CULDEE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
DR. JOSEPH WASHBURN
APRIL 13, 2014
MATTHEW 27:27-31
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: WHAT ABOUT SUFFERING?”
SO WHAT: There is one experience that everyone will face on some level during
life…suffering. Although we fight it is unwelcomed reality throughout life. God not only
uses our suffering to ultimately strengthen us but He also identifies with us in our suffering.
Today is the 6th Sunday in Lent…next Sunday is the big day…the day we have been
marching towards since Ash Wednesday…next Sunday is Easter. In our sermon series, “Essential
Questions”, we turn our attention today to a topic that many of us would rather not think much
about…we would rather ignore it in the hopes that it would just go away. Today, we will think on
the idea of suffering. But today is also Palm Sunday. Today is a day when we typically focus on
Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem…something I’ve done for nearly 17 years. So, what I want to do is
to think together for a bit on Palm Sunday and then give some thought to our question of the day,
“What About Suffering?” And I think that the two will go together quite nicely.
Let us examine the way Jesus enters the city—riding on a donkey. Let us notice the
instructions Jesus gives his disciple when they go to retrieve the donkey. Now, there were probably
only two choices of animals for Jesus to consider when it comes to how to enter the city: a horse
or a donkey. Riding in on a horse would have sent a very different message—you see, a horse was
a sign of war, but a donkey was a sing of peace. And so, no matter what the people may have been
expecting, Jesus is claiming to be coming in peace. The last thing to notice about the process is
what the people did—lay their coats and leafy branches on the road ahead of him. This is
reminiscent of what happened when Jehu was anointed king. So when you put all of these things
1
together, what do you have? Jesus is coming into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey, bringing
peace, and he is being proclaimed as the King. Jesus knew the suffering that was ahead of
him…and because of you and me, he never hesitated to complete the work the Father had given
him to do.
So, as we keep the story of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem in our minds, let’s
think a little bit about suffering. What is suffering…so often we use the word carelessly and
lightly. When we do something stupid, we might say we suffered a brain cramp. When we forget
something we often say we suffered a bit of forgetfulness. But these are not times of suffering.
No, real suffering is much deeper and much harder. But real suffering can be defined as the state
of going through pain, distress, or hardship. We suffer emotionally when someone close to us is
sick, or diagnosed with cancer or some other disease. We suffer at the death of a loved one. We
suffer pain when we are injured. We may suffer from depression, which we just can’t shake.
Suffering hurts…suffering is deep…suffering is beyond our control.
I remember one day in 6th grade I was about to suffer a great injustice…and yes, I know
that is an overstatement. A bunch of us in class were arm wrestling, and the teacher called me by
name and sent me to the office I always believed that misery loves company, so before I left I
threw all my friends under the bus, and asked why they weren’t being sent to the office. Well, I
may not have had many friends after that but I sure did have company in the office. “Misery loves
company.” There is a part of us that finds some comfort, some relief, in knowing that others are
suffering just we are…that there are others who know what we are going through.
2
Our scripture passage today is one where Jesus is suffering…he has already suffered a
flogging, where the Roman soldiers would whip a man with a whip with pieces of bone and balls
of lead in it…and they would whip him nearly to the point of death. After being flogged, Jesus is
suffering shame and a jail house beating. The Roman guards are mocking him and making fun of
him. And once they have had their fun, the lead him off to where he will suffer the brutal death
by crucifixion. So, why are we reading this story? Why, on this day marking Jesus’ triumphant
entrance into Jerusalem are we reading about all of his suffering? Because one of the great truths
of scripture is that we know we are not alone in our suffering. We often say that when Jesus lived
in this world he walked in our shoes and faced temptations and trials that we do…and that is true.
But he also endured suffering…just like we do. In fact, he took on all of our suffering throughout
the events of the passion and crucifixion.
So when you are going through your times of pain, distress or hardship…remember that
you are not alone. Jesus Christ, who suffered in ways beyond our comprehension…is with you
and he can empathize with you in all you are facing.
But let us remember one more
thing…remember that today is Palm Sunday. We not only remember and celebrate that Jesus
made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem…but he also makes a triumphal entrance in our lives. Just
like the crowd that gathered on the sides of the street, we gather to shout hosannas and words of
praise, we gather to proclaim that he is our King, we gather to usher him into the midst of our lives.
And as we welcome him into our lives, let us also remember that he comes riding on a donkey…the
sign of peace. Jesus Christ comes into our lives to bring his peace…to fill us with his peace.
3
May we open our lives to the presence of God’s Son Jesus Christ…as he comes into our
lives triumphantly. And when we experience any kind of suffering…may we remember that we
are not alone. Jesus has come to dwell among us…and he is the suffering servant who takes all of
our sins and cares onto his shoulders.
Amen.
4