Loving God, your love for all people continues to challenge our assumptions about who is welcome in your family.  Remind us this day of your love and your welcome to us, and empower us to pass on that love and that welcome to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    The gospel that we have heard today tells us about some events in the life of Jesus that have complex layers of meaning behind them.  Any of the people who were present that day might have noticed all kinds of things that come straight out of the Hebrew Scriptures.  For example, the Mount of Olives is identified as the place where the Lord will stand when it’s time for the final battle at the end of all things (Zech. 14:1-5), and this is where Jesus begins his ride into Jerusalem.  At the same time, people would have known that a colt was traditionally used whenever one of Israel’s kings was crowned.  And even if they didn’t know that, they might have recalled the passage from Zechariah that talks about their king coming to them, humble and mounted on the colt of a donkey (Zech. 9:9).

    At the same time, the fact that people took their cloaks and spread them on the road along with the tree branches makes it seem as though they understood Jesus to be a king.  After all, the same action is described in 2 Kings (9:13), as people spread their cloaks on the steps for Jehu when he is anointed king of Israel.  In fact, even the words that people shout come from a Psalm that would have been used as a king processed to the Temple to celebrate a victory.

    Yet, in spite of all of these layers of meaning, it would seem that the people still don’t get it.  This whole entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is kind of like a dramatized parable, demonstrating to the people that Jesus is offering himself as the Messiah.  However, just as people needed eyes to see and ears to hear with the parables, many of them don’t seem to get this one, either.  After all of this that has just played out in front of them, the city is in turmoil and people are asking, “Who is this?” (Mt. 21:10).  Their response shows that they don’t see Jesus any differently than they might have seen him before: “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee” (Mt. 21:11).

    As it happens, when Jesus gets to the Temple he engages in what might be called some prophetic action.  Once again, there are layers of meaning behind the Scriptures that he quotes.  One part of the quote comes from Isaiah’s vision of the future where both Jews and Gentiles gather in Jerusalem for prayer.  Isaiah calls it “a house of prayer for all peoples” or all nations (Is. 56:7).  The other part of the quote comes from Jeremiah’s Temple sermon where he predicts the destruction of the Temple (Jer. 7:1-15).  Of course, both of these things would come to pass after Jesus’ own death and resurrection.

    All in all, there is a startling mixture of humility and power in today’s gospel.  To ride on a colt is a humble act, for one who was coming in power would be riding on a war horse.  However, at the same time, Jesus does not object when people lay their cloaks on the road and shout “Hosanna!” and welcome him as if he is a king from David’s line.  He doesn’t object because he is a king from David’s line and the Messiah – just not the type of king and Messiah that people might have been expecting.

    Then, when Jesus enters the Temple, he acts as one who has both power and authority.  Undoubtedly he would have ruffled more than a few feathers when he started overturning tables and chairs and sending money flying everywhere.  The Temple had become a money-making enterprise rather than a place of worship.  As well, there were a number of people who were quite simply not allowed to come into the Temple.

    Gentiles were not allowed, and Jesus lifts up the quote from Isaiah that speaks of the Temple as a house of prayer for all peoples.  The blind and the lame were not allowed, and in the verse that follows today’s reading we learn that the blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple and he healed them (Mt. 21:14).  As for children, they must have been allowed in the temple, but the religious leaders are certainly not happy when they are there in the Temple with Jesus and are crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Mt. 21:15).  This is when Jesus quotes another Psalm that says, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself” (Mt. 21:16; Ps. 8:2).

    In all of these things that Jesus is doing, he is trying to show the people that God is a lot more welcoming than they have imagined.  God actually wants all people to be able to come and worship.  God actually doesn’t mind when children cry out praises in God’s house.  God not only welcomes the blind and the lame, but heals them.  They are not suffering for their sins, as people supposed.

    Yet, in teaching the people God’s way, Jesus challenges the status quo and angers the religious leaders.  He is also well aware of where this will lead him, as he has already told his disciples how he will be condemned and crucified.  However, to Jesus it is worth it, if only the way can be opened up for people to come to God.

    Today’s gospel, along with the verses that follow, reminds us of how God has opened the way for us to come to him.  God welcomes us, and God welcomes all people.  At the same time, we are invited to think about how we might welcome Jesus into our lives and into our hearts.

    Do we welcome him with shouts of praise and a prayer to save us?  Do we welcome him as Lord and King and place our lives under his rule and his direction?  Do we allow him to come into our hearts and to cleanse us, and to shake things up in there as necessary?  Do we allow him to challenge our assumptions about who is welcome and who isn’t and to bring all his friends with him?

    As serene as the picture might be of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt, he does have a tendency to shake things up!  Let us, then, continue to learn from Jesus, and to welcome him just as he has already welcomed us.  Remember - when Jesus comes into your heart he brings all his friends with him!  And so, welcoming Jesus can mean welcoming all sorts of other people that we might not normally hang out with.  However, God’s love is for them, and it is for us, as Jesus gives himself for our life and our salvation.  Amen.

Palm Sunday (NL 1)                            Matthew 21:1-13
March 29, 2015
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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