Sermon for Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wallis, Texas
Sermon Text: Philippians 2:5-11
Sermon Theme: “The Paradox of the Triumphal Entry”
(Sources: Emphasis Online Illustrations; Emphasis Online Commentary; Concordia Pulpit Resources, Volume 24, Part 2, Series A; Online Commentary on ‘Israel Demands a King’; Anderson’s Preaching Workbook, Cycle A; original ideas)
Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
As people in a democracy, we Americans have always had difficulty viewing a “king” as a good thing, whereas, today, in England, citizens still have a very positive attitude toward kings and queens. We still have a bad taste in our mouth about George III who was King of England and our bitter enemy in 1776.
Another King of England, also named George, George V, was monarch of England during World War I. Although he was a rather incompetent king, he was esteemed by the people.
He once paid a visit to the city of Leeds, England. Elaborate preparations were made for his coming. Excited crowds filled the streets to wave and cheer. There was a large elementary school in Leeds with a playground parallel to the railway line. His majesty agreed to wave to the boys and girls as the royal train passed by on the last day of the visit.
The boys and girls crowded to the playground wall overlooking the railway. Soon the train, moving slowly, emerged from a long tunnel and gradually drew alongside the playground. Then the king himself emerged from the royal coach and stood on a small platform where all could see him. He wore no crown or purple robe, but was dressed in a plain suit, just like an ordinary man. From his jacket pocket he plucked a bright handkerchief with which he waved to the cheering children. Continue reading →