Sixth Sunday of Lent…and also Palm Sunday. But it’s hard to get excited about Palm Sunday because I think it’s quite likely that some of the crowds of the Triumphal Entry…

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21.9 – 11, ESV)

…were among this crowd:

Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” (Matthew 27.20 – 23, ESV)

For sure, many, if not most, in the Palm Sunday crowd were erroneously expecting Jesus to lead a charge to overthrow the Romans. The disciples were still expecting that in Acts 1!

So let’s get right back to our Lenten meditations with stanzas 48 – 53 of George Herbert’s poem “The Sacrifice.” 

(The bullets allow me to single-space the lines.)

• They lead me in once more, and  putting then
• Mine own clothes on, they lead me out again.
• Whom devils fly, thus is he tossed of men:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• And now weary of sport, glad to engross
• All spite in one, counting my life their loss,
• They carry me to my most bitter cross:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• O all ye who pass by, behold and see;
• Man stole the fruit, but I must climb the tree;
• The tree of life to all, but only me:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Lo, here I hang, charged with a world of sin,
• The greater world o’ th’ two; for that came in
• By words, but this by sorrow I must win:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Such sorrow as, if sinful man could feel,
• Or feel his part, he would not cease to kneel.
• Till all were melted, though he were all steel:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• But, O my God, my God! why leav’st thou me,
• The son, in whom  thou dost delight to be?
• My God, my God ——
•                                               Never was grief like mine. –“The Sacrifice” by George Herbert, stanzas 48 – 53.

And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27.31, ESV)

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. (Matthew 27.35 – 36, ESV)

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27.45 – 46, ESV)