The events we celebrate on Palm Sunday, and the way that we celebrate it, might almost seem like a contradiction. Jesus entered into Jerusalem to the acclaim of the crowds, the shouts of Hosanna, the honor given him the honor due to a hero or a triumphant king. The way that Jesus presents himself almost seems contradictory as well: humble riding on a donkey, and yet accepting that honor as King. Palm Sunday hymns are more exuberant and upbeat than the Lent hymns we have been singing for six weeks. But the excitement of the crowd that welcomed Jesus and even our joyful Palm Sunday hymns seem premature, don’t they? At the end of the week, on Thursday and Friday Jesus will be beaten, humiliated, and ultimately die. So then what is the point of the shouts and the hosannas and the palms, if that is the result? What is the point of Palm Sunday? Well first of all Scripture is fulfilled in several ways, as the Gospel readings make clear. But also we learn about the character of Jesus, who he is and what he is going to do for us then and now. We are prepared, along with those who were there, for the events of Thursday and Friday, knowing that Christ Will Not Be Broken.

Isaiah is important for understanding Jesus. The Gospels recount what Jesus does but rarely explain the significance of his actions. Isaiah, 700 years before Jesus came, explains all about Jesus’ goal and how he accomplishes it. There are many prophecies about Christ in Isaiah, and in Isaiah 42 we get the first in a series we call the Servant Songs- descriptions of Christ from the perspective of the Father.

Here is my servant, we hear first. That becomes an Old Testament title for Jesus. Jesus serves people in his earthly ministry. We see him teach and heal and drive out demons. But his main role as servant is the fact that his whole life is dedicated to the mission given to him by his Father. Jesus emphasizes over and over again in his ministry that he isn’t just doing his own will, but the will of the Father. He doesn’t use his divine power to serve himself but to serve others. And he has been perfectly aligned in his every thought ,word, and deed perfectly all the way up to his entrance into Jerusalem, and he continues on even to the cross.

He is the chosen one in whom the Father delights. Consider how important this truth is to know before the crucifixion. How does Jesus appear to the world? He may seem like someone cursed by God. Who else but an enemy of God could be subjected to such torment by other men? Those who witnessed the crucifixion could only see the outward facts of the matter. God has revealed through Isaiah the true heart of the Father and the Son- Jesus is the chosen one in whom the Father delights becausehe was on the cross. This is not evidence of the Father’s abandonment of Jesus but evidence of the Father’s love for Jesus, that through the suffering and death Jesus wins the victory over all his opponents, both in flesh and spiritual enemies are utterly defeated.

The mention of the Spirit being placed on Jesus the Servant completes the Trinity: Father Son and Holy Spirit working as one for your salvation. The Spirit was the weapon and equipment that Jesus needed to complete the job set for him.

Christ on the cross announces the just verdict for the nations. He brings a righteousness to you that is not inherent in you. He makes things right for all nations. You will be judged according to the measure that Abraham our father in the faith was judged. You will be reckoned righteous according to the trust you put in Jesus. In this very first verse we hear a clear proclamation of the Gospel’s unbreakable power: God has chosen Christ to serve, he has placed his hand on him to assure him of victory, and declared all those who put their trust in Jesus righteous.

An important aspect of Palm Sunday is the humility of the Savior. Perhaps you remember from your catechism instruction about the states of Christ- humiliation and exaltation. An important thing that we confess clearly about Christ’s state of humiliation is that Christ did not lose his divine power as true God when he took on flesh. Christ willingly sets aside the full use of divine power and glory in his earthly ministry. That true meaning of humility is spelled out in verse 2- He will not cry out, he will not raise his voice, He will not make his voice heard in the street. Consider how often Jesus is silent in the face of accusers, or says very little in his own defense. Even Pilate is shocked that Jesus does not defend himself. But it was all part of the plan. Christ was not subjected to such humiliation against his will or as one who was overpowered. Christ himself makes that clear to Peter and the other disciples when they attempt to defend him with force. He could call down legions of angels in his defense, but he puts aside that authority for the sake of God’s plan for salvation. No one ever overpowered Christ. That is so important because Christ’s death is not his defeat, but his victory.

Christ’s power is also important because of the way that he is gentle. “A bent reed he will not break and a dimly burning wick he will not snuff out.” Isaiah artfully describes repentant sinners, who have been knocked down by God’s Law. Most of the messages we get through the readings and hymns of Lent are meant to bring us to this very point. Christ is gentle with us sinful people. Here is an important truth that goes for all people: one cannot be gentle and weak. Gentleness is refraining from using all one’s power for the sake of the good of someone else. Christ is the King of the universe and its judge. Notice how many times in these four verses judicial language is used. If the wick and reed are not enough of a picture, another helpful picture is that of something like a presidential pardon. Imagine the relief a person must feel to receive that type of pardon. Generally the person who receives a pardon has been convicted, and is guilty of the crime they are being punished for. The president of the United States is the official ultimately responsible for carrying out all justice- but in a presidential pardon the top of the ladder comes down and says NO- the sentence is wiped out. In this country that means you can’t be tried again for the same crime. The final authority on the matter has spoken. That is what you and I have received from Christ- the final word, the ultimate authority- one greater than a president, the King has spoken and he has declared you not guilty on all charges. Satan the accuser has no standing in the court of Christ any longer.

Isaiah keeps the picture of wick and reed and applies it to Christ himself: He himself will not be broken or burn out. That is the message for today of Palm Sunday. Christ is going to suffer and die, he has suffered and died already. It did not break him. He has accomplished his goal which is justice for the nations in the Gospel- the Good news that Jesus has died for their sins. The last sentence in verse 4 might sound a little strange to us, but actually Matthew quotes these verses and follows the Greek version which says – In His name the nations will put their hope. Paul says the same in the reading from Philippians- at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. The actions of God’s Servant are for all the nations of the world.

Later on in Isaiah God speaks about his servants, in the plural. We are privileged to be God’s servants and we have the same confidence that Christ has. We too will not be broken because God the Father has grasped hold of us in Christ. We may walk towards suffering and death with that same boldness that Christ entered into Jerusalem, knowing full well where he would end up- in the tomb. Yet he knew with full confidence that the end result would be his Resurrection and the salvation of all those who have put their trust in him. We have no need to fear our own deaths either. And if we have no fear of death, how much more then do we have no need to fear anything else up to that point!

We also have a call to be gentle with others. Sometimes Christians speak of having a strong or weak faith. Strong faith is spoken highly of often. But being weak isn’t necessarily something bad. Being strong gives you a responsibility toward the weak. The weak in this case may be those struggling with doubt, fear, and guilt over sin. Don’t look down on the weak but refrain from snuffing them out or breaking those bent reeds by bringing Christ to them. Proclaim the Gospel to your weak brothers in the faith- yes Christ has died for you. Yes, God the Father has you in his hand as well.