What Kind of King do You Follow?

Luke 19:28-40

Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025

Holy Trinity Cathedral

“What Kind of King do You Follow?”

In 2023, at the NBA All Stars Game, Canadian rhythm and blues singer Jully Black was invited to sing the national anthem.  As the camera focussed on her face, she got to the line where she made one small and significant change to the lyrics.  She sang, “our home on native land” instead of “our home and native land”.  The resulting controversy played out across social media.  When asked why she did it, she replied, “it's an opportunity to have a conversation and to impact change and to be a part of the change.… I'm looking for allyship, I'm looking for co-conspirators, I'm looking for people that will drive the getaway car. Take a risk for me. Put your job at stake. I've said that myself, but I haven't done it, so it's time to walk my talk.”  She drew criticism about how and why she brought attention to residential schools, reconciliation, and rights.  But people did notice- and react.  A small word can have large consequences. 

Look at what Jesus’ disciples did as he was coming into Jerusalem with them for the Passover festival.  For Christians, we think we know the story.  The donkey, the palm branches, the hosannas, the adoring crowds, the hostile religious leaders.  But wait a moment.  Luke’s gospel telling is not quite what we expect when we gather to celebrate the triumphant entry.  There are a few variants, and one word is the most important clue.  It is “king”.

Luke 19:28-40 parallels the other gospels in many ways.  But the donkey we picture is called a colt that has never been ridden.  This could be a young donkey, a humble ride for a humble rabbi.  Or it could be a horse: not a warhorse like a conquering hero would parade into the city upon, but perhaps a king’s mount none-the-less.  Royal animals were not ridden by anyone else; they were kept solely for the king’s use.  So what kind of man is riding this one?

There are no palm branches in Luke’s gospel account.  We continue with the tradition of palm crosses because branches are mentioned in other accounts.  In Matthew we hear that leaves were cut from the trees and strewn in the roads as citizens of Rome did for a triumphant warrior.  But the citizens of Jerusalem are not the ones recognizing Jesus’ entrance into the city.  It is the disciples themselves who throw their cloaks on the ground like a carpet of honour.  What kind of leader do they see in Jesus, returning to the centre of religious and civic power?

And the people are not singing hosannas to the Son of David!  Hosanna means “pray save us!” It is an exclamation of praise to God.  However, in Luke there is another song on the disciples’ lips.  It is still a familiar song- one that every good Jew going up to the Passover festival would know.  After all, Psalm 118 comes just before the sequence of hymns that are called “the psalms of ascent”.  Those particular psalms- fifteen in all- were meant to be recited by pilgrims climbing up the 15 steps of the Temple in Jerusalem.  And singing 118 at the gate of the city is a good warm-up. It might have even passed unnoticed amongst all the other visitors and residents in the throng (if you ignored the man on the young colt and the cloaks on the ground).  But the disciples are belting out Psalm 118 verse 26 at the top of their lungs with one small word change.  They are shouting “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” 

When the Pharisees hear this they order Jesus to tell his disciples to stop.  That’s not the way the original lyrics go.  It should be “blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”.  Which is bad enough, because it implies that those present see Jesus as someone sent from God. Maybe even the Messiah, the anointed one in line from David, the great king who penned this hymn of praise.  Now imagine the application of those words of praise to an individual acclaimed as David’s greater son!  It gets worse, however.  The word that the disciples use is “king”.  And any kind of king is bad news for those in authority.  Here is a power that is challenging their own.

There is only room for one king.  The biblical idea, rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, is that God the Creator is King.  When the Jewish people settled in Israel and looked at the rulers of the nations around them, they wanted a human being that would represent divine authority for the nation.  They chose Saul, then David and his heirs to be their ruler.  The Davidic idea of a king evolved from a tribal leader to one who was divinely anointed to rule.  Later, when the kingdom divided and fell to foreign powers, kings in name had diminished authority and wealth.  By the time of Jesus, the ruler of Israel is only a client of the Roman emperor, allowed to carry the title but with little real clout.  The idea of a Messiah who would restore Israel is emerging in prophecy and discourse.  Meanwhile, the most important earthly ruler is the emperor in Rome.  Anyone who dares oppose his kingship is likely to be squashed like a bug.  You don’t use the word “king” lightly.

And yet, here are Jesus’ disciples proclaiming the truth in the streets of Jerusalem.  He has performed deeds of power that attest to his ministry.  He comes bringing peace and glory in the highest heaven.  He also comes bringing conflict and controversy because neither Rome nor the Temple will make room for a claim to the throne.  Some of the Pharisees may want to shut things down to protect Jesus’ life from the Romans.  As a domestic terrorist, he is a good candidate for crucifixion.  Others may fear for their own safety because of their association with Jewish aristocracy and Temple hierarchy.  Any disciple foolish enough to choose Jesus over tradition and social norms is asking for trouble.  Stay down and say nothing. 

It is Holy Week, however, and the kingdom of God is unfolding.  All of creation has a part.  Even the stones of the ground cry out to acknowledge what is coming to pass.  There is an opportunity for each of us to be part of the song, part of the change.  It depends on what kind of king we are willing to follow.  Are we willing to publicly proclaim Jesus as Lord, before all others?  Simple words, with great consequences.  Amen.