Sermon on Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 21:1-11, 27.11-54
By Revd Gordon Thomas
JESUS HUMBLED AND EXALTED
Isaiah 50:4-9a
4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? [NRSV]
4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [NRSV]
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-
Matthew 21:1-11
1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately. " 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." [NRSV]
1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately. " 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." [NRSV]
Matthew 27:11-54
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him." 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!" 23 Then he asked, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!" 24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." 25 Then the people as a whole answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." 38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'" 44 The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. 45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" [NRSV]
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him." 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!" 23 Then he asked, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!" 24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." 25 Then the people as a whole answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32 As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36 then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." 38 Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'" 44 The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. 45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" [NRSV]
THE SUFFERING SERVANT
The piece which June read from Isaiah is one of four poems he wrote which we call Servant Poems. Christians can't help but see Jesus prophesied in them. The first poem is about establishing justice; the second of being intimately known by God before birth; the last of someone bearing the sin of others as he silently submits to brutal torture, and who is today's humble, persecuted, obedient teacher but Jesus? For us Jesus is in almost every word.
Today's poem is about the servant's role, as teacher. His job though isn't to get the students to win the league tables. It's to sustain the weary with a word. What a vision for Christian teachers. Whether that's what society or even the church want is a moot point. It's not very results oriented, but it's what God wants: to sustain the weary with a word. How? By listening to God as a student himself: Morning by morning [God] wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The servant is to be taught and presumably sustained by God before he himself teaches.
Second the servant's obedience to God, inevitably means persecution which he will accept humbly; without resistance, trusting God whatever.
Can you see Jesus in this poem: someone who taught; was humble; who suffered; who was obedient; who listened to God, obeying His call; understanding his mission?
JESUS HUMILIATED AND EXALTED
In the Philippians reading which Nigel read we see the context of the Affirmation of Faith we say in Lent. It's one of the best known passages in the New Testament: perhaps a first Christian hymn, perhaps written by Paul because of particular needs of the church in Philippi.
Anyway, after the introduction to which I shall return, Paul writes about Jesus: Paul sees that nothing is forced on him. In his life on earth, it is Jesus who empties himself; becomes a slave to others; humbles himself, until he is murdered. Jesus is always in control willingly obeying God. Can you see Isaiah's picture of the servant coming alive in Paul's description of Jesus? It's even more startling of course because Jesus is the servant even though he is in the form of God. Jesus, in the form of God is obedient, even (to) death on the cross. At least Isaiah's prophet could say I know I shall not be put to shame; it is the Lord God who helps me. Jesus suffers a shameful and humiliating death: one reserved for those cursed by God; Jesus knows what it is like to feel abandoned by God Hinself.
And so it's a shock when Paul inserts Therefore: God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend….and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Because of his obedience and humility even to the cross, God exalts him to the highest place imaginable: Lord of all, believed in by all.
THE GOSPEL
Both readings help us make sense of today's Gospel readings, one as it looks forward to Jesus, the other back.
First, we might reflect on Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. Think about the crowd's thirst for a Messiah who would get rid of the Roman oppressors. Compare that with Jesus's version of kingship, riding on a donkey to where? The cross. How much respect do we give to the world's admiration for power? Do we truly prefer the way of Jesus: the way of humility, trust and obedience? It might not be the world's way but it is Jesus's.
Because Paul's introduction challenges us: let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Paul longs for us to walk Jesus's way, not on our own but together. We must not seek pride and status; but become servants to each other; obey and trust God, wherever He leads us: together, as church. Paul's letter only makes sense as one written to a church encouraging it to live the gospel together, which is as true today as then.
And then, reflect this week on what Jesus has done for you personally. You might think about these verses: Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.(Matthew 27.50-51) Then the age of the Temple is finished. The curtain separating the Holy Place from the people is destroyed. The holy place, which symbolized where God was to be found, is open to all. The age of the temple replaced by the Age of Resurrection. Jesus takes our sin on himself and is sacrificed for us. And we are free; in him we are no longer separated from God, not because of any good we ourselves have done, but through the saving death of Jesus. Now we can experience God's love in all its fullness, just as Peter does later even though now, he suffers the shame of betraying Jesus. But Peter weeps tears of, perhaps of repentance and is saved by Jesus; Judas chooses to die in his shame. We have the same choice: repentance and new life through the saving love of Jesus or self-loathing which leads to death.
Because the hope of the cross and the empty grave is that whoever we are, whatever we do, God loves us; He seeks us, and waits for us. And the way to Him is the humble, obedient, crucified and resurrected Jesus.
Reflect on these things this week.
AMEN
The piece which June read from Isaiah is one of four poems he wrote which we call Servant Poems. Christians can't help but see Jesus prophesied in them. The first poem is about establishing justice; the second of being intimately known by God before birth; the last of someone bearing the sin of others as he silently submits to brutal torture, and who is today's humble, persecuted, obedient teacher but Jesus? For us Jesus is in almost every word.
Today's poem is about the servant's role, as teacher. His job though isn't to get the students to win the league tables. It's to sustain the weary with a word. What a vision for Christian teachers. Whether that's what society or even the church want is a moot point. It's not very results oriented, but it's what God wants: to sustain the weary with a word. How? By listening to God as a student himself: Morning by morning [God] wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The servant is to be taught and presumably sustained by God before he himself teaches.
Second the servant's obedience to God, inevitably means persecution which he will accept humbly; without resistance, trusting God whatever.
Can you see Jesus in this poem: someone who taught; was humble; who suffered; who was obedient; who listened to God, obeying His call; understanding his mission?
JESUS HUMILIATED AND EXALTED
In the Philippians reading which Nigel read we see the context of the Affirmation of Faith we say in Lent. It's one of the best known passages in the New Testament: perhaps a first Christian hymn, perhaps written by Paul because of particular needs of the church in Philippi.
Anyway, after the introduction to which I shall return, Paul writes about Jesus: Paul sees that nothing is forced on him. In his life on earth, it is Jesus who empties himself; becomes a slave to others; humbles himself, until he is murdered. Jesus is always in control willingly obeying God. Can you see Isaiah's picture of the servant coming alive in Paul's description of Jesus? It's even more startling of course because Jesus is the servant even though he is in the form of God. Jesus, in the form of God is obedient, even (to) death on the cross. At least Isaiah's prophet could say I know I shall not be put to shame; it is the Lord God who helps me. Jesus suffers a shameful and humiliating death: one reserved for those cursed by God; Jesus knows what it is like to feel abandoned by God Hinself.
And so it's a shock when Paul inserts Therefore: God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend….and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Because of his obedience and humility even to the cross, God exalts him to the highest place imaginable: Lord of all, believed in by all.
THE GOSPEL
Both readings help us make sense of today's Gospel readings, one as it looks forward to Jesus, the other back.
First, we might reflect on Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. Think about the crowd's thirst for a Messiah who would get rid of the Roman oppressors. Compare that with Jesus's version of kingship, riding on a donkey to where? The cross. How much respect do we give to the world's admiration for power? Do we truly prefer the way of Jesus: the way of humility, trust and obedience? It might not be the world's way but it is Jesus's.
Because Paul's introduction challenges us: let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Paul longs for us to walk Jesus's way, not on our own but together. We must not seek pride and status; but become servants to each other; obey and trust God, wherever He leads us: together, as church. Paul's letter only makes sense as one written to a church encouraging it to live the gospel together, which is as true today as then.
And then, reflect this week on what Jesus has done for you personally. You might think about these verses: Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.(Matthew 27.50-
Because the hope of the cross and the empty grave is that whoever we are, whatever we do, God loves us; He seeks us, and waits for us. And the way to Him is the humble, obedient, crucified and resurrected Jesus.
Reflect on these things this week.
AMEN
Rev Gordon Thomas © 2008