Loving God, in spite of the things that get in the way, help us to see and experience your love and mercy this day, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            When it comes to the narrative surrounding Jesus’ suffering and death, each gospel includes some details that differ from the others.  Some of the reasons for this include different eye-witnesses, different contexts, and different intended audiences.  Yet, each gospel has the same purpose: to tell the story of Jesus, who is the Messiah, the Son of God, and our Saviour.

         Some parts of the story are easier for us to hear – like riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday with shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David!”, or, like stories of healing and raising the dead.  However, the story of Jesus’ undeserved suffering and death is far more difficult – so much so that, for years, some of Jesus’ followers have sought to lay blame for the death of Jesus.  And, unfortunately, there are passages in the gospels that have fueled anti-Semitism and have been used to blame the Jewish people as a whole for the death of Jesus.

         You may have noticed the verse in today’s passion narrative that could be used in this way.  We hear about Pilate washing his hands of the matter, and the people as a whole saying, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (Mt. 27:25).  This is particularly difficult to understand, given that Matthew was written for a primarily Jewish audience.  So, why would any of this be included?

         We know from historians and from other Scripture passages that Pilate was known for his cruelty and his blood-thirsty abuse of power (e.g. Lk. 13:1).  It is highly unlikely that he would have acted in a way that would make Caesar appear to be weak.  However, at the time when Matthew was written, there were definite tensions between Jews and Romans and Christians.  Christians were being expelled from the synagogues, and so, no longer had the protection of Rome.  This meant that any Christian gatherings were deemed to be illegal, and were subject to Roman persecution.  There also would have been further persecution for circulating a gospel that laid the blame on Rome for Jesus’ death.

         While some people probably don’t want to get into discussions like this, it does prompt us to think about how we read the Bible.  Reading it without any historical context and without the overall message of Jesus can lead to all kinds of needless suffering and pain.  After all, would the Jesus you know lay blame on his own people and encourage his followers to persecute them?  This would not be the same Jesus who prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34).

         Just as all of the gospels are important pieces of the story, so we are invited today to look at the big picture.  For, today, we have heard both the best and the worst of humanity, as the same people who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of David as he rode into Jerusalem, were insisting on his death only a few days later.  Human beings – and all of us – can be fickle and untrustworthy.

         God, on the other hand, remains faithful and treats each one of us with love and mercy because of Jesus.  In spite of how Jesus was treated – and our own sinfulness – God loves us and forgives us through Jesus.  Perhaps this is the most unbelievable part of the story, but it is also the good news.  What wondrous love is this, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday    Matthew 27:11-54

April 2, 2023                                                 Matthew 21:1-11

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2023 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved