we did.
Following Jesus might mean doing something that makes others wonder what we are doing.
But following Jesus also means being a part of something that often seems bigger than what I expected.
Touching people’s lives in ways I had not imagined we could.
So I will untie the colt.
Lisa: surely he will save himself.
I’m waiting for it to happen.
I have seen him turn water into wine;
I have seen him heal the sick and even raise the dead,
I have seen him calm storms at seas
I have seen him get so angry that he turned over all the tables in the temple.
So surely he can save himself.
But maybe he does not want to save himself.
We thought we knew who he was. The son of God, the Messiah, the one coming to save us.
We shouted Hosanna as he rode into jerusalem…..
But what if we got it wrong.
What if I got it wrong.
Can he still be the Messiah if he dies on the cross.
how do I process what is happening before my very eyes…..
I saw him perform miracles with my own eyes – he was so powerful and strong?
Can the Messiah show weakness?
If he dies on the cross, is he still the Messiah?
Why does he not save himself?
Richard: Why do I untie the colt?
Because maybe this is the moment now.
We are coming to Jerusalem.
if something big is going to happen, surely it will happen in Jerusalem
if Jesus is going to prove himself as the Son of God, or the Messiah,
Jerusalem is the place he would go, isn’t it?
Jerusalem the home of the Temple.
People travel from all over to come to Jerusalem.
And it is almost Passover.
People will be coming to Jerusalem to celebrate the ritual together.
Passover, the time when we remember the miracle of the angel of death passing over the homes of the Israelites when the plague of death rained down on the Egyptians.
Passover, the ritual that has been celebrated by God’s people since they were in the wilderness.
If Jesus is going to do something spectacular, Jerusalem is place and Passover is the time.
So I untie the colt because Jesus needs the colt to begin the journey into Jerusalem.
I do not know what will happen in the coming days.
I do not know what Jesus will do.
But I am going to do whatever I can to help him, to be a part of whatever he has in store for me, for us, for the world!
So I untie the colt.
Lisa: If Jesus cannot save himself, why do I think Jesus can save me?
He is bleeding from his wounds, just like I am, and he is in pain.
He just asked his Father to forgive the people who betrayed him.
I wish he would get angry and fight back with all the power I saw him use to help others so many times.
This is what the Messiah is supposed to do, right? Save himself and save all of us.
But in the wilderness when he was tempted, he wouldn’t save himself from the devil.
All he wants to do is ask forgiveness for the people who betrayed him!
I remember all the times he saved so many people.
Who can save him?
Will he save himself?
Richard: Am I ready to step up and commit my life to following Jesus?
As I untie the colt I think about the way I have tied my life to Jesus.
I gave up my job and followed him when he called me.
I have traveled with him and done what he has asked of me.
I have tried to be open to who he is.
Even when others doubt, I have tried to support him.
Even when I have doubted him, I have tried to stick wiht him.
I think I am ready for whatever comes next.
As I imagine what might happen in the coming days, I feel like I am prepared.
If he fights wiht the Temple authorities, I will be there by his side.
If he continues to teach, I will help communicate his message to others.
He has spoken recently about dying, but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.
Surely, we have lots of years of working together left- teaching, healing, watching him perform miracles.
I untie the colt and prepare for all the ways I can serve him long into the future.
Lisa:
When I used to look at Jesus as he led the crowds, I could imagine the kingdom of God was within my touch.
I could taste the joy – I could see Jesus’ actions to help so many others.
What does the kingdom look like with Jesus hanging on the cross?
If I believe he is the Messiah, does that mean I have to die on a cross, too?
I heard the criminal ask Jesus to remember him.
Why would the criminal believe that Jesus would remember him?
what has he done to be worthy of being remembered.
But then Jesus spoke to him about paradise.
Will Jesus remember me?
have I done anything to make me worthy of being remembered?
Does paradise wait for me?
If Jesus cannot save himself, what hope is there for the criminal or for me?
Watching Jesus alive and among the people gave me hope, helped me believe that God really was a part of things and really did care.
But watching Jesus hang on the cross like this seems so final.
the end of his life.
the end of his plans.
the end of my hope.
if Jesus cannot save himself, how can I expect him to save me?
Jonathon: Two questions about Jesus’ triumphal entry and his crucifixion
Why are you untying the colt?
Why do you not save yourself?
(Pause)
What are your answers?
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