“Cross Currents: The Whole World Can’t be Wrong”
John 12:12-19; Col 4:2-18
I can’t imagine how he must have felt. I’d like to have been there. Joshua was the new leader of Israel. Imagine following the footsteps of Moses. That’s a tall order. I have a little sense of what it’s like. During my years of ministry I succeeded, in Kalamazoo, the pastorate of Dr. Dennis Voskuil – who went on to be Professor of the Year at Hope College and President of Western Seminary – and in Grand Rapids followed a distinguished line that included Dr. Henry Bast (who taught preaching and was the Temple Time/Words of Hope preacher). But that’s nothing compared to following 40 years of Moses leadership! The plagues, the Red Sea, the wilderness – what’s the new man to do? Go and conquer Jericho – that’s all!
So the Israelites headed for Jericho, with Joshua leading. But first, there was this matter of the Jordan River. Listen as God encounters to Joshua (3:9-17 MSG): “When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the Chest of GOD, Master of all the earth, touch the Jordan's water, the flow of water will be stopped—the water coming from upstream will pile up in a heap." And that's what happened… When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap—a long way off—at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho. And there they stood; those priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant stood firmly planted on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground. Finally the whole nation was across the Jordan, and not one wet foot.” What an experience! Yet still Joshua had to conquer Jericho.
So Joshua went out to scout around. As he got near Jericho (5:13): “… he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"” That seems like a fair question – “Do I fight you or welcome you?” Listen to the answer: "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." “Joshua – I’ve not come to take sides – I’ve come to take over. The question is not whose side I’m on, it’s whose side you’re on. I’m here with the Lord’s army. This is His battle; He’ll fight it His way. The whole host of heaven is ready to go. Will you join me?” GOD WAS STAKING HIS CLAIM – HE WAS TAKING OVER.
Fast-forward over a thousand years to another great scene. I can’t imagine what it was like – I’d love to have been there. Things were heating up around Jesus, especially since he had raised his dear friend Lazarus from the dead. The religious leaders and authorities wanted him arrested, put out of sight, done away with. But it was the time of the Passover celebration. Because of religious regulations and traditions, they had to be careful. And then it happened. “The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt.”” As far as the crowd was concerned, the King was coming – riding into town JESUS WAS STAKING HIS CLAIM - TO TAKE OVER. Jesus – which, by the way, was the Greek form for the name ‘Joshua’, meaning ‘to save’ – was now the commander of the Lord’s army. He, like Joshua, was ushering in the host of heaven to win the day and establish the Kingdom of God.
Recall how the Pharisees, the religious leaders, reacted (Jn. 12:19): “So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”” Note their mindset - surely the whole world can’t be wrong! Jesus must be planning to mount a war with swords flashing and thrones crashing. But the world was wrong. Jesus was not staking a claim to a political throne, rule, or kingdom. Rather JESUS WAS STAKING HIS CLAIM OVER ALL OF LIFE. He would rule differently than they thought He would.
Just think about His ministry. He staked his claim over THE PHYSICAL REALM of life. Through the fall of Adam, humans lost dominion over the earth. Jesus reclaimed it. At his command the wind stopped, the storms ceased, water became wine, fish appeared where there had been none, and five loaves and two fish fed over 5,000 people; lame people walked, blind people gained sight, deaf people started to hear. Jesus was ushering in a new Kingdom, preparing for a new heaven and a new earth of which He would be the source of life and light.
Jesus also staked His claim over THE MORAL REALM. Recall the day He was teaching in the middle of a house when four men, desperate to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, sawed a hole in the roof of the house and lowered the man on his stretcher so Jesus would have to deal with him. (Mark 2:5-12) “Seeing their faith,
Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” Jesus was saying emphatically, “Let this visible miracle be proof that I have authority over the invisible realm. I have authority over the moral realm.” So Jesus had authority to preach (Mt. 5:48), “Be perfect, therefore, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Jn., 14:15) “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
Additionally Jesus had staked His claim over the ETERNAL REALM. On several occasions, he brought dead people back to life. The most dramatic occurrence had been calling Lazarus forth from his tomb. He did this just after proclaiming (John 11:25-26) “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Jesus gave proof to His claim that He was the Resurrection and the Life. He had firmly staked his claim to the eternal realm.
Jesus had also staked claim to the SPIRITUAL REALM. Remember that the commander in Joshua had come on behalf of the army of the Lord, the heavenly host. Jacob saw this host when he returned from exile. Elisha’s servant saw this host surrounding God’s people just prior to battle. Jesus spoke of the host when, leaving Gethsemane, He indicated He could have called twelve legions of angels who were at His disposal, but He did not. Jesus knew that through His death on the cross, He would reclaim the spiritual realm. One day He would even send His Spirit to fill His followers, which led John to write “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Jesus was staking His claim and taking over. It’s just that He was doing it differently than ‘the whole world’ anticipated – so differently that it took Him to a cross where He died, and then to a tomb. So much for establishing an earthly, political kingdom. The whole world was wrong.
Now the whole world thought Jesus was dead, finished, gone forever. But three days later word spread that He was alive – risen from the dead. Fast forward 40-50 years to the Island of Patmos, to an old man banished into exile because of his preaching about Jesus. It’s John, whose Gospel account we read this morning. While there, God lifted him up in the Spirit and shared with him what was yet to come. He was reminded that JESUS HAS STAKED HIS CLAIM AND HE IS IN CHARGE. (Rev. 19:11-16 NLT) “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” Jesus is the Lord of life and death, the Sovereign King and ruler of all of life. He is Christ the Victor. Jesus has staked His claim and He is in charge. Yet the ‘whole world’ refuses to believe it. And, after all, the whole world can’t be wrong, can it?
Suppose you stood face to face with Jesus today, and He said to you, “I’ve come to take over. The question is not whose side I’m on, it’s whose side you’re on. I’m here with heaven’s army. This is my battle; I’ll fight it My way. The whole host of heaven is ready to go. Will you join me?” What would your reaction be? “Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.” Then God told Joshua how to attack Jericho. And you know the rest of the story – the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.
So what would your reaction be? WHAT WOULD JESUS WANT TO TAKE OVER IN YOUR LIFE? Perhaps He wants to take over your WEIGHTINESS. He knows you’re overwhelmed with the battles – He wants to fight them for you. God has promised (Is. 49:25) that He will contend with those who contend with you. Will you stop asking Him to join you in battle and let him lead you into battle? Maybe Jesus wants to take over your WEARINESS. You’re tired, burdened down with the circumstances and responsibilities of life; you’ve spent your strength trying to manage it all. Jesus’ invitation still stands. (Mt. 11:28-30) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
It’s possible that Jesus wants to take over your WORRIES. (Mt. 6:25-34 MSG) “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?”
Just maybe Jesus wants to take over your WEALTH. (Mt. 6:24) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Certainly, the bottom line is that Jesus wants to take charge of your WILL. (John 12:24-26 MSG) “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.”
The whole world was wrong – and yet the Roman rulers and Jewish leaders were right; their power and lives were threatened – because Jesus had staked His claim. And Jesus reigns! So, wrote Paul that in spite of what the world thinks or says, (4:17) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” What the world thinks doesn’t matter. Listen to these notes from John Wesley’s journal: “Sunday, A.M., May 5, Preached in St. Anne’s. Was asked not to come back anymore. - Sunday, P.M., May 5, Preached in St. John’s. Deacons said “Get out and stay out.” - Sunday, A.M., May 12, Preached in St. Jude’s. Can’t go back there, either. - Sunday, A.M., May 19, Preached in St. Somebody Else’s. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return. - Sunday, P.M., May 19, Preached on street. Kicked off street. - Sunday, A.M., May 26, Preached in meadow. Chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during service. - Sunday, A.M., June 2, Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway. - Sunday, P.M., June 2, Afternoon, preached in a pasture. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.” (i) The whole world can be wrong.
Jesus alone is sovereign; He alone reigns forever! He is the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords! An old parable goes like this: “The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride. He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. “I’ll show myself to them,” he thought. But they didn’t notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind. “Throw your garments down,” he said crossly. “Don’t you know who I am?” They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move. “Miserable heathens!” he muttered to himself. “I’ll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me.” But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market- place. “The palm branches! Where are the palm branches!” he shouted. “Yesterday, you threw palm branches!” Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother. “Foolish child,” she said gently. “Don’t you realize that without him, you are just an ordinary donkey?”” (ii)
Just like the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem, IT’S WHEN WE LIFT UP CHRIST THAT WE ARE NO LONGER ORDINARY PEOPLE; THEN WE ARE KEY PLAYERS IN GOD’S PLAN TO REDEEM THE WORLD. We may want God to solve our problems in the way we think is best; we may want Jesus to be the champion of our causes, whatever they may be; we may want God to take our side in every conflict. But Palm Sunday reminds us that this is not how it works. Jesus will not simply step in to champion our causes any more than he would champion the cause of Jewish independence two thousand years ago. Jesus on a donkey's back was a sign and we ought to take heed. Jesus is not interested in our agenda; Jesus has His own agenda; and it includes ruling your life. Jesus is staking claim to it right now. Will you give it to Him? Will you let Him take over? Let us pray.
(i) John Wesley, cited cyber-nation.com. Retrieved August 10, 2002. From Homiletics online
(ii) Jim Benedict, "Not what we had in mind," Union Bridge Church of the Brethren website, April 1, 2012. cob-net.org.
