Palm Sunday
Sermon Preached by Reverend Tim Sherwell on Sunday, 29 March 2026
Zechariah 9.9-13 | Psalm 130 Acts 1.12-14 | Matthew 21.1-11
For Palm Sunday to have depth of meaning, it helps if we first understand a bit about the Olivet Mount. I’ll say a few things about that, and then what it might mean for us today.
On the east side of Jerusalem (between the city and the desert) there is a mountain ridge with three rough peaks. The peak on the northern end is known as the Olivet Mount because it was once covered in groves of olive trees. It is about 5km from city central, and you can see the city landscape of Jerusalem quite well.
During the second temple period a religious ceremony was held at the Mount of Olives around the beginning of each month. Sometimes that would include a procession into Jerusalem. The ceremony recalled Israel’s escape from Egypt, and God’s wish for them to be a free and liberated people. I wonder if that ceremony evolved into what is known today was the Sukkot (sook-coat), which is the feast of Tabernacles. Sukkot celebrates a time of God’s Grace, liberation, and is an act of renewal.
At the same time that Jesus entered Jerusalem from the east, Pilate entered Jerusalem from the west. He was accompanied by a Garrison of Roman Soldiers who helped keep order in Jerusalem during passover. Pilate, the soldiers, the temple collaborators are all a sign of oppression and domination of the people. That is the source of conflict driving the events of Easter week (Crossan and Borg).
Meanwhile Jesus enters from the east on a donkey and a colt, which is a reference to the prophet Zechariah (9.9). It says; this is the Messiah that Zechariah prophesied about, but he is not a Messiah of territory, riches, or military power. He is a Messiah of the spirit, the soul, one who frees the oppressed and the dominated. He will not rule from a king’s worldly throne. He will rule the heart. Humility and authority belong together.
The Mount of Olives is also the site of the Ascension. You may have heard that in the reading from Acts. The Olivet Mount is a significant site in religious history. My understanding is that the Franciscans built the “Chapel of the Ascension” on that site. We could say that the site for the Palm Sunday procession reaches back to the prophesy of Zechariah, and also reaches forward to the Ascension, and is interpreted as a new Exodus, a renewed introduction to God’s Grace.
There is also a commotion in this scene. The country folk who have followed Jesus and witnessed his work are saying he is the Messiah. They are the ones placing cloaks and branches on the ground (an ancient red carpet). But the city folk, possibly looking over the wall and watching this, are saying; “who is this? Don’t insult our sensibilities.”
What can all this mean for us?
As Jesus enters Jerusalem, so too Jesus enters into our lives. He comes with humble authority, and he comes as a reinterpretation of the exodus event that was a statement of freedom and liberation.
Our job is to invite the same experience to occur in us. In my experience God usually enters human lives when we can be absolutely honest with ourselves, and come to God with deep humility (humility is knowing our limits – not self shaming). It is inviting God to help us be liberated from our own oppression and the domination systems in our own lives.
This week I invite you draw to mind the parts of your life that you feel are oppressive of your spirit and [symbolically] hold them in one hand. Then in the other hand, hold the palm cross you received as you came through the door. Slowly and prayerfully bring them together. Hear the voice of Jesus say, “I will rebuild this temple.”
The Reverend Tim Sherwell.