Father Forgive Them… (Palm Sunday)

During the campaign season we watch the polls of these candidates go up and down from week to week like a yo-yo. The Presidents popularity can be 70 to 80% one day and a week later it might be below 50%.

WHY DO THE POLLS GO UP AND DOWN?

It has everything to do with the candidates doing something that is POPULAR or UNPOPULAR!

If he does something popular everybody likes him and if he does something unpopular many will turn against him. The politicians know this, and that is why many of them never make a move unless they test their views on some focus groups.

Illus: The Statesman, Henry Kissinger, said this about politicians today; “Our age finds it difficult to come to grips with figures like Winston Churchill. The political leaders with whom we are familiar generally aspire to be superstars rather than heroes. The distinction is crucial.

• Superstars strive for popularity; heroes walk alone.

• Superstars crave consensus; heroes define themselves by the judgment of a future they see it as their task to bring about.

The modern political leader rarely ventures to comment in public without having tested his views on focus groups...to a man like Churchill, the very concept of focus groups would have been unimaginable…” (Henry Kissinger in the New York Times Book Review, from his review of Churchill, by Norman Rose (July 16, 1995). Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 11.)

Illus: Erma Bombeck said, “Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one, and Helen Keller is the other.” (Erma Bombeck. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 1.)

We have a lot of folks today who are popular, like Madonna, but the reason they are in the public view is because they will SAY and DO anything to be there.

• If it means getting on national television and using garbage language that a lady would never use, SO BE IT!

• If it means getting on national television and taking their clothes off like a lady would never do, SO BE IT!

• If it means getting on national television and kissing Britney Spears on the lips like Madonna did, which a lady would never do, SO BE IT!

There is a crowd out there who will fill their mouths with cockroaches and eat them if it takes that to be popular.

But let me also say that there are people who are in the public view because they did the right thing.

Illus: In March 31, 2004, OPEC decided they would cut back on the oil supply to drive up the price of gas for Americans. The President sent a message to Saudi Arabia, the nation leading this campaign, about how dissatisfied he was with their decision.

One brave Governor decided he would put his political career on the line to do some thing about it.

Governor Frank H. Murkowski of Alaska took it upon himself to go against the environmentalist in this country who for years have made us dependent upon foreign oil.

• He knew that onshore drilling required permission from the congress

• But offshore drilling three miles from shore was a state’s decision

Because OPEC continues to hold this country dependent upon them, he made the unpopular decision to do what is best for America, even if the environmentalists attacked him viciously for this decision.

The state of Alaska is honored to have such a governor.

Some get their popularity by doing evil, but there are some who have the courage to do what is right and that is why many admire them greatly.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. We call it Palm Sunday because it reminds us of the day when the Lord Jesus’ popularity was at an all time high.

• He did not gain this popularity through indecency

• He did not gain this popularity through evil

• He did not gain this popularity by looking out for Himself

He was the most popular individual of that day because the Bible says, HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD!

On this very special day, as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, the crowd was cheering him and waving palm branches at Him. The Lord Jesus at this time in His ministry was very popular.

His popularity was so great that the political leaders and religious leaders of that day felt threatened by Him. Many people spread their garments in the way as Jesus rode into the city. It was a day of great joy.

But listen, when it comes to popularity, you can be on the mountain top one day and in the valley the next.

Illus: After the “Persian Gulf” war, George Herbert Bush’s popularity was so high among the Americans that it had reached almost 90%.

• He was so popular that no one in his party would run against him.