Palm Sunday 2008
Matthew 21
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
’See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ "
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Reading Matt.21 we get a sense of the crowd’s delirious excitement over the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem. They were reciting hymns from the Hallel Ps.113-118, songs of praise that were as familiar to them as Christmas carols are to us as they shouted out Hosanna. Those songs were their seasonal hymns. You can sense that it was a rock and rolling praise gathering to God! Cloaks and branches laid on the road. Hmm.. I am thinking who’s gonna clean up that mess? I wonder if the city’s street cleaners would like that very much. But I digress.
Get back to the action here...the crowds lining the streets ... great commotion ... the bible says “the whole city was stirred.” Why was this happening? Matthew was explicit in reporting the significance... he said
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
’See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ "
It’s about the fulfillment of what was written in long ago, a fulfilled prophecy right before your very eyes. It’s about the arrival of a King. A gentle king who rides on a donkey, a colt. Matthew is concerned that people who read his story get this connection. In other words, Matthew is saying would you follow this King, that I am telling you about. This is no coincidence. This is a divine appointment. This is not some haphazard con job. This is the King who comes to you, just as it was predicted some 500 years ago by the prophet Zechariah!
Not too long ago took my kids to watch their first ever MLB game in Seattle. It was a sell-out. Every seat taken, jam-packed. Seattle Mariners were closing in on a playoff spot. Crucial game. Talk about electricity in the air... can’t even get a hot dog, mile long line-up. I pity the toilet cleaners... cleaning messes left by thousands! Every pitch, every swing, was eaten up by cheering crowd. They anticipated a big win against the Anaheim Angels. Just to be there was an experience.
Same thing with Palm Sunday - this feverish loud celebration was all about the Jewish expectation of a Messiah. Electricity in the air, anticipation of a great win. This is like closing in on the playoffs. They were expecting a political Messiah, who’ll make life great for the Jews once again. They have experienced desperate times, foreign control, Roman rule, for over 150 years. They were fed up. They were supportive of terrorists groups that undermined the Romans. They were looking for a change in government, a revolt, a violent overthrow of the Roman conquerors. In shouting Hosanna they were in effect saying "Save us now" Jesus. Naturally, great crowds came to hear his message. A wave of religious and political expectation swept the country, that is why Matthew said the whole city was stirred. Jesus will be the difference maker! But we know now that the crowd’s hopes were not realized. They turned on Him within the space of a five days and shouted crucify Him rather than Hosanna. The Messiah they celebrated on Sunday, they would hang on the cross on Friday.
1. JESUS’ JOURNEY, OUR JOURNEY
What has this event of Palm Sunday got to do with us today? Significance of Palm Sunday is not merely to remember Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. It is our own journey as well. The journey for all who follow Him and call Him Lord. Jesus’ journey eventually led Him to the cross, where He’d suffer and die a painful and humiliating death. You may wonder if this is our journey as well. Is it necessary for the followers of Jesus to go to the cross?
Back in Matt.16:15-16, Jesus asked His disciples “Who do you say I am?” and Simon Peter said “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.” Jesus said this was a correct answer. Jesus said that this answer was revealed by God the Father. There is no mystery anymore. None of Jesus associates can say who is that masked bearded man? Is it a bird or a plane? Jesus was clear, He is the Messiah, the Christ. However, immediately after that we are told He was clear about His mission Mt.16:21
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
His disciples were not overjoyed with that plan. That he must suffer and be killed? What kind of stupid plan is that? Weren’t the Jews supposed to be liberated when the King comes? Isn’t life supposed to get better, not suffer and be killed? In fact it was recorded that Peter gave Jesus a hard time over it. Peter actually took the Messiah whom He just confessed aside and scolded Him. But look at Jesus (Mt.16:24) response, he said to Peter “""Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”.
The journey of Jesus must include the cross, it was the Father’s plan. It was the only plan, to save the world. It was always the plan according to the written Scriptures, that His blood would be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. This was His appointment, His destiny as the servant King, which Matthew carefully noted with numerous OT quotations showing that Jesus is the Messiah, make no mistake about it, this is the King!
This Palm Sunday, I’d like to invite to take time to check your spiritual temperature, reflect on your spiritual journey. The disciples and the crowd thought everything in life will turn up roses right away. They have seen miracles, powerful preaching, surely this means He will stomp on their enemies now. I wonder if that’s how we are excited too? God only if you would save me now from my problems, sickness, mess, Save me now... but when He has other plans with our problems do we also say “Crucify Him”, give Him up so easily. I wonder if we have lost the voice of Jesus who said come after me, deny yourself, it’d be a crucified life, a cross life. It’s humiliating, suffering stuff!!! Are we like Peter, can’t bear to hear that and say no way and would take Jesus aside and scold Him for not following our plan to get our lives to easy street?
2. JESUS KINGSHIP OR OUR KINGSHIP
How can it be any other way? Isn’t the way of the kingdom is one that looks a lot like rah, rah, victory all the way, rather than defeat. How can it be Christians still lose? The way of weakness, of the cross, that’s a huge stumbling block, losing your life, to save it? Losing the world and its toys, but gaining your soul? What kind of plan is that?
Jesus goes on to teach that The way of kingdom is very much like a gentle king on a donkey. So He consistently taught... Be like a little kid? Jesus says “whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.18:4). Wait a minute, isn’t greatness about macho conquering hero, with full body armor and riding on a stallion, a real war horse? Yet He came humbly riding on a donkey?
The way of the kingdom, who can understand? Ninety sheep is left and one that wanders away, the owner is happy to leave the 99 and find the one sheep (Matt.18:10-14)? What kind of shepherd is that? Is this really good business?
It’s bad math yet that’s what Jesus taught. How many times shall I forgive when someone sins against me? One time sure is enough but Seventy times seven??? How can I deny myself? And choose the cross life??
The way of the kingdom is one that permits no divorce... man woman come together they become one? 1+1= 1??? Not two??? (matt.19). Jesus said, it is God has joined them as one, so let no one make it two or 3 or four? 1 man 1 woman = one! Bad math again.
It was Bad math to the rich young man sell your possessions give to the poor? Sell my stuff, give it away, that’s bad accounting!! What business school you go to? But Jesus said Give up houses , family ties , now and you’ll get a hundred times more later (Mt.19).First last, last will be first. Huh? Bad math again! Whoever wants to be great, be a slave (Mt.20)? Wait a minute...
No wonder the religious folks got upset... and no wonder tax collectors and prostitutes and sinners love Him (Matt.21:28-32). Do you think God is more concerned that we follow His kingly rule rather than what we dictate to Him... Did He ever say, follow me and you’ll be happy and hit the jackpot? Or is follow me and take up your cross... come and die and you’ll live! Is God’s in charge, is He the eternal king and will He be glorified as God.
3. THE QUESTION: WHO WILL FOLLOW JESUS ALL THE WAY?
So who will you follow?
1. Shall we follow the crowd and get excited because it looks like my problems will be solved now? Hosanna “save” now from my problems?
2. Shall we follow Jesus as King? He commands a different way – on a donkey – proclaiming grace and peace, building a community a church that is peace-loving, not war-like, forgiving, giving of self? Are we following Him?
3. Shall we pour out our agenda, rather than His kingdom agenda?
4. Shall we follow our fickle feelings than one day is excited and next down in the dumps or shall we follow the unchanging everlasting unchanging plan and purpose of God? Isn’t it scary to be like the crowd on Palm Sunday?
5. Are we coming to Him with pre-conceived notions of God’s rulership and so cloud our mind and can’t see what God is doing?
6. Have we Resisted Jesus’ rulership like the religious know it all Scripture quoting conservatives in Jesus’ day? Instead of embracing a cross-carrying life of a humble servant King who serve others even if means painful death awaits?
7. Matthew takes pains to include OT fulfillment of Jesus, he’s encouraging faith that God is actively working out His agenda His rulership in a world that is in opposition to Him. I believe, God wants to encourage our flagging faith, He wants us to have a celebratory worship life, God is active, He’s fulfilling His promises, are we there? Jesus enjoyed the celebration but the religious types were indignant (Mt.21:15). Are there promises to claim and do we celebrate His promises fulfilled?
8. Jesus was single-minded – He went to Jerusalem knowing He will be killed, way of the kingdom now includes suffering – how prepared are we for that kind of Christlikeness – Jesus called for the life of taking up the cross, follow Him, which calls for being selfless like the Master - serving others (greatness), or we just glad we got the ticket to heaven and never mind becoming like Him, the servant King Or are we so blinded - Want the world and its temporal rewards, and lose your soul over it? Will you have follow Jesus and delay gratification now and get what He promises to be a hundred fold reward and eternal life?
9. Always come as you are – tax collectors prostitutes did (Mt.21:31-32), the self-sufficient religious types of Jesus’ day did not. As you are- needy, without pretense, without excusing bad behaviour, and follow Him who showed the way to greatness. Shall we reject man made righteousness and receive God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus?
10. Do we live for the praise/adulation and adoration of people or of God?
As I said earlier, the significance of Palm Sunday is not merely for us to remember Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. It is our own journey as well, to follow Him to the cross to Good Friday and not abandon His call to greatness, the life of suffering servant King. Will we journey with Him our Lord into greatness? Jesus is King, Matthew leaves no room to doubt otherwise. He came, He died and secure for us forgiveness of sins but that’s not the end He rose from the dead, and promises He is with us to the end, He is King!
This message has challenged me. I have to ask - am I really following Jesus, or am I just tolerating Him or worst telling Him to follow me, will I say hosanna one minute and then crucify Him the next? Don’t know what is God doing in your heart, pray somehow He has spoken to you. Come as you are to the gentle King. If you will, pray silently first and then with me as we dedicate ourselves to the servant King.
