Lent Midweek 5
March 29, 2023
Text – St. John 7: 28-39
“Palms and Victory”
This coming Sunday brings to remembrance one of the sharpest, most remarkable twists in the life of the Church. As Jesus Christ enters His Holy City of Jerusalem, He is enjoying and receiving praise by a multitude of the people before the Feast of Passover. They wave palm branches and sing, “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” However, all these victorious chants were fickle because in only a few short days, such chants will cease when they shout, “Crucify Him!”
When you consider the whole Bible, palms held an even greater distinction at another ancient, annual Jewish festival — the Feast of Tabernacles (or tents). All Jewish men were required to celebrate it in person every year in Jerusalem to remember how their heavenly Father provided for Israel during the forty years in the wilderness. During this feast, they came with leafy boughs and palms, and they lived in tents. In this way, the people of God remembered how God provided for His people in the wilderness. He gave them manna, meat, and water. He preserved them as their sandals and their clothes did not wear out. He saved a remnant to enter the Promised land.
Unlike Passover in the spring, the Feast of Tabernacles occurred in the fall, usually in late September or early October, close to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On this day of Atonement, the high priest would take two goats. One would have all the sins of the people confessed over its head and be released as a scapegoat into the wilderness. The other goat was sacrificed, and the high priest took that blood when he entered the Most Holy Place in order to place it on the Mercy Seat on the top of the Ark of the Covenant. During the Feasts of Atonement and Tabernacle, the Israelites recollected their unfaithfulness and rebellion against God in the desert. Further, they knew that most of the first generation who exited Egypt never entered the Promised Land on account of their unbelief and their lack of faith in the God who freed them from their Egyptian oppressors by mighty signs.
When Israel camped in Jerusalem every year, they not only remembered their past failures and sin but beyond that, they remembered all of God’s wonderful and generous provision. Their sandals never wore out, they ate manna and meat, and they had water every day. Moses said in Leviticus, “And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord… You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year.”
You joyously celebrate your victory in Christ today and every day! Yes, we know we are on the verge of Holy Week. We will rehearse again our Lord instituting His Supper, battling Satan in the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer, and being betrayed by Judas. We will also witness Good Friday and Christ’s suffering and Passion. But remember why Jesus does it all: to give you an eternal victory. Therefore, you may wave palms now, as St. John shares in His Revelation vision of heaven. There, all the saints will hold palm branches in their hands wearing white robes, washed in the blood of the Lamb, crying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Even though you may feel naked and alone right now, remember you are as brightly clothed as the saints in heaven because you are baptized and covered in Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Adam and Eve were ashamed and naked after they sinned, grabbing for a sprig of fig leaves to cover their humiliation. God eventually spilled blood, covered them with animal skins and forgave their sin. After all, sin demanded a sacrifice! It is never comfortable to be naked at any time or in any weather. However, remember this! Jesus was stripped naked by Roman soldiers and beaten for you! They even placed a purple robe on Him and crowned Him with a crown of thorns. Shortly thereafter, He was shamefully hung naked on a cross so that you and I need never face eternal nakedness and shame before the Judge of all hearts.
Remember today that you are not naked but victorious. Sunday, you will be given a palm frond. Very soon, other leafy plants, especially Easter lilies, will be set around this altar as well. Such greenery always symbolizes rest, beauty, peace, and tranquility for the people of God. Therefore, many of you still provide greenery and flowers for God’s house to joyfully celebrate people, family, God’s gift of life, an anniversary, or any blessing or special event. Palms and green symbolize life and strength, and baptismal white robes are your covering.
In the Song of Solomon, the palm tree is referred to as a symbol of strength, vigorous life, and abundance. In a hot Mediterranean climate, the shade of a palm offered relief from the direct heat of the sun. Palms were also carved on the walls of Solomon’s temple. Rest today and recline joyfully, baptized and clothed in white through Christ’s blood. You are baptized into Jesus and your sins are washed away! Even though you and many others face sickness, disease, or even death, despite it all, the ultimate and final victory is yours in Jesus! Your eternal victory is won by Him!
Even if your life drastically turns upside down from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, remember who always holds the greatest victory for you! Jesus Christ is why we hold and wave palm branches, and in Jesus, you are baptized and given white robes washed by His blood. Never lose heart! You are always His child, protected under His heavenly wings. That is His promise. So, celebrate the thrill of victory today, knowing that the agony of defeat can never last in your life made new and holy by the Risen Christ to whom goes all the glory.
Amen.