Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday 

April 4, 2004 

Philippians 2:5-11

The Christian & the cross

Obedient to the Death of the Cross

INTRODUCTION: Our lesson for this morning contains two opposite directions. Christ’s going down in humility and going up in exaltation.  The key is that no one can go up unless he first goes down. Today we begin Holy Week. This week is a period of Christ’s going down even to the depth of death. Because of this, we can anticipate His rising from the dead to the right hand of the Father. Paul urges his people to have this same mind of humility that God may exalt them.  This morning let’s see how we must go down to go up.

I.        The mind of humility leads to Good Friday.

A.     Self-emptying denial of self – v. 7 “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, {and} being made in the likeness of men.  Paul reminds us of two realities. First, Jesus emptied Himself. He had Himself poured out for the sake of a sinful world. But there’s more. He gave up all of the glory and security of heaven. He came down to our level. He was incarnate. John, in his Gospel puts it this way: “...and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1) 

        B.     In denying Himself Jesus became a servant –v. 7 A servant is one who places the needs of others before self. There is but one motto hanging over the entrance of police headquarters; “We Serve” Jesus put it in a way which  depicts ministry as He intended it: ...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a  ransom for many." Matthew 20:28  

        C.     Jesus was intent on obeying God even to death – v. 8    “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled  Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  The Catechism reminds us of Christ’s state of Humiliation – those steps Jesus deliberately took to win for us salvation. He became both God and man when He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered, under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. Mark them well for during this Holy Week we will walk with Jesus on His way to the cross to win for us salvation and life.

Transition: In His passion Jesus walks the way of the cross to offer us salvation. But this is only half of the equation. The cross leads to an empty tomb on Easter morning.

II.     The miracle of exaltation leads to Easter

We’re given a new name – v. 9 “Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name…” The Father has highly exalted Jesus. What does this mean for us? There are now two realities for us:

Ø      The Father has accepted Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.

Ø      Through Jesus’ Passion the Father offers the forgiveness of sins to men.

A new name has been conferred to us in our Baptism. In our Baptism three specific realities happen to us.

Ø      We are marked with the sign of a cross in Baptism.

Ø      We are Baptized into His death.

Ø      We are raised again in His resurrection.

A new name leads to an attitude of gratitude in worship. A bent knee of worship – v.10 “…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,” We do more then come to a worship service. In service we worship God.  Why? Because the Father has bestowed on Him a name which is above every other name. “Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Name all other names above, Unto which must ev’ry knee Bow in deep humility” [ TLH #114 stanza 1]

Having worshipped in His presence with the tongue we no confess and tell His story.

A busy tongue of witnessing – “...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” v. 10 What do we confess? Jesus Christ is Lord not one among many. Not one of a pantheon of other gods. He alone is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through Him.  This confession gives true glory and honor to the Father.

CONCLUSION: As we begin yet another Holy Week we walk with the Savior in humility and meekness which leads to the cross on Good Friday and to the miracle of His Exhalation culminating on Easter.