1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word on this Palm Sunday, also known as the Sunday of the Passion is taken from Philippians 2:5-11, it’s entitled, “The Mind of Christ,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Palm Sunday always carries with it a certain joy. We can picture it so clearly: children with palm branches in hand, lining up and processing into the sanctuary, voices lifted in song, echoing the words of the crowd from long ago. We hear again the account from John 12:12–19, how the people took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Jesus, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” It is a moment full of praise, celebration, and hope. And yet, on this day, we also know where the road leads. Palm branches will soon give way to a cross. Cheers will turn into cries for crucifixion. And so today, we are drawn into something deeper—into the very mind of Christ, as the apostle Paul sets before us in Philippians 2:5–11.
3. Paul writes, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). And then he shows us that mind—not simply as something to imitate, but first as something to believe. For the mind of Christ is revealed in his humble obedience unto death, even death on a cross, and in his love for those who needed him to be that humble King.
4. So, what was on Jesus’ mind as he rode into Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday? The scene itself tells us something remarkable. Everything about that entry is marked by humility. A borrowed donkey. Cloaks laid on its back instead of a royal saddle. Garments spread along the road. Palm branches cut from nearby trees. No army. No throne. No earthly glory. And yet, everything is exactly as it should be. The King comes—but he comes in lowliness.
5. This is no accident. This is the very heart and mind of Christ. As Paul says, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6–7). Jesus is not less than God. He is fully God. But he does not cling to his glory for his own advantage. Instead, he pours himself out. He humbles himself. He comes to serve.
6. And he knows exactly where this road leads. As the crowds shout “Hosanna,” Jesus knows that within days he will be mocked, beaten, and crucified. He knows the cross is coming. He knows the weight of sin he will bear. He knows the curse spoken of in Galatians 3:13: “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.” And still, he rides on. Why? Because it is not only what is on his mind—it is who is on his mind.
7. Look again at that crowd. Children waving palms. Disciples rejoicing. Pharisees grumbling. Curious onlookers watching. Some who believe, some who doubt, some who will soon turn away. And yet Jesus comes for them all. He comes for the children who sing his praise. He comes for those who misunderstand him. He even comes for those who will cry out for his death. And yes, he comes for you.
8. You were on his mind that day. Your sin. Your guilt. Your need for forgiveness. Your need for a Savior. All of it was before him as he entered Jerusalem. This is the mind of Christ: a heart set not on himself, but on those he came to save. And then we follow him to the end of the week. The joy of Palm Sunday fades into the darkness of Good Friday. The crowds disappear. The palms are gone. The King now hangs on a cross. And still, we see the same mind of Christ at work. “Humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).
9. Listen to his words from the cross, and you will hear what is on his mind. To the thief beside him: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). To those who crucify him: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). To his mother: “Behold, your son” (John 19:26–27). Even in his suffering, his mind is on others. Even in agony, he is giving, forgiving, caring, saving. And then, “It is finished” (John 19:30).
10. Finished. The work is done. The obedience is complete. The sin of the world—your sin—is paid for in full. The curse is borne. The debt is canceled. The victory is won. This is the mind of Christ. A mind set on humble obedience. A mind set on the cross. A mind set on you.
11. And because of that, Paul continues, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). The humble King is now the exalted Lord. The one who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey now reigns over all creation. And one day, “every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10–11).
12. So today, as you hold those palm branches, remember what they point to. Better yet, shape them into a cross and place it somewhere you will see it. Let it remind you not only of a joyful parade, but of a saving sacrifice. Let it remind you of the depth of Christ’s humility and the greatness of his love. Because this is the truth: when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he had the cross in mind. And when he went to the cross, he had you in mind. That is the mind of Christ. And that is your salvation. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.
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