St. John 12:12-19 

Zechariah 9:9-12
Philippians 2:5-11
St. Matthew 26:1-27:66

April 2, 2023

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Amen.

Twice in Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches that “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins,” first in Leviticus 17, and again in Hebrews 9. What was true then is true now. People still seek atonement by blood. In the last week, a vengeful shooter spilled the blood of innocent children to atone for supposed sins of the school. Abortion clinics daily spill the blood of mothers and unborn babies to atone for the sins of a late night and selfish pleasure. Gender reassignment surgeries spill the blood to atone for the sin of an incorrect birth. Blood is a high price for sin, but sin is never satisfied until there is blood. 

Through St. Matthew’s Passion, blood plays a central role. On Palm Sunday, the crowds welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem with cries of Hosanna, which means, “Save us now.” How did they want Jesus to save? By spilling Roman blood. “Ride on in majesty, Jesus, and let the Gentiles’ blood turn cold before your power.” Caught up in the excitement, Judas sought to force Jesus’ hand. Judas had seen Jesus escape untouched from angry mobs before (cf. Luke 4:28-30). What was there to risk? So, he betrayed innocent blood. When Jesus neither revealed His power in Gethsemane nor slipped through the temple guards, despair overcame Judas. He returned to Caiaphas to return the money. But the High Priest would not accept the offering. The High Priest told Judas, “See to it yourself” (Matt. 27:4), that is, “Atone for your own sin by your own blood.” Caiaphas knew Judas’ sin and the price for sin, but Caiaphas the priest did not do what priests ought to do. He did not shed a lamb’s blood for the forgiveness of Judas’ sin. Instead, Caiaphas rallied false witnesses and he persuaded the mobs against the Lamb of God. At last, the mouths that once sang “Hosanna” now screeched “Crucify him, and let His blood be on us and on our children” (Matt. 27:22-23). 

Thus, the mobs led Jesus out to Golgotha to shed His innocent blood. By the shedding of Jesus’ blood, there is the forgiveness of sins. Jesus died on the cross for just that purpose. But who is Jesus? What makes His blood on the cross special? 

Jesus is true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and true Man, born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is God and Man. His blood on the cross is God’s blood on the cross. Jesus’ last breath is God’s last breath. Jesus’ death is God’s death. If God the Son did not shed His blood and die, then we are still lost in sin. But by God’s blood and God’s death, we are saved. He redeemed us “not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death” (SC II.2; cf. 1 Pt. 1:18-19)

As Jesus died, the blood trailed down the cross until it met earth, but the earth did not know what to do with the blood. The earth still doesn’t know what to do with the blood. Sinners still seek atonement and forgiveness by blood, their own blood, others’ blood, innocent blood. But the blood of forgiveness does not come by our own hands. It comes from this cross and this cross alone. “See from His head, His hands, His feet / Sorrow and love flow mingled down!” Today on Palm Sunday, your cries of “Hosanna” calls for blood. That’s why we sing the Palm Sunday hymn as part of the Lord’s Supper liturgy. The blood is given there. “Take drink, this is the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins.” 

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Amen.

Pastor Schultz
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
 

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