Palm Crosses

This last Sunday was Palm Sunday. When Jesus entering Jerusalem, people greeted him with shouts of Hosanna and with the waving of palm branches. In our worship last Sunday, we also waved palm branches and greeted Jesus with songs of Hosanna.

It is a custom to take the palm branches used in worship home and decorate your home with them. The palms can be left as they are, but some people like to fold the palm leaf into the shape of a cross. I like this custom. Whenever we see it, it reminds us that the shouts of �gHosanna, Hosanna�hon Sunday were shouts of �gCrucify him, crucify him�hon Friday. People�fs hearts change that quickly. That is what sin does to people. It does it to us, also. In our Christian lives, our praise to God can turn to dishonoring God. Our �gHosannas�hbecome �gCrucify him�hwhen our hearts turn cold because of sin. If �gHosanna�hmeans �gplease come and save us,�hthen �gCrucify him�hmeans �gGo away, Jesus.�hEvery Sunday morning we can sing loud praise to Jesus, and then by Friday of each week we have enough sin on our heads that we feel like hypocrites if we sing praises to God.

Because of our sin, we have been like Peter who denied Jesus. We have been like Judas who betrayed him. We have been like the disciples who ran away and hid and deserted Jesus. And we have also been like Mary who stood at the foot of the cross and wept for Jesus. And we have been like the women who wept when Jesus was buried.

When we confess our sin, then we cry out �gCrucify him�hwith a new meaning. We thank God that Jesus was crucified to forgive our sin. We ask that Jesus be crucified for us, also. We pray that our sins might be upon him. We ask for forgiveness.

Jesus drank the bitter cup of suffering for us. He was whipped and beaten and mocked and bullied and laughed at, for us. Maybe Jesus wasn�ft technically tortured, but he was afflicted with great pain, both physical and mental. On this Good Friday, we stop to remember this and to appreciate the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus gave for us. He died on the cross for us.

The palm-branch-cross reminds us of our fickle faith. In contrast, it also reminds us of the God�fs firm faithfulness. We go from praises to curses and back to praises and then back to curses and then back to praises all our lives. But God is forever faithful. Our palm crosses will wither, but the salvation of the cross is eternal.

Amen.

Sermon Index