John 12:12-19.
The next day, when many people had come to the feast and heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna, praise be to him who comes in the name of the Lord, a king of Israel. And Jesus overtook an ass, and rode thereon: as it is written, Fear not, O daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh riding upon an ass's colt. But these things his disciples did not understand before: but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things were written of him, and that they had done them unto him. And the people that were with him, when he called Lazarum out of the grave, and raised him from the dead, glorified the deed. Therefore the people also went out to meet him, when they heard that he had done this sign. And the Pharisees said one to another, Ye see that ye do nothing: behold, all the world followeth after him.
This day is called Palm Day, on which day our dear Lord Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem, and fulfilled the scripture of the prophets, which was prophesied of him, that he should ride into Jerusalem upon an ass; as the prophet Zechariah proclaimed, and the evangelists Matthew and John bear such testimony of the prophet. Christians should learn and keep this history. In the old days, they used to play at school, riding on a donkey and shooting palms. This was done for the sake of the young people, so that they would fast and keep the history all the better. After that the pope brought such children's game to the church. That is why this day was called Palm Day.
002 Now this day ought to be called the day of Christ's entry. For he went from Galilee and Capernaum through all the country to Jerusalem, and on that day he rode into Jerusalem on an ass. For he came to Jerusalem on the feast of Easter, to take his kingdom there, as kings and princes ride in, so that the land may owe them and swear to them.
3 Because Christ's kingdom is a spiritual and poor kingdom, the prophecy of Zechariah had to precede and announce to the people that their king would ride in: not splendid and glorious, as worldly kings are wont to do, but meek and humble.
*) Held in the house, 1534.
wretched; lest the Jews, who despised this king, should excuse themselves, saying, We Jews did not know that this was our king. For how should we have accepted him, because he is not mounted, as a worldly king is wont to ride, but is mounted on an ass, poor and miserable? Therefore the prophet says beforehand, and the entry takes place in the same form as it was announced and depicted by the prophet beforehand, so that the Jews would have no excuse. For this purpose his disciples call him a king publicly. And even though he has nothing of his own, they scatter palm branches on the way and spread their clothes under him; thus he is honored as a king. But most of all he is honored by the people going out to meet him and singing of him, "Hosanna, praise be to him who comes in the name of the Lord, a king of Israel." This is the honor and homage done to this king by his disciples and by the people.
(4) These things, I say, were proclaimed and commanded long before by Zechariah the prophet, lest the Jews should gaze upon great worldly power, bodily splendor, and glory, as they gaze upon them this day, thinking that their Messiah and King will ride into Jerusalem with worldly splendor, as the Babylonian king rides into Babylon, or the Roman emperor into Rome. Therefore he says, "Fear not, O daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming to you, gentle-
bravely, riding on a donkey's colt." As if to say, "Daughter of Zion, hear and know diligently that the coming of the Messiah will be like this: your king will ride in on an ass; though he be poor, yet he will sing of himself and be honored as a king. Therefore take heed diligently that you do not miss him, but accept him for your king. He will ride in poor, weeping for the city of Jerusalem, because it will not accept him, and because it will be so wicked, because it despised its king, and did not recognize the time in which it is afflicted.
5 Therefore the Jews have no excuse why they did not accept him. For though they may say: We did not know that this was our king, for there was no royal form in him, so that we could have known him, but he rode poorly on an elephant; but he would answer them, "Look at Zechariah the prophet, who told you long before how your king would ride in. Now because all things were foretold you by the prophet, and I have fulfilled the writing of the prophet, and ye have not hearkened unto the prophet, nor unto me your king, ye have no excuse.
(6) But these things are prescribed for us, and preached to us from year to year, that we may learn to separate the kingdom of Christ from the kingdom of the world, and the King Christ from other worldly kings. This King Christ comes to the daughter of Zion poor and riding on an ass. For he does not reign in his kingdom in such a way that one could gather money and goods under him, wage war, become rich and mighty on earth, which the worldly kings teach and do. For they must see to it that they preserve peace in their land, so that their subjects may live in peace and unity and wait for their food. Christ does not reject or condemn such things, for he also eats and drinks as a sojourner in this world; but in his kingdom, in which he is king and lord, he does not teach us how to plow, sow, reap, keep house, collect money, wage war, and govern the land and the people, but commands the worldly kings and lords to do so.
7 So this king is different from the worldly kings, that the worldly kings and lords deal with it, and teach how one should rule house and court, land and people, gain money and goods, become rich and mighty, here temporally on earth. But this King Christ deals with it and teaches how we shall inherit the kingdom of heaven, become eternally rich and blessed, that we may come to a different and better life, since we may no longer (as we have to do here on earth to preserve the body) eat, drink, work; since our bodies will be much prettier and more beautiful than the dear sun; since one will no longer be sad, nor weak, nor sick, but eternally happy, healthy, strong and fresh.
8. for Christ in his kingdom teaches us by his word that we are poor, lost sinners, condemned to death, and subject to the devil; but that by his death and blood he has redeemed us from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, that we through faith in him might be justified and saved. This is another doctrine, wisdom and art, than of the reasoners, lawyers and wise men of the earth, how we should live here, govern house and farm, gather goods, protect land and people etc. For if we live, govern and collect goods here for the same length of time, we must finally leave it all behind.
9th Now this is the reason why Christ rode into Jerusalem without worldly splendor, on an ass and poor: that he not only wanted to fulfill the scriptures of the prophets, but also to indicate the nature and quality of his kingdom; so that we do not think that he came to earth for this purpose, that we should become rich from him here on earth, gather treasures, but that we know that he came for this purpose, that we might be redeemed from sin, death and the devil, and that he might make us rich in that life. Summa, this is why he is here, this is why he came to earth, and this is the nature, power and fruit of his kingdom: that we may come out of this miserable, mortal and stinking life into that blessed, clear and eternal life.
(10) Such a king was also promised to Jerusalem by God through the prophets. For
Whereas he should have been a worldly king and ruled in a worldly way, he should not have been specially promised by God. But because he is specially promised by God, he cannot be a worldly king, nor rule in a worldly way. David and other kings ruled in a worldly way, had land and people, gathered treasures etc. But this king is the true king, promised by God; he has a spiritual, eternal kingdom, which he rules with his own power and authority, mightily through his word and the Holy Spirit.
(11) But the Jews did not like this king, though he came to them already, as the prophet Zechariah says, righteous and a helper, bringing to them eternal, heavenly goods; yet because he came poor, riding on an ass, they did not respect him. Therefore they missed him, and are still waiting today for another, worldly king, who rides in on a handsome comrade, *) sits in a golden saddle, has a golden piece on, and in sum, since everything is most glorious and splendid. But they wait in vain and in vain. For such a king is not promised to them. Therefore, such a king will not come to them.
The pope does not like this king either, and blasphemes his gospel. For he boasts that he is Christ's governor on earth, and yet he holds himself as a mere worldly lord and king, collecting treasures etc. But the treasures that Christ brings, which moth and rust cannot eat and thieves cannot dig up or steal, because they are heavenly treasures, he does not respect.
(13) But let us Christians learn to know this King aright, and put all our comfort and hope in that life, when we shall be eternally blessed, without all sin and infirmity. For this cause Christ came, was crucified, died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and entered into his kingdom, that he might overcome sin, death, and the devil for our good, and by his blood and the Holy Spirit purge out all filthiness and take it away from us, that all who believe in him might be saved.
*) Genet, a type of Spanish horse. D. Red.
believe, be justified and saved, and through this temporal death enter his eternal heavenly kingdom.
(14) Thus we are to receive this King Christ, that we may know him to be righteous and a helper, and enjoy him by the power of the word, of the sacraments, and of faith unto that life. For a Christian is not baptized to store up treasures and become rich here on earth, for he can store up treasures and become rich without the gospel and without baptism; but for this reason he is baptized, that through Christ he may obtain eternal life. Therefore we also need the gospel and baptism for eternal life. I am baptized and a Christian for this reason, that I may inherit and obtain Christ's kingdom. But if I have goods, I shall use them for the necessities of life; but with them I shall not lift myself up to heaven.
(15) Therefore Christ's kingdom is to be distinguished from the kingdom of the world, as he himself sufficiently demonstrated this distinction with his entry into Jerusalem. He rode in on a donkey without a saddle; he has no donkey of his own, but the donkey on which he rides in is borrowed; he also sits badly on the donkey as he walks and stands, barefoot, without boots and spurs etc. According to reason everything goes foolishly; and yet this mendicant king, who rides in on an ass, is the king of Israel, promised by God and proclaimed by the prophets; as the disciples also sing: "Hosanna", that is. Happiness to this king, to his new kingdom) "Praise be to him who comes in the name of the Lord, a king of Israel." From this it is clear and evident that Christ did not enter Jerusalem with worldly splendor, which is needed by worldly kings who gather treasures and goods here on earth. Therefore he is not a worldly king, neither hath he such a kingdom as maketh rich upon the earth: but is an everlasting king, and hath an everlasting kingdom, wherein there is no need of gold nor silver, neither is there any lack for ever.
16) But the world despises this king and his kingdom with its eternal goods to the highest degree, and only takes care of the temporal goods, such as power, honor and wealth.
on earth. But we Christians should work here on earth and need the goods of this world for our necessities, and yet have thoughts of that life. For we must finally leave it and the goods of this worldly kingdom behind us; therefore we should think where we want to stay there, namely, with the eternal King Christ. For if we receive him here, that is, if we believe in him and are obedient to his gospel, he will receive us there again and say to us: "Come here, you blessed ones.
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
(17) This is what our dear Lord Jesus Christ wanted to show us with his entry into Jerusalem, so that we may learn to know him rightly, and that with our left hand alone we are here on earth in the kingdom of the world, but with our right hand we are there in that life, just as we were baptized into the life to come. God grant us His grace that we may receive and accept this King with joy, and abide with Him forever, Amen.