Truly this Man was the Son of God

Palms or Passion?”  Matthew 27::54 / Mark 11:1-11; 14:1-15:47

“Dearly Beloved, the Solemnity of the Lord’s Passion is come; that day which we have so desired, and which same is precious to the whole world. …even though it be hard to preach often on the same solemnity Beloved, the Solemnity of the Lord’s Passion is come; that day which we have so desired, and which same is precious to the whole world. …even though it be hard to preach often on the same solemnity, and do so meekly and well, a priest (presbyter) is not free to shirk the duty of preaching to the faithful concerning this so great mystery of divine mercy.” The Anglican Breviary, p. 503

The scenes of this Holy week are familiar to most of us. We read the account of the palms thrown in the path of Jesus as he rode the colt into the city of Jerusalem. The people said, “Hosanna : Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”  Mark 11:9 It was a triumphal entry  but without the next readings we will not know the purpose of this week. It is not about palms and hosannas. It is about the Lord’s death and passion for us!

In particular as we read the Gospels (Mark) we see how there was a plan that governed this week. It was not haphazard or without reason. We too as Christians may go through out lives seeming that they do not make any sense at least to us but God is governing and directing our paths . Our duty is simply to be obedient to His Word and follow in the steps of Jesus without complaint or lack of compassion for others. This is not always so easy. It helps us in many ways to see the path of our Lord who is our example , Savior and Mediator between us and God.


Mark 14 remembers the celebration of Passover but in that “ the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.” A woman pours spikenard very precious on His head . Jesus said, “ She has done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.” 14:8 Judas Iscariot one of the twelve went unto the chief priests to betray him. 14:10 The Passover is celebrated ,” And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave it to them, and said,Take , eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 14: 22-24
Then comes the betrayal and “ they led Jesus away to the high priest.” 14:53 There is a short “trial” where witnesses , false witnesses which do not agree as they testify against Him. Peter betrays Jesus. Jesus is spit on and hit with the palms of their hands. “ And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.” 14:64


In chapter 15 which we read Jesus goes to Pilate. Pilate does not release Jesus . “ The chief priests moved the people that he should release Barabbas unto them.” 15:11 The people cried out for Jesus to be crucified. “ And so Pilate willing to content the people released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him to be crucified.” 15:15
“ They mocked Him” “ They took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify Him.” 15:20 More taunting and humiliation follows when the people railed on Him, “ wagging their heads, and saying, Ah thou that destroyest the temples, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross.” 15:29 Even those who were crucified with Him “reviled him.” 15:32 Jesus cries out on the cross, “ My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Then we read in Mark, “ And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.” 15:37 The “veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” A Soldier, centurion , near the cross according to Mark is there.

This Soldier “ which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, said, Truly this man was the Son of God.” Gregory says “ the happenings at the sepulcher and after the sepulcher, who can fittingly recount them? Yet no one of them can be compared to the miracle of my salvation. A few drops of blood renew the whole world.”
There is a purpose to the seeming tragedies and difficulties we experience. The Son of God suffers and dies that we may have this witness: “ Truly this man was the Son of God.” All of it leads up to this.

On this Palm Sunday the branches of palms which we have seen and felt turn into the crown of thorns and the wood of a cross where Jesus dies . Yet there is hope. In my believing there is new life and the tragedy of this week gives us roses among the thorns of life. In the frustrations of life among our frail natures we have the joy of believing that there is a plan that governs it all. In one man’s witness in believing we are drawn to the cross where we live forever with Jesus. “ We are drawn into a mystery that sees us transformed” I heard this week on the radio. Luke says , “ now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.” 23:47
“ Truly this man was the Son of God.”