Sunday Of The Passion
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
We head toward the passion and cross of Christ.
Theme For The Day
The reading from the Bible of the account of the Last Supper, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 50:4-9a
A Servant Song
As is often the case with the prophets (especially Jeremiah) there is a closeness between them and the people who were faithful. The certainty that Second Isaiah will be vindicated and protected and his opponents overthrown is similar to both Job and Jeremiah. These verses are sometimes called a "servant song." The description is in metaphoric terms. The servant is often called to proclaim the message. So in the congregation of discouraged Hebrews in a distant land, they had to learn to listen not so much to what was said about them as to the voice from the unseen. There were those which every congregation needs who were attentive and listened to the voice of God. They made up the spiritual backbone of the congregation.
Often we need inspired listeners as well as inspired speakers. This sensitivity to and understanding of God's message set these blessed apart. They are God's special servants. What words of encouragement to the exiled people of God! The Contemporary English Version puts verse 7b this way: "So I refuse to give up, because I know God will never let me down." It's what the heart of poetic Second Isaiah would say in this comforting passage to frustrated people.
New Testament Lesson
Philippians 2:5-11
An Early Hymn
There have been many translations of this familiar verse (v. 5). It might be most understandable to say simply: "Think of each other the way you think about Christ; regard each other from the same perspective." This agrees with 2 Corinthians 5:16-17. We are to act in the light of what and how we think about Christ. Then verses 6 to 11 spell out for us this way of thinking.
Christ was God, who gave up everything, and became a slave, and was humble, and obeyed God, and died on a cross, and so on. There is little doubt verses 6-11 are an early Christian hymn not written by Paul, but quoted here by him. Some feel that the slave/servant of verse 7 is a reference to the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. Others say that this refers to the movement of Christ from sovereignty over the cosmos to slavery within it. Verse 8 supports the latter view.
The second part of the hymn moves from the low point of self-humiliation up to exaltation by God. This exaltation is the result of the Resurrection. This victory is what the ancient hymn celebrates. Since this is a hymn, we must not treat it like systematic theology. On this Sunday of the Passion, the whole sweep of the Christ event is presented in hymn-poetry which predates Paul's writing. It celebrates what Christ has done.
The Gospel
Matthew 26:14--27:66
The Passion Of Jesus
Perhaps the listing of contents of this passion history will help:
Jesus eats the Passover meal with disciples
The Lord's supper
Jesus predicts Peter's denial
Jesus prays in Gethsemane
Jesus is arrested and questioned by the council
Peter says he doesn't know Jesus
Jesus is taken to Pilate
The death of Judas
Pilate questions Jesus and sentences him to death
The soldiers make fun of Jesus
Jesus is nailed to a cross
The death of Jesus and burial
You might want to put this list in your worship bulletin where the Gospel is listed to help your listeners hear the story again as it is read. The tradition of this Sunday was the reading of the passion as prescribed here to prepare for the Holy Week services and liturgies.
Preaching Possibilities
A. The reading of the scripture will preach itself. You may want simply to make brief comments before reading the three portions of scripture for the day.
1. The Old Testament Lesson could be announced like this: "This is often called the servant's song which describes the faithfuls' role in hearing and proclaiming God's message to God's people."
2. The New Testament Lesson is mostly an ancient hymn which describes what Jesus, the suffering servant of God, has done for us.
3. The Gospel is disciple Matthew's account of the Last Supper, arrest, torture, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus.
B. If you must preach rather than just read the word and let it speak for itself, perhaps this Second Lesson could be your text:
1. Theme: "What God has done for us."
2. Christ who was God didn't pull rank.
3. Christ who was Master gave it up to become slave.
4. Christ who was humble obeyed God and died on a cross.
We who belong to God can confess: "Jesus Christ is Lord!" The latter (v. 11b) is thought to be the first creed of Christians.
C. A Reading of the Passion of our Lord:
1. I suggest that the reading of this Gospel be done in a rehearsed, dramatic way. Select several of your best readers to help.
2. Let one person read the narrator's voice, one Jesus' voice, one Peter's, one Caiaphas' and Pilate's, one the soldiers and crowd, and so on.
3. You might make the narrator a woman since all the rest are men's voices.
4. Consider interspersing hymns throughout the reading like Thomas B. Pollock's "Jesus, in the Dying Woes" and "Were You There?" using one part at a time. This can be as powerful as a sermon eloquently delivered.
Prayer Of The Day
Open our hearts to hear thankfully today, O God, the wonderful things you have done for us in your son, the Christ. Prepare us for the week ahead of us when we re-live the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.
Possible Stories
If you preach a sermon on this passion story or on the New Testament Lesson for today, here are some possible stories to use in doing so:
I noticed with Peter, our security person and student, an owl which perches on the cross of the chapel at night and hoots at us all. It's really different to see it there when the timer turns the floodlight on the cross. Who gives a hoot from the cross? The old owl does. The Bible often speaks of owls: Leviticus 11:17; Isaiah 34:15; Psalm 102:6; Isaiah 34:11, 14.
While on my way to a speaking engagement, I was worried about parish problems. The security machine at the airport went off because of my crucifix in my suit coat pocket. There's the answer. We serve the Christ and it is he who sets the direction and our mission.
In the movie The Thorn Birds, after telling the story of the thorn bird, the priest said to Maggie: "... for the best is only bought at the cost of great pain." Jesus bought our at-one-with-God at great pain on the cross.
We head toward the passion and cross of Christ.
Theme For The Day
The reading from the Bible of the account of the Last Supper, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 50:4-9a
A Servant Song
As is often the case with the prophets (especially Jeremiah) there is a closeness between them and the people who were faithful. The certainty that Second Isaiah will be vindicated and protected and his opponents overthrown is similar to both Job and Jeremiah. These verses are sometimes called a "servant song." The description is in metaphoric terms. The servant is often called to proclaim the message. So in the congregation of discouraged Hebrews in a distant land, they had to learn to listen not so much to what was said about them as to the voice from the unseen. There were those which every congregation needs who were attentive and listened to the voice of God. They made up the spiritual backbone of the congregation.
Often we need inspired listeners as well as inspired speakers. This sensitivity to and understanding of God's message set these blessed apart. They are God's special servants. What words of encouragement to the exiled people of God! The Contemporary English Version puts verse 7b this way: "So I refuse to give up, because I know God will never let me down." It's what the heart of poetic Second Isaiah would say in this comforting passage to frustrated people.
New Testament Lesson
Philippians 2:5-11
An Early Hymn
There have been many translations of this familiar verse (v. 5). It might be most understandable to say simply: "Think of each other the way you think about Christ; regard each other from the same perspective." This agrees with 2 Corinthians 5:16-17. We are to act in the light of what and how we think about Christ. Then verses 6 to 11 spell out for us this way of thinking.
Christ was God, who gave up everything, and became a slave, and was humble, and obeyed God, and died on a cross, and so on. There is little doubt verses 6-11 are an early Christian hymn not written by Paul, but quoted here by him. Some feel that the slave/servant of verse 7 is a reference to the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. Others say that this refers to the movement of Christ from sovereignty over the cosmos to slavery within it. Verse 8 supports the latter view.
The second part of the hymn moves from the low point of self-humiliation up to exaltation by God. This exaltation is the result of the Resurrection. This victory is what the ancient hymn celebrates. Since this is a hymn, we must not treat it like systematic theology. On this Sunday of the Passion, the whole sweep of the Christ event is presented in hymn-poetry which predates Paul's writing. It celebrates what Christ has done.
The Gospel
Matthew 26:14--27:66
The Passion Of Jesus
Perhaps the listing of contents of this passion history will help:
Jesus eats the Passover meal with disciples
The Lord's supper
Jesus predicts Peter's denial
Jesus prays in Gethsemane
Jesus is arrested and questioned by the council
Peter says he doesn't know Jesus
Jesus is taken to Pilate
The death of Judas
Pilate questions Jesus and sentences him to death
The soldiers make fun of Jesus
Jesus is nailed to a cross
The death of Jesus and burial
You might want to put this list in your worship bulletin where the Gospel is listed to help your listeners hear the story again as it is read. The tradition of this Sunday was the reading of the passion as prescribed here to prepare for the Holy Week services and liturgies.
Preaching Possibilities
A. The reading of the scripture will preach itself. You may want simply to make brief comments before reading the three portions of scripture for the day.
1. The Old Testament Lesson could be announced like this: "This is often called the servant's song which describes the faithfuls' role in hearing and proclaiming God's message to God's people."
2. The New Testament Lesson is mostly an ancient hymn which describes what Jesus, the suffering servant of God, has done for us.
3. The Gospel is disciple Matthew's account of the Last Supper, arrest, torture, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus.
B. If you must preach rather than just read the word and let it speak for itself, perhaps this Second Lesson could be your text:
1. Theme: "What God has done for us."
2. Christ who was God didn't pull rank.
3. Christ who was Master gave it up to become slave.
4. Christ who was humble obeyed God and died on a cross.
We who belong to God can confess: "Jesus Christ is Lord!" The latter (v. 11b) is thought to be the first creed of Christians.
C. A Reading of the Passion of our Lord:
1. I suggest that the reading of this Gospel be done in a rehearsed, dramatic way. Select several of your best readers to help.
2. Let one person read the narrator's voice, one Jesus' voice, one Peter's, one Caiaphas' and Pilate's, one the soldiers and crowd, and so on.
3. You might make the narrator a woman since all the rest are men's voices.
4. Consider interspersing hymns throughout the reading like Thomas B. Pollock's "Jesus, in the Dying Woes" and "Were You There?" using one part at a time. This can be as powerful as a sermon eloquently delivered.
Prayer Of The Day
Open our hearts to hear thankfully today, O God, the wonderful things you have done for us in your son, the Christ. Prepare us for the week ahead of us when we re-live the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.
Possible Stories
If you preach a sermon on this passion story or on the New Testament Lesson for today, here are some possible stories to use in doing so:
I noticed with Peter, our security person and student, an owl which perches on the cross of the chapel at night and hoots at us all. It's really different to see it there when the timer turns the floodlight on the cross. Who gives a hoot from the cross? The old owl does. The Bible often speaks of owls: Leviticus 11:17; Isaiah 34:15; Psalm 102:6; Isaiah 34:11, 14.
While on my way to a speaking engagement, I was worried about parish problems. The security machine at the airport went off because of my crucifix in my suit coat pocket. There's the answer. We serve the Christ and it is he who sets the direction and our mission.
In the movie The Thorn Birds, after telling the story of the thorn bird, the priest said to Maggie: "... for the best is only bought at the cost of great pain." Jesus bought our at-one-with-God at great pain on the cross.
