Sermon notes, Palm Sunday

INTRODUCTION
On Palm Sunday, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem as the King, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-10 (Matthew 21:5; John 12:15). But the gospel writers mention Psalm 118 in this connection as well (Matthew 21:9, 42; Mark 11:9; 12:10; Luke 19:38; 20:17; John 12:13). On Palm Sunday, Jesus is the “One who comes in the Name of Yahweh” (Psalm 118:26).

THE TEXT
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’ Let the house of Aaron now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’ Let those who fear the LORD now say, ‘His mercy endures forever . . . .’” (Psalm 118).

THE PSALM
Like the Pentateuch, Psalms is divided into 5 books. Psalm 118 is in the Fifth Book of Psalms, and is the final Psalm in the first section of Book 5 (Psalms 107-118). In Jewish worship, it is the final Psalm in the “Hallel” (from Hebrew for “praise”), a Psalm series (Psalms 113-118) sung on major Jewish feasts. It is the most frequently cited Psalm in the New Testament. The Psalm was written in the post-exilic period to celebrate the foundation (Ezra 3) or dedication of the second temple (Ezra 6) once Israel had triumphed over the opposition from the people of the land (cf. Psalm 118:5-14). Israel celebrates this deliverance as they celebrated the exodus (vv. 14-16; cf. Exodus 15:2). The dedication of the temple was a public celebration of the Lord’s “lovingkindness” (vv. 1-4), His faithfulness in keeping His commitment to Israel against all opposition.

NEW TEMPLE
The crowds that greet Jesus’ at His entry into Jerusalem, then, are praising God in the hope that He will reestablish the temple yet again. In its original context, pilgrims travel to the gate of the temple (vv. 19-21) and look forward to worshiping Yahweh in His house with sacrifice and praise (vv. 26-29). When the crowds bless Jesus as the “one who comes in the Name of the Lord,” they are welcoming Him as the new temple-builder, the great king of Israel. As Jesus Himself says (Matthew 23:37-39), “Blessed is He who comes” is the response to the eschatological appearance of Yahweh, who comes to judge and to deliver.

STONES REJECTED AND CHOSEN
When Jesus Himself quotes this Psalm during the final week of His life, He quotes from verses 22-23 as a summary of the parable of the vineyard (cf. Matthew 21:33-46). In that parable, the tenants of the vineyard are the Jewish leaders who reject and persecute all the servants sent to them, and finally put the Owner’s Son to death. The Owner’s Son is the “rejected stone,” cast aside as unsuitable for the construction of a temple. Contrary to Jewish expectations, this rejected stone will become the cornerstone of the new temple. Psalm 118 shows that this rejection-and-election is the way God has always planned to build up His new house, the eschatological Temple.