J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous novel, The Lord of the Rings is a long and complicated book. The main story is the journey of an unlikely group of heroes across Middle Earth to destroy a powerful Ring at Mount Doom, where it was forged. But it is also the tale of how Aragorn becomes the King of Middle Earth. He does this by reuniting the lands of Arnor and Gondor, and defeating the evil Sauron with a coalition of men, elves, dwarves, and hobbits. In constructing his narrative Tolkien drew on his encyclopaedic knowledge of medieval European literature and his deep Christian faith. The desire to see a monarchy re-established lies at the Jewish and Christian faiths. Jews await the coming of the Messiah, the anointed Davidic King, which Christians believe is Jesus. We believe that the Messiah has already come, to set His people free, and to inaugurate a kingdom of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. 

The service this morning begins with Luke’s account of the first Palm Sunday, when Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, an animal of peace and not war. The prophet Zechariah, writing 500 years before Jesus, looks forward to a messianic future:

‘Bydd lawen iawn, ti ferch Seion; a chrechwena, ha ferch Jerwsalem: wele dy frenin yn dyfod atat: cyfiawn ac achubydd yw efe; y mae efe yn llariaidd, ac yn marchogaeth ar asyn, ac ar ebol llwdn asen.’

‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ (Zech 9:9)

The donkey ridden by Jesus reminds us of the humble beast of burden, which carried his Mother to Bethlehem for His birth, and then carried the Holy Family into exile in Egypt. This is an act of humble leadership which realizes what the prophets foresaw. It shows us that Jesus Christ is truly the one who fulfils the hopes of the people of Israel. The Hebrew Scriptures look forward to His deliverance of Israel. This is what is made real in front of the eyes of those watching the Carpenter’s son enter the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Scripture is fulfilled and there is a burst of popular enthusiasm — people wave palm branches and cry out. However, having someone claim to be a relative of King David is a direct challenge to Herod, the puppet ruler installed to comply with the Romans. The events we heard described, before our procession this morning, sound something like a political coup — a bid to replace a leader lacking legitimacy. Such an attempt is bound to have wide repercussions. It represents a direct challenge to the ruling house and to Rome, and therefore it has to be countered. The masses in Jerusalem are expecting a king of the Davidic line. One who would be seen as a threat to the ruling élite, a challenge to the status quo. But in Christ, God gives Israel something else. Yes, he is a King of the line of David, but Jesus is the one who rules with love. He has no desire for power, or honour. Naturally, the leaders and those in authority are threatened by Him: Christ turns their world on its head. He is an awkward inconvenience. Jesus, however, does not want their power. He has come to accomplish something completely different. What is seen as a potential political coup is in fact a renewal of religion, the fulfilment of prophecy, and a new hope for Israel. Political and religious leaders can only see the threat to their hold on power, rather than the opportunity which Christ offers.

At its heart Christianity is the offer of new life in Jesus Christ. This starts with repentance, and acceptance of our need for God. As we grow in faith, we come to believe and trust in a God who loves us, and gives Himself for us. Then we can experience healing, wholeness, and fullness of life in and through Him. Such gifts come at great cost to the giver, which the week ahead will make clear to us in the most stark and direct way. 

One way of reading St Luke’s account of Christ’s Passion and Death is through the lens of conversion and reconciliation. After Jesus celebrates the Eucharist a dispute arises amongst His disciples as to which of them is the greatest. There is something of a contrast here between the institution of the most solemn and sacred act of Christian worship, and the actions of the disciples who seem to be arguing like children in a playground: ‘I’m greater than you!’ ‘No, I’m greater than you!’. This is not how they should behave, so Our Lord explains:

‘Y mae brenhinoedd y Cenhedloedd yn arglwyddiaethu arnynt, a’r rhai sydd ag awdurdod drostynt yn cael eu galw yn gymwynaswyr. Ond peidiwch chwi â gwneud felly. Yn hytrach, bydded y mwyaf yn eich plith fel yr ieuengaf, a’r arweinydd fel un sy’n gweini.’

‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.’ (Lk 22:25-26)

Service of others lies at the heart of Christianity, not exercising power or influence. Christ is offering the world a new way to be, and the church needs to take this seriously, and follow His teachings.

As Jesus goes to Calvary, He tells the women of Jerusalem not to mourn for Him, but instead to mourn for themselves and their children. He says this because He understands that in a few years time the Romans will sack Jerusalem, and the people will be scattered in exile. Christ is more concerned with the needs of others than Himself, and as He goes to His execution, Our Lord is still a servant, caring for others.

As the Roman soldiers crucify Jesus He says:

“O Dad, maddau iddynt, oherwydd ni wyddant beth y maent yn ei wneud.”

‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ (Lk 23:34)

Christ’s concern is for forgiveness and reconciliation — just as it has been throughout His earthly ministry. His life’s work is to restore each and every one of us to God and to pour out the Creator’s love on us. This is also evident from Jesus interaction with the penitent thief a few verses later:

Yna dywedodd, “Iesu, cofia fi pan ddoi i’th deyrnas.” Atebodd yntau, “Yn wir, rwy’n dweud wrthyt, heddiw byddi gyda mi ym Mharadwys.”

“And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Lk 23:42-43)

The criminal being executed for seditious acts against Rome expresses faith in Christ, and is rewarded with the grace earned for humanity on the Cross. Our Lord’s dying words are taken from Psalm 31:6, a confident prayer:

“O Dad, i’th ddwylo di yr wyf yn cyflwyno fy ysbryd.”

‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ (Lk 23:46)

Immediately afterwards the centurion in charge of the Crucifixion acts in a surprising manner, praising God and declaring Jesus to be innocent:

‘Pan welodd y canwriad yr hyn oedd wedi digwydd, dechreuodd ogoneddu Duw gan ddweud, “Yn wir, dyn cyfiawn oedd hwn.”’

‘Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”’ (Lk 23:47)

The gathered crowds also do something unusual:

‘Ac wedi gweld yr hyn a ddigwyddodd, troes yr holl dyrfaoedd, a oedd wedi ymgynnull i wylio’r olygfa, tuag adref gan guro eu bronnau.’

‘And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.’ (Lk 23:48)

In acting in this way they are expressing contrition and repentance, the necessary prerequisite to the acceptance of God’s grace. Salvation has become a reality and it is changing people’s lives. Just as it did two thousand years ago, it is still doing so today, and will continue to do so until the end of time itself.

Let us then, as followers of Jesus, hold up our palms as we rejoice in the generous love of God and prepare ourselves to celebrate Christ’s Passion. Let us give thanks for the fact that we are loved by God. And let us give glory i Duw Dad, Duw y Mab, a Duw yr Ysbryd Glân. To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I’r hwn y priodoler pob gogoniant, arglwyddiaeth, a gallu, yn awr, ac yn oes oesoedd. Amen. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen.