Luke 22:14-23:56
What will you be preaching this final Sunday in Lent? Does it make sense to preach nearly two whole chapters? Wouldn’t it be much easier to preach on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem? While many (not most) Protestant congregations will focus their attention on the Liturgy of the Palms (Luke 19:28-40), I want to make the case that we ought not neglect the Liturgy of the Passion on this final Sunday in Lent. Even if the focus of our sermons is on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, even if you don’t read all 114 verses of the passion narrative assigned for this day, all too often we gloss over these rather difficult verses.
Born out of our original compassion for the poor and siding with the marginalized, many of the Wesleyan traditions still practice a lower liturgy. While these Wesleyan traditions are, in many ways, rediscovering the beauty and richness of higher liturgy, far too many people in our pews miss the passion narrative. We may have Maundy Thursday, Tenebrae, or Good Friday services but too often the messages people hear on Sundays goes from Jesus being anointed (never mind that he’s being anointed for burial), to Jesus “triumphal” entry (never mind that he weeps upon entering Jerusalem), to a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. But wait, when was he killed? And how? And why?
Sure we know the story, but it’s important that we retell the passion narrative every year. We need to celebrate the resurrection every year and to do so, we need to go to the cross.
The question becomes, "How do you preach on 114 verses?"
Some traditions hold that the Liturgy of the Palms and the Liturgy of the Passion be observed on the same day; that you begin your service with the Palms and end with the Passion. This makes for an incredibly beautiful service, but the question remains, on what do you preach? There is so much happening in these verses that it can feel overwhelming.
While I’m sure you and your people will want an expanded lesson - they’ll want a full sermon - one thing the preacher could do this Sunday is simply read all of these verses. Simply reading the whole passage may take as much time as a normal sermon and it might be valuable for your people to simply hear the story, all of it, in preparation for Easter. It might feel out of order with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday coming up, but consider simply reading the narrative of the passion this Sunday.
Or if we can’t read the entire passage, then consider telling the story. Sure there is an incredible amount of material present, you can narrow your focus to a few verses in this long story, but don’t neglect to preach on the crucifixion of our Lord. Don’t neglect to connect the atoning work of Christ with the incarnation. The crucifixion matters because it was God incarnate who was killed. Teach that Jesus was a threat to both the religious and political institutions. And as tempting as it is to leave our congregations with happy endings, maybe let them linger in the grave this week. Instead of qualifying your message with the phrase “But Sunday is Coming,” as true as that might be, consider not reminding them that Sunday is coming and let this death be a real death, at least for a week.
We know that Jesus will be raised, and one week later we will celebrate the resurrection with great gusto.
Should you consider narrowing to a few verses in this large passage, here are some things to consider:
Verses 35-38 are often used as a justification for violence; Jesus told his disciples to purchase a sword if they didn’t have one. We should be careful with using these verses for this justification for a few different reasons. First, Jesus tells them why they ought to purchase swords, “For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless…’” They take up the sword so Jesus will be arrested. Were they to be used for violence, even self-defense, they would have needed more than two swords. These two swords won’t do much protection against the great crowd that will arrive in verse 47. Further, when those with Jesus ask if they should use the sword, when the unnamed one wields the sword and cuts off the ear of the slave (this would most likely have been an attempt at cutting off his head, but when the slave ducked his ear was cut off), Jesus reprimands them, “No more of this.” Apparently, the sword was not intended to be used.
Notice that Jesus is not taken directly to Pilot. He’s first taken to the house of the high priest where he’s mocked and beaten before being tried before the council. When he does arrive at the council they’re not desiring to find the truth, but a way to have him killed. He only goes to pilate when he doesn’t deny being the Son of God.
Notice the presence of threes in this large story. We know that Peter denies Jesus three times (verses 54-62), but notice that in three separate instances Pilate pronounces that Jesus is innocent (23:4, 14-16, 22). This also means that the crowd insisted three times that Jesus be crucified. When Pilate would claim Jesus’ innocence the crowd would not relent. (23:5, 18-20, 23)
However you choose to focus your sermon this Sunday, preach on the atoning work of Christ. Preach the hard message that eternal life is realized through this awful death. And preach this well. Our churches need this message.