The gospel which we have just heard is known as the Passion Narrative. Historically, Christians would hear four different Passion Narratives during Holy Week. Matthew would be read on Monday. Mark would be read on Tuesday. Luke would be read on Wednesday, and John would be read on Good Friday. Sometimes the story would even be set to music, like in Bach's St. Matthew Passion or St. John Passion.

The Passion, of course, refers to Jesus' arrest, trial, suffering and death on the cross. It is the part of the story which, to many people, seems far too morbid. Yet, this is the most powerful story in all of Scripture and was held to be so important that it was the first portion of the gospels to be written down.

After all, consider how many true to life experiences are part of this story. There is injustice and the condemnation of an innocent man. There is betrayal and desertion from the people who should have stood by Jesus. There is anguished prayer and pleas to God for deliverance from suffering. There is ridicule and abuse of the one who is in custody. There is fear and denial and then remorse and bitter weeping. There is repentance and forgiveness. There are lies and false accusations. There is a dangerous criminal who is allowed to go free. There are people who watch helplessly as the one whom they love suffers and dies.

The gospels are not just about Jesus' life - they are about our lives. Included in today's service are almost every mood and life experience that we could have. There is joy and sorrow. There is death and resurrection in baptism. There is praise and confession. There is suffering and death and there is new life. There is love and there is hate. There is pleading with God in prayer. There is sin and forgiveness. There is human frailty and failing, and there is Jesus' loving service.

The thing is that no matter what we are experiencing in our lives, Jesus understands it and walks with us. There is nothing that we can experience that is worse than what Jesus went through. There is nothing that will bring us greater joy than the joy that Jesus experienced in communion with his heavenly Father. Jesus, in fact, intercedes with God on our behalf - not as one who is unsympathetic, but as one who has experienced all that life has to offer, except for sin (Heb. 4:14-15).

Yet, Jesus does even more than this. Jesus not only walks with us and intercedes for us. - He gives himself for us. The Passion Narrative is powerful enough simply as a story of unjust suffering and death. However, it becomes even more powerful when we realize that Jesus submitted himself to this suffering and death because of us. He offered himself for the life of the world and for our salvation. He continues to give himself to us and to love us in the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

So how are we going to respond to this gift of love? May we open ourselves to the same Holy Spirit that comes to us in baptism and allow God to transform our hearts, moving us from darkness to light, from sin to holiness, from death to life, and from selfishness to love. Amen.

Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday (C) Luke 22:14-23:56

April 1, 2007

St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

? 2007 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved