“A Day of Celebration”
March 20, 2016
Mark 11:1-10
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Today is a day of celebration. It is my birthday; it is the first day of spring; and it is Palm Sunday. I really have a lot to celebrate today. I feel so blessed. My life is filled with love and joy and all God’s blessings. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the flowers are filling the world with color and beauty and sweet fragrance. I have a wonderful family around me, a church family who loves me, and friends who make my life blessed. Who wouldn’t be celebrating?
This time of year always puts a smile on my face. Growing up in Northern Minnesota where the winters seemed so long and cold; where everything seemed dead and dirty; I looked forward to March. I looked forward to Spring. The weather warmed up; the birds returned and the trees budded out. I always trilled at seeing that first robin and smelling the first lilac flowers. I love Spring, but that isn’t what I am celebrating.
Yes, it is my birthday. My family and my church family have always gone to such lengths to make me feel loved and appreciated. We always have cake and ice cream and I am showered with gifts of love. I love having my friends honor me, not with their presents – but with their presents. Not with gifts – but by being there. I suppose we will have colorful cake and brightly colored gifts and the sights and sounds and smells will bless us.
I love Spring and I love birthday parties, but that isn’t what I am celebrating most. I am celebrating the Triumphal Entry of the King of kings into His Kingdom. I am celebrating the Humble King declaring His Kingship.
Imagine the Creator of this universe humbling Himself. This great God who created the galaxies and the solar systems, who created DNA and irreducibly complexed machines in our bodies; this awesome Creator God who created life and formed man from mud – humbles Himself.
WOW! That is awesome to think about. God didn’t need anyone’s approval. He didn’t need to bow to anyone. But He did. Instead of coming as the Conquering King – He came first as a Humble Servant. Rather than riding a great white charger or a gold decorated chariot – he rode a simple, plain, donkey. He could have come in those chariots of fire that Elisha saw, with ten thousand angels with flaming fiery swords. But He didn’t. Why not? He had the power. He had the authority.
Well, I will tell you why. Love humbled Him. He loved the world so much that he left the splendor of heaven to be born in a stable. He loved the world so much, He laid aside His crown to serve those He loved. He loved the world so much; He loved you and me so much - that He willing went to the cross. And His Enemy; the enemy of our souls – fought Him every step of the way.
Make no mistake about it. Jesus was the King. Jesus was and is the Creator of this awesome universe and all creation. That is easy to see. The Bible says,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4
The Word says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Romans 1:20
To put a stamp on that truth, Jesus came riding into the royal city, The City of David, on a donkey with people praising Him and glorifying Him. They laid their coats on the roadway to make a royal carpet for Him; they laid palm branches on the pathway recognizing Him as the King of kings; recognizing Him as the Messiah. And even the stones would have cried out in praise had not the people done so, Luke’s Gospel tells us. The King would be praised.
And we celebrate today because, Firstly, Jesus is the King of kings – the Great Creator God who came to earth – not to conquer it – but to save it.
And that is also why we celebrate. Secondly, the Savior has come to save His people. It is awesome that Jesus is the Creator. The Bible says,
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Hebrews 1:1-3
It is awesome we have such a great Creator – but even more awesome is the fact that He came to save us. Paul said,
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…” 1 Corinthians 15:20
Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
How sad would it be if God created us and placed us in the midst of His miraculous world and when we died – it was over. But it isn’t! Jesus saves us from our sins.
This last week I had a buddy of mine, whom I serve with in Korea, contact me. We texted a little bit then spent over an hour on the phone. It was nice hearing verification of those old memories of mine. We both were sergeants in the Military Police and were dog handlers for a while. He remembered my dog’s name and some of the other dogs as well. He had a lot better memory of things than I did. But it brought a lot of memories back. We talked of some of the wild things we did. I wasn’t such a nice person back in those days. And I had the privilege to share with him how Jesus saved my life way back then and how I have spent my life as a pastor. Jesus is in the life changing business – and He changed me. He gave me hope. He gave me love. He saved my life – literally.
I celebrate today because Jesus is my Creator. I celebrate today because Jesus is my Savior. And thirdly, I Celebrate Jesus because He purchased eternal life for me.
Wouldn’t it be terrible to only have this life? A lot of people think this is it. You live a miserable existence on this sinful planet and then die. How sad that is. They fumble about trying to find as much hope and happiness as they can before they die.
Wouldn’t it be terrible to be created and have your sins forgiven – then die – and remain in the ground for eternity? But we won’t. Because HE lives – we live, too. Listen,
“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.” John 5:21
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24
The thing that makes Christianity different from every other religion is that we have a loving God who provided a way that we might live with Him forever. Our favorite verse is,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Some more of mine are, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Someone said, “Old age is not for sissies!” I don’t know about that. A lot of sissies reach old age. I think what the sage was saying was with health problems, getting weak of sight and limb, you got to be brave. I think the key is having a strong faith. I have known strong men; manly men; heroic men; fear the ending of their time on this planet. The unknown is always frightening to us – but having an unshakable faith in eternal life with a loving King brings a comfort like nothing else. The King said,
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.”
Matthew 24:45-47
“To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:26-27
“if we endure, we will also reign with him…” 2 Timothy 2:12
“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6
Do you understand that you were created to rule with God? You were designed to reign with Christ. I think that was God’s original intent. After He created Adam He gave him a job,
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15
“Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.” Genesis 2:19-20
God gave man authority over all the earth. We were to work it and take care of it. We are His stewards; His managers. We were created to reign – not be enslaved to sin. That is what we were designed for and that is our destiny.
We celebrate because, Firstly, Jesus is the King of kings – the Great Creator God who came to earth. Secondly, Jesus has come to save His people. Thirdly, Jesus have provided us with eternal life. Let’s celebrate that. Celebrate spring and my birthday – but mostly let’s celebrate the King.
