Isaiah 50:4-9; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 19:28-40
Introduction
Have you ever been falsely accused and had no defense for yourself? Hmmmmm... I humbly welcome you to the commemoration of Palm Sunday, which marks the triumphant entry of an innocent man into a well-scheduled conspiracy of His people. We are also ushered into a week that will lead us into the depths of the 'Passion of Christ'—the suffering and sacrifice of an innocent being for the salvation of humankind. Therefore, the focus of our reflection now is “The Suffering of the Innocent.”
Palm Sunday marks the moment Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, entered Jerusalem triumphantly, knowing that His journey would ultimately lead Him to the cross. But for the joy of saving humanity, He embraced the cross with so much passion and love.
In the Scriptures, we see a portrait of suffering that is not only unjust but also redemptive. That is to say, the innocent suffer, but their suffering is not in vain; it is through their suffering that the world finds hope. Today, we will explore how the suffering of the innocent was foretold, lived out, and ultimately led to the redemption of all.
The Suffering of the Innocent Foretold
In the Book of Isaiah, the Servant of the Lord speaks of His suffering and obedience. Isaiah 50:4b-9 is part of the song on the “Suffering Servant.” It captures the heart of God’s plan of redemption through a figure who would suffer on behalf of the people. The prophet speaks of the servant’s willingness to endure mockery, insult, and physical abuse, despite being innocent.
"I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting" (Isaiah 50:6)
Though the suffering servant faces humiliation, disgrace and shame, drawing strength from the Lord, he says, "Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50:7). The passion of this innocent soul is from the Lord, God Almighty.
"He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up."
(Isaiah 50:8-9)
St. Paul puts it, "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies." (Romans 8:33). God is the strength and justice for the innocent.
This prophetic passage points directly to the suffering of Jesus Christ, who, though completely innocent, would endure rejection, agony, shame, and suffering in the most brutal ways. In the midst of all this pain, the innocent servant is sustained by the confidence that the Lord is with Him. "The Sovereign Lord helps me... I will not be disgraced."
Palm Sunday serves as the precursor to this suffering. As Jesus enters Jerusalem on a humble donkey, the crowd praises Him, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). But, as we know, this triumph is short-lived. The innocent one who receives the praise of the people will soon face betrayal, rejection, accusations, and suffering.
The Suffering Servant of Isaiah is fulfilled in the person of Jesus, the Christ. He is the innocent one who will endure suffering for the sake of others, knowing that His obedience to the Father’s will is the path to salvation for humanity.
Today, you who have been redeemed from sin and saved from death by Christ must live for Him even if it means suffering the same in obedience to Him. Many Christians reject Christ when faced with rejection, betrayal, and suffering. Are you one of them?
The hymn writer puts it;
Go, labor on; spend, and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father's will;
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?
The Servant's Humility and Obedience
St. Paul provides a theological reflection on the humility and obedience of Jesus Christ in Philippians 2. He urges the believers to adopt the same attitude of humility that Christ displayed in His incarnation and passion. He writes:
"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."(Philippians 2:6-7)
Jesus, who is fully God, willingly emptied Himself and took on human form. He humbled Himself to the point of becoming a servant, not just in His actions, but even to the point of death on the cross. He did not avoid suffering; He embraced it. His willingness to undergo such suffering for our sake is the ultimate act of the suffering of the innocent.
Paul continues:
"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"(Philippians 2:8)
The suffering of the innocent here is not accidental; it is an intentional choice. Jesus chose this path. He did not seek to escape from suffering, but He humbly embraced it for the sake of humanity. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of this journey. The crowds are celebrating, but Jesus is already looking ahead to the cross. He knows that His path to glory requires His suffering, and He is obedient to the Father’s will, knowing that through His death, He will bring life.
Jesus' total obedience to the Father, giving Him the scar of shame, humiliation, and excruciating pain, did not go in vain. Humility and obedience brought His axaltation, "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2:9). This is an assurance to the Christian that our labour in the Lord shall never be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). After the pain, comes our gain.
The Innocent is Ushered into Suffering
The Gospel of Luke recounts the event we commemorate on Palm Sunday—the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It is a moment of praise, where the people spread their cloaks on the ground and shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). It is a moment of recognition that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the King who will bring peace.
However, this triumph is not what it seems. The crowds misunderstand the nature of His kingship. They expect a political Messiah who will overthrow Roman oppression, but Jesus is about to reveal a much deeper and more profound mission: He is the suffering King who will deliver His people not from political oppression, but from the bondage of sin and death.
The joyful praises of the disciple was afront to the proud Pharisees, so they called on Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” You know, Christ despises the contempt of the proud but accepts the praises of the humble. Like the Pharisees, people may want to stop the praise of the humble and obedient children of God, but they cannot, for God can out of stones raise praise for His chosen ones. Jesus said, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40).
In Luke 19:41-44, we read that as Jesus approaches Jerusalem, He weeps over the city, knowing that the people will not recognize the time of their visitation of peace. He knows that the very city that celebrates Him today will soon reject Him. The same crowd that shouts “Hosanna!” will later shout “Crucify Him!” The innocent one who enters in peace will soon be subjected to mockery, torture, and death. Children of God, always stay alert, for the people clapping for you today will be the same people to reject and crucify you tomorrow - this is the suffering of the innocent.
The Suffering of the Innocent
Biblically, the suffering of the innocent refers to the idea that even those who are righteous or morally upright may experience pain, hardship, or injustice, often without clear reason. Consider the story of Job, a blameless man who suffers immensely despite his faithfulness to God.
Throughout Scripture, this concept challenges the notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin. Instead, the Bible presents suffering as a complex reality in a fallen world, where God's purposes may be mysterious but ultimately aimed at refining faith, revealing His glory, or fulfilling a greater plan, as seen supremely in the innocent suffering of Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity.
The Innocent Suffer for the Guilty: Jesus, though sinless and perfect, suffered for the sins of others. His suffering was not due to His own wrongdoing, but because of the sin of the world. This highlights the profound injustice of the cross but also the boundless love of God. Indeed, the innocent suffer for the guilty, but it never ends in vain; God always glorifies the innocent.
Obedience and Humility Lead to Glory: Jesus’ suffering was not the end. Through His obedience and humility, He was exalted by God. Paul writes, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). The cross was the path to ultimate glory—not just for Jesus, but for all who believe in Him.
Our Call to Embrace the Cross: As followers of Christ, we are called to follow in His steps. We are called to embrace humility and obedience, even in the face of suffering. The path of discipleship often involves hardship, but as we identify with the suffering of Christ, we also share in His victory.
Conclusion
On this Palm Sunday, let us remember that the triumphal entry of Jesus is not just a celebration of a king coming to His people but the beginning of the greatest act of love and sacrifice the world has ever known. Jesus, the innocent one, entered Jerusalem to suffer for the guilty. His suffering was not in vain; it was how He would accomplish the salvation to the world.
As we prepare for the solemnity of Holy Week, let us reflect on the suffering of the innocent Christ, who chose to humble Himself and suffer for us. May we, too, be willing to follow Him in humility, obedience, and love, even when the path leads us through suffering. And may we remember that just as Christ was exalted after His suffering, so too will we share in His glory.
Shalom aleikhem...
