Episcopal Church of the
Incarnation
Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday)
Isaiah
45.21-25 Psalm
22.1-11 Philippians 2.5-11
Luke 22.39-23.49
Isaiah 45.21-25
1) In
this second section of the “Book of Comfort” (see the Bible Study
summary for Lent 5), Cyrus of
a) It is only in this section that a foreigner is referred to as the “anointed” of the Lord (His instrument).
2) Today’s lesson is part of a decree of the Lord in which His universal dominion is recited.
a) The verses here are part of a “trial”.
b) Crypto-Israelites (those who are not true to the Lord) are here placed on trial.
i)
The remnant of
(1) Out
of this remnant God will reconstitute
3) Vv. 23-25 form the basis of the earliest Christian hymns (“at the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bend”) (Phil. 2.10-11; Rom. 14.11).
Psalm 22.1-11
1) Psalm 22 recites many of the events found in the passion of our Lord.
a) The opening words of this individual lament are the last words of Jesus on the Cross in Matthew (27.46) and Mark (15.34).
b) Later in the psalm (v. 18) there is even a reference to the soldiers casting lots for Jesus’ cloak.
2) The selection of the psalm used here is only that of lament, but in reciting these words on the Cross, Jesus began a prayer which ends in triumph and vindication in the Lord.
a) Far from being a note of despair, therefore, the words “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is the start of a recitation of trust in God, of His triumph.
Philippians 2.5-11
1) The famous “Christ Hymn” is distinguished by its rhythmic character, use of parallelism (as in the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms), and by the occurrence of rare and uncharacteristic language.
a) This
has led some to believe that the hymn was written originally in Aramaic, and is
older than Paul, having been composed at the very start of the Church in
2) The hymn has a two fold structure, following the introduction in v. 5:
a) Vv. 6-8 describe Christ’s abasement.
b) Vv. 9-11 describe His exaltation.
3) Christ was in the “from of God” (en morphé theou). Morphé denotes the essential mode of being by which the essential character or status of something is known.
a) Christ enjoyed a divine way of being.
4) In His exaltation, Jesus is given dominion over all. This despite His abasement to the lowest form of death, on a cross.
a) At His Name every knee should bend. This is a reference to Isa. 45.23, where the Lord says, “to me every knee shall bow.” Thus the universal worship due to God alone is to be given to Jesus.
i) Worship is universal: in heaven, on earth and under the earth.
(1) This reflects the complete cosmogony of Paul’s world.
(2) God’s sovereignty and glory is reclaimed through Christ.
Luke 22.39-23.49
1) Two major sections are found in this Passion story: Jesus is faithful but the disciples abandon Him during His trial; and, to the end, the innocent Jesus associates with sinners.
a) He and His disciples are contrasted in prayer (in the garden).
b) His fidelity to those whom He has chosen is contrasted with the infidelity of Judas Iscariot.
c) His fidelity is contrasted with Peter’s abandonment of Him.
i) Luke uses extreme irony. Right after one of Jesus’ prophecies has been fulfilled (the cock crows after peter has denied knowing Jesus three times) is when the soldiers abuse Him and mock Him, crying “prophesy!”
ii) Jesus is never accused of blasphemy in His trial (in Luke). The soldiers who mock Him are now blaspheming.
2) At His trial, while apparently powerless, Jesus foretells God’s vindication of Him and His ministry. This is the Church’s confession of Jesus as Lord.
3) At the Cross, Jesus, as the rejected prophet, calls for repentance. He prays for the sinners He is amongst.
a) The common people gaze on the events of His crucifixion with sympathy.
b) The religious leaders scoff at Him.
i) Their scoffing, “Christ of God,” “Chosen One,” “King of the Jews” all refers to truth that they do not see.
ii) The “good thief” confesses Jesus’ Name, when He asks Him by name to deliver him to His kingdom.
4) Darkness descends at Jesus’ death.
a) Darkness accompanies judgment, at the Day of the Lord, in Joel 2.31 and Amos 8.9.
i) God’s judgment against evil accompanies Jesus’ death.
ii) The
5) “Father, into your hands ...”: This is also based on a psalm (31.5) in which the innocently suffering righteous one extols God’s salvation.
a) The fact that the centurion confesses Jesus, together with the common folk in the crowd, means that salvation is now universal.