Sermon for Palmarum, 2025

Jesus rides in that Passover week to make the Sacrifice, to mark you with Blood that will stave off the angel of death. And the Blood He shed, that stained the centurion’s spear, that His broken heart ceased to pump; that Blood marks the doorpost of your heart, namely, your tongue. Because it is not what goes into a man that defiles him; it’s what comes out. The tongue betrays your evil heart. Therefore, to circumcise your heart and make it pure, to justify you, to guard and keep you in the Truth, to liberate your tongue so that it may make the bold confession that Jesus is Lord, the Blood of Christ is poured upon your tongue and into your heart. He does what you could not: He makes you pure from the outside in. His Blood is poured into you to cover you so that death—eternal death—passes over you, and you are spared. 

Yes, indeed: “all glory, laud, and honor are due our Redeemer King,” He, who comes in the name of the LORD, in His own Name, the name that is above every name, the Name at which every knee will bow, in heaven, and on earth and under the earth, the Name of Jesus, for He comes to save His people from their sins. 

O Beloved, He hears your heartfelt prayer of “Hosanna!—Save, we pray!” and He rides into Jerusalem to accomplish it. He rides on for you, in perfect, driven love, to redeem you. 

Readings:

• Old Testament: Zechariah 9:9-12

• Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11

• Holy Gospel: John 12:12-19

Sermon: