Sunday Of The Passion (Palm Sunday)
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Theme For The Day
The entrance into Jerusalem and an emphasis on what Jesus accomplished there for us.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Teaching Servant
This servant has been taught by Yahweh and has the gift of speaking. So there is an alertness and comprehension of God's message. Second Isaiah, a talented poet, gives us, with eloquent words, God's message.
Here is a great message for us preachers. As Isaiah comforted the frustrated people, so we must speak encouragement to our healers (v. 4). Verse 6 tells of inevitable antagonism vented on Isaiah because he was sensitive to God's prophetic words. However, the disciple of Israel is given help (v. 7). He is sustained by this confident assurance.
New Testament Lesson
Philippians 2:5-11
Initiating Christian Humility
Verse 8 is the center of this passage which describes Jesus' humility in his passion and death for us. We have an early Christian hymn in verses 6-11. Its theme is the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. It could be one of the earliest descriptions of Jesus' career: his pre-existence, his ministry on earth, and his eventual exaltation. The hymn, according to The International Bible Commentary, is based on the Servant Song of Isaiah 52:13--53:12. These things Jesus did:
1. Being in the form of God did not regard equality with God;
2. Made himself a slave (see also Isaiah 53:12); and
3. Being born in human likeness, and ... in human form, he humbled himself. Because of all this he is worshiped in his divine supremacy. This is honor that is paid to God (Isaiah 45:23). Verse 11 contains the earliest creed of the church and the confession of the World Council of Churches: "Jesus Christ is Lord."
The Gospel
Luke 22:14--23:56
Luke's Account Of Jesus' Passion
For this traditional "Palm Sunday" now named "The Sunday of the Passion" we have Luke's account in Cycle C of the international lectionary. It moves from Maundy Thursday's Lord's Supper to the death and burial of Jesus. The New Revised Standard Version describes the story in the following way: any one of the topics is a good subject for preaching, depending on what other services you will hold during Holy Week.
Luke 22:14-23
The Institution of the Lord's Supper
Luke 22:24-30
The Dispute about Greatness
Luke 22:31-34
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
Luke 22:35-38
Purse, Bag, and Sword
Luke 22:39- 46
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
Luke 22:47-53
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Luke 22:54-62
Peter Denies Jesus
Luke 22:63-65
The Mocking and Beating of Jesus
Luke 22:66-71
Jesus Before the Council
Luke 23:1-5
Jesus Before Pilate
Luke 23:6-12
Jesus Before Herod
Luke 23:13-25
Jesus Sentenced to Death
Luke 23:26-43
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Luke 23:44-49
The Death of Jesus
Luke 23:50-56
The Burial of Jesus
Luke 24
... to be continued, Easter
Preaching Possibilities
This is the one Sunday of the church year when it is better not to preach, but to let the scripture tell the story. Please don't just read (or have read) this scripture. Put some real effort into rehearsing a group of women and men so it might be done well. Give each reader character parts and one person the part of narrator.
You might also consider the singing of hymn verses in between segments and/or a prayer about that which has just been read. An example might be:
1. Read Luke 22:14-30
2. Sing "Love Consecrates the Humblest Act" (in Lutheran Book of Worship number 122).
3. Pray -- Dear Jesus, we thank you for giving us the Holy Supper for your presence with us now. Help us to shed all ambition of greatness in your kingdom here or in eternity. Amen.
4. Read Luke 22:31-53.
5. Sing, and so on.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
While strongly encouraging you to let the scripture be the highlight and focus of this day, I will still offer one suggested outline of sermon moves. If you use the New Testament Reading, here is a suggestion:
Title: Out Of Our Mind
Text: Philippians 2:5-11
A. Begin by telling about Paul being in jail when he wrote this letter thanking his Christian friends for their love and support.
B. Move to the three things Paul said as advice to his friends:
1. Have Jesus' mind (not yours) when you make decisions for this life.
2. Here is what Jesus did for us: did not try to be equal to God; emptied himself; was born like a human; was humble and went to his death on the Cross.
3. Tell what this means now. Because he did what we heard about in the Gospel, Jesus is revered, witnessed to, and worshiped around the world.
C. Move to the creed in this passage: "Jesus Christ is Lord." Some see him as a miracle worker, others as an example of a godly person, and still others as a great prophet. But for Paul in prison, he was Lord, the one who dominated our lives and is ruler over all.
D. Return now to Paul in prison and tell your hearers what you would have written from that Philippian prison, concluding by asking them what they would have written. And still Paul claims: read Philippians 2:9-11.
Prayer For The Day
Help us to initiate your humility and treat you as our Lord and Savior, O God. And on this day you entered Jerusalem to work forgiveness and a new kind of fellowship for your disciples, prepare our hearts to observe this holiest of weeks with devotion and contrite hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The author of Ironweed states: "It's a short distance from the 'Hallelujah' to the 'hoot.' " So it is we can come down fast and hard and painfully.
On ABC's World News Tonight, Charles Gibson said of retirement, "When you retire you go from 'Who's Who' to 'Who's that?' " Jesus went the other way: from "Who's that?" to "Who's Who."
All Bataks of Sumatra can tell you their Bona ni Pinesa (village of origin). Even if gone for years, they return, visit, and greet old friends, relatives, and family. No matter where they are in the world, they still have their village of origin. Many ballads are composed about it. Toba Bataks often return to Samosir Island of the Lake Toba area.
Dean Zimmerman of the Lutheran Theological Seminary where I teach in Hong Kong announced at the daily chapel service that "the Coming of the Savior for today has been canceled due to the professor's illness." But no cancellation this Palm Sunday -- our Savior heads into Jerusalem toward torture and the cross.
Jesus and his disciples move toward Jerusalem and the cross.
Theme For The Day
The entrance into Jerusalem and an emphasis on what Jesus accomplished there for us.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The Teaching Servant
This servant has been taught by Yahweh and has the gift of speaking. So there is an alertness and comprehension of God's message. Second Isaiah, a talented poet, gives us, with eloquent words, God's message.
Here is a great message for us preachers. As Isaiah comforted the frustrated people, so we must speak encouragement to our healers (v. 4). Verse 6 tells of inevitable antagonism vented on Isaiah because he was sensitive to God's prophetic words. However, the disciple of Israel is given help (v. 7). He is sustained by this confident assurance.
New Testament Lesson
Philippians 2:5-11
Initiating Christian Humility
Verse 8 is the center of this passage which describes Jesus' humility in his passion and death for us. We have an early Christian hymn in verses 6-11. Its theme is the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. It could be one of the earliest descriptions of Jesus' career: his pre-existence, his ministry on earth, and his eventual exaltation. The hymn, according to The International Bible Commentary, is based on the Servant Song of Isaiah 52:13--53:12. These things Jesus did:
1. Being in the form of God did not regard equality with God;
2. Made himself a slave (see also Isaiah 53:12); and
3. Being born in human likeness, and ... in human form, he humbled himself. Because of all this he is worshiped in his divine supremacy. This is honor that is paid to God (Isaiah 45:23). Verse 11 contains the earliest creed of the church and the confession of the World Council of Churches: "Jesus Christ is Lord."
The Gospel
Luke 22:14--23:56
Luke's Account Of Jesus' Passion
For this traditional "Palm Sunday" now named "The Sunday of the Passion" we have Luke's account in Cycle C of the international lectionary. It moves from Maundy Thursday's Lord's Supper to the death and burial of Jesus. The New Revised Standard Version describes the story in the following way: any one of the topics is a good subject for preaching, depending on what other services you will hold during Holy Week.
Luke 22:14-23
The Institution of the Lord's Supper
Luke 22:24-30
The Dispute about Greatness
Luke 22:31-34
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
Luke 22:35-38
Purse, Bag, and Sword
Luke 22:39- 46
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
Luke 22:47-53
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Luke 22:54-62
Peter Denies Jesus
Luke 22:63-65
The Mocking and Beating of Jesus
Luke 22:66-71
Jesus Before the Council
Luke 23:1-5
Jesus Before Pilate
Luke 23:6-12
Jesus Before Herod
Luke 23:13-25
Jesus Sentenced to Death
Luke 23:26-43
The Crucifixion of Jesus
Luke 23:44-49
The Death of Jesus
Luke 23:50-56
The Burial of Jesus
Luke 24
... to be continued, Easter
Preaching Possibilities
This is the one Sunday of the church year when it is better not to preach, but to let the scripture tell the story. Please don't just read (or have read) this scripture. Put some real effort into rehearsing a group of women and men so it might be done well. Give each reader character parts and one person the part of narrator.
You might also consider the singing of hymn verses in between segments and/or a prayer about that which has just been read. An example might be:
1. Read Luke 22:14-30
2. Sing "Love Consecrates the Humblest Act" (in Lutheran Book of Worship number 122).
3. Pray -- Dear Jesus, we thank you for giving us the Holy Supper for your presence with us now. Help us to shed all ambition of greatness in your kingdom here or in eternity. Amen.
4. Read Luke 22:31-53.
5. Sing, and so on.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
While strongly encouraging you to let the scripture be the highlight and focus of this day, I will still offer one suggested outline of sermon moves. If you use the New Testament Reading, here is a suggestion:
Title: Out Of Our Mind
Text: Philippians 2:5-11
A. Begin by telling about Paul being in jail when he wrote this letter thanking his Christian friends for their love and support.
B. Move to the three things Paul said as advice to his friends:
1. Have Jesus' mind (not yours) when you make decisions for this life.
2. Here is what Jesus did for us: did not try to be equal to God; emptied himself; was born like a human; was humble and went to his death on the Cross.
3. Tell what this means now. Because he did what we heard about in the Gospel, Jesus is revered, witnessed to, and worshiped around the world.
C. Move to the creed in this passage: "Jesus Christ is Lord." Some see him as a miracle worker, others as an example of a godly person, and still others as a great prophet. But for Paul in prison, he was Lord, the one who dominated our lives and is ruler over all.
D. Return now to Paul in prison and tell your hearers what you would have written from that Philippian prison, concluding by asking them what they would have written. And still Paul claims: read Philippians 2:9-11.
Prayer For The Day
Help us to initiate your humility and treat you as our Lord and Savior, O God. And on this day you entered Jerusalem to work forgiveness and a new kind of fellowship for your disciples, prepare our hearts to observe this holiest of weeks with devotion and contrite hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
The author of Ironweed states: "It's a short distance from the 'Hallelujah' to the 'hoot.' " So it is we can come down fast and hard and painfully.
On ABC's World News Tonight, Charles Gibson said of retirement, "When you retire you go from 'Who's Who' to 'Who's that?' " Jesus went the other way: from "Who's that?" to "Who's Who."
All Bataks of Sumatra can tell you their Bona ni Pinesa (village of origin). Even if gone for years, they return, visit, and greet old friends, relatives, and family. No matter where they are in the world, they still have their village of origin. Many ballads are composed about it. Toba Bataks often return to Samosir Island of the Lake Toba area.
Dean Zimmerman of the Lutheran Theological Seminary where I teach in Hong Kong announced at the daily chapel service that "the Coming of the Savior for today has been canceled due to the professor's illness." But no cancellation this Palm Sunday -- our Savior heads into Jerusalem toward torture and the cross.
