April 4, 2004
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Mindekirken April 4, 2004 The symbol of victory Luke 22.14 – 23.56 Coins have been found in the ground from the short period of time when the Jews enjoyed national freedom, the years after the Maccabean war, 141 BC and the period 66 – 70 AD which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem. On these coins, the symbol of victory and freedom is imprinted. The symbol is a palm branch. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he was met by people waving palm branches. They sang: Hosanna, blessed is the one who is coming in the name of the Lord. It was common that pilgrims were met by other pilgrims with these joyful words from Psalm 118. But when Jesus came riding on his donkey, it was something quite extraordinary. The rumors were out. Would this Jesus of Nazareth be the long promised Messiah? Would he lead them in a fight which would end in victory and freedom? The answer to this question is Yes. But the fight and the victory would come in a quite different way than the people waving their palm branches had expected. There were no palm branches, but olive trees where Jesus fought his toughest fight. Pious Franciscans monks have, for several centuries, maintained the garden which is there. They point out rugged trunks and tell that the oldest trees stood here as early as the time of Jesus. Jesus arrived there after he had celebrated Passover with his disciples. He had shared bread and wine and said that this was his body given for them, and this was his blood, shed for them. It was already midnight when Jesus and his disciples departed and went to the Mount of Olives. They left Jerusalem where people had a vigil for the Lord. In every house, the light from the feast lamps still shone. On every block one could hear laughter and song, the buzzing of conversations and prayers. The rabbinical rules prescribed that one should stay inside the city walls that night.
Luke tells that Jesus went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples followed him. Researchers have pointed out that this is the only occasion we know for certain that Jesus broke the established prescriptions. Was it because Jesus felt his life was threatened, and in a weak moment considered fleeing? Or is the explanation as simple as this; Jesus and his disciples stayed in Bethany which is on the other side of the Mount of Olives? Jesus stopped in the garden of Gethsemane. It stands as the counterpart to another garden, the garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve were disobedient. By his obedience, Jesus would restore what had been lost by the fall of sin. Those of you who have seen The Passion of the Christ would know that the film begins in the garden of Gethsemane. I think it’s a correct interpretation of the texts to say that this is the place where Jesus fought his most difficult fight. In the film, the devil comes to him in the shape of a snake. The serpent also tempted Adam and Eve to be disobedient. But Jesus crushed the snake. He said "no" to the temptation. But it didn’t happen without a struggle. And it was no easy match where the result was decided in advance. The salvation of the whole world was at risk. The texts tell how fear came over him. My soul is fearful to death. He fell on his knees and bowed his face to the earth. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. Once, the earth had drunk the blood of Abel. It flowed because of envy, hatred and a brother’s murder. The sweat that fell to the ground like drops of blood that night in Gethsemane witnessed a love which was willing to give its life for others. The earth, which was cursed, would again be blessed. How did Jesus pray in Gethsemane? Remove this cup from me! Jesus dreaded what was about to come. Three times Jesus prayed, more and more earnestly. What an enormous contrast there is between Jesus’ anguish and the sleep of his disciples. They had no empathy with Jesus and what he went through, just a stone cast away from them. But it all happened for their sake. Was there any victory in Gethsemane? Yes, when Jesus prayed to avoid suffering he added: Father, if you are willing… not my will but yours be done. The victory was that Jesus put God’s will over his own. Seen from the outside, what was to come would be a display of human wickedness. But the victory lay in the love which was stronger than death. Jesus was willing to be the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He was willing to be sacrificed. The palm branches which were waved during Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem proclaimed victory. But in the first run, the victory would come under the leaves of the olive trees in Gethsemane. After his battle in prayer, Jesus stood forth as transformed. When Judas came in front of the crowd of the temple police with torches and weapons, Jesus no longer shivered with fear. Whom are you looking for? Jesus met them frankly. Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. I am he. Jesus said. They stepped back and fell to the ground, John 18.6 tells. What brave words. What a personal strength. Had they expected resistance? Peter struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his ear. Put your sword back into its sheath, Jesus said. If you are looking for me, let these men go. Here is the joyful truth of the gospel gathered in one short sentence. Take me. Let these men go. Jesus was captured. We went free. The role of the disciples in this drama is not flattering. Here is Judas who betrayed, Peter and the others who fell asleep, deceived, fled and denied. Jesus is left behind, alone. The Messiah, his royal crown would have thorns. His throne would be a cross. His might would be hidden in a limitless impotence. Even so it was a victory: He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him… Phil 2. 8-9. Palm Sunday. They have found coins in the ground from the short period when the Jews enjoyed national independence. They are stamped with the symbol of victory and freedom. The symbol is a palm branch. When you kneel at communion today, you’ll find bread in the shape of a coin in your hand. The communion bread is stamped with the symbol of victory and freedom. It’s not a palm branch. It’s a cross. Victory belongs to him who gave his life for others. Glory be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen |
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