In Jesus Holy Name April 5, 2020
Text: John 12:13-15 Palm Sunday Redeemer
“A King? On a Donkey? The Romans Laughed”
Palm Sunday and Holy Week has arrived to find each of us “sheltering in”. Unexpected. I did not expect to be sharing these two great events by video, in these days of “sheltering in”. I am disappointed that we are not worshiping together in one place, under one roof. It does not matter to Jesus. He wants His story told. These great events, the Triumphal Entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday, the Friday Crucifixion, resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, must be told.
All around the world Christians are celebrating this curious prophet who claimed to be the long expected Jewish Messiah - King. He rode a donkey through the paved streets of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. For one glorious week, differences of language, culture, race and doctrine are forgotten, as we remember.
May God truly bless every congregation that has enabled words of Jesus to find new venues.
Most of us know the general outline of the story. But I suspect that some have never considered the story in any detail. Why did Jesus send two of his disciples into the village to procure a donkey? He has walked into Jerusalem hundreds of times before. He’s healed people in Jerusalem before. Why ride into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey? Why did the people wave palm branches, this time? Why did they cry out “Hosanna!” as he passed by? What does it all mean?
Matthew tells us why; Jesus was fulfilling an ancient prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. Words–written 575 years earlier–predicted that when the Messiah came to Israel, he would come riding on a donkey.
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey” (v. 5). This was a visible parable, for those who had eyes to see.
When you read Matthew’s account, you realize that the two disciples actually
brought back two donkeys–a mother and her young colt that had never been ridden. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the young colt with the mother walking alongside.
Nothing would have seemed more unlikely, a king riding on a donkey. He didn’t look like a king. No crown. No army marching behind. It’s not hard to imagine the Romans laughing as they watched the spectacle. A pauper king, riding on a borrowed donkey, his saddle a makeshift layer of cloaks, attended by an unruly mob whose only weapons were palm branches.
To the Romans, He didn’t look much like a king that day riding on a donkey, “nothing to worry about.”
Corrie Ten Boom, the author of “The Hiding Place” tells how God’s grace sustained her and her sister through their suffering in a Nazi concentration camp. Her story has touched the lives of millions of Christians. A few years ago, in a press conference following a ceremony in which Corrie Ten Boom was given an honorary degree, one of the reporters asked her if it was difficult remaining humble while hearing so much acclaim.
She replied immediately, “Young man, when Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments in the road and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?” She continued. “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in His glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”
He’s a king, but he’s not like any earthly king. The Triumphal Entry was an “acted out parable,” in which Jesus was sending a clear message to the nation. “This is what I am! I am your King, but I am not the King you were expecting!” I am not a king who will throw out the Romans. I am the King who will defeat Satan. My cross and empty tomb will strip Him of His false power. Jesus would later tell Pilate that "My kingdom is not of this world.”
On that 1st Palm Sunday the day began much like all other days. An early sunrise. The sound of merchants opening their little shops. The aroma of freshly baked bread floating on the air. Bethany wasn’t a large town, or even a town at all. More like a village, really, a simple cluster of homes. Here and there the farmers made ready to go to the fields–planting season was upon them. Mothers busied themselves getting their children up and dressed.
Max Lucado in his book “And the Angels Were Sent” expressed his curiosity regarding the parade on Palm Sunday. He wrote: “When we all get home to heaven I know what I want to do. There’s someone I want to get to know. You go ahead and swap stories with Mary or talk doctrine with Paul. I’ll catch up to you later. But first, I want to meet the guy with the donkey.
How did the owner know it was Jesus who needed the donkey? Did he have a vision? Did he get a telegram? Did an angel appear to him? Was it hard to give something to Jesus for Him to use? How did you know you’d get them back? Jerusalem was really crowded? It could be a loss.
I don’t know the man’s name or what he looks like. I only know one thing. What
he gave. He gave a donkey to Jesus on the Sunday he entered Jerusalem.”
Jesus had just left the village of Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Jesus had visited with them many times. Their home was a special place of refuge for him. But this time his visit had been different. This time he had come for a funeral but had turned it into a celebration. . Upon his arrival, 4 days late, they all went to the cemetery. Jesus stands outside the cave with a stone across the entrance. “Take away the stone.” He said. “Then in a loud voice he called, Lazarus, come out!”
Everyone was astounded. “The dead man came out his hands and feet still wrapped with strips of linen.” He who was 4 days dead was now alive! “Many of the Jews, who had come to visit Mary and Martha, saw what Jesus did and put their faith in him.” But the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” They were worried. “If we let (this Jesus) go on like this everyone will believe in him.” For he claims to be God. Well, His miracles proved it. They just refused to deny what their eyes saw, and ears heard.
Hundreds of people had seen Him raise Lazarus from the dead. By now
thousands more had heard the news. It seemed so impossible … But Jesus had done it! The celebration had gone late into the night.
Jesus enters the ancient city. The crowds went wild with their cheering. “Hosanna to the Son of David”. People grabbed anything they could get their hands on. They tore palm branches from trees. They took the clothes off their backs to throw them in his path. It was a red carpet 4th of July parade all wrapped up into one for the Messiah, the King of the Universe.
Joe Parks in his Easter Cantata put this epic event in words to music:
“Singing, shouting, the crowd, swept through the city gates
Visitors and pilgrims joined the shepherds from the hills.
Peddlers with their camels and donkey’s with their loads.
…they were all on the highway called the Calvary Road.”
It was Passover week. The city was packed with Jews from all over the world who had come to remember God’s action in their history. The inns were full. They were sacrificing lambs, remembering the blood on the door posts in their Egyptian hovels that saved lives when the angel of death passed over. Soon, very soon, the blood of the Lamb of God staining a wooden cross beam, would save people from their broken commandments.
God’s holy and righteous character demands punishment for the sinner. We know it. We feel it in our soul. Human beings are seeking peace with their Creator. In the past God had always accepted the offering of a lamb, a bull, or a goat. For the blood made atonement for sins. (Lev. 17:11) “In the past God spoke to his people thru prophets at many times and in various ways.” But now He has arrived in Jerusalem in the midst of his people, in the person of His son, Jesus. (Heb. 1:1)
Jesus was the substitute, the perfect Lamb of God whose final steps to the cross would free all who believe in His Story, from the slavery to sin. Indeed, we’ve always known….that “the wages of sin is death” but who could free us from this grip of despair? Who would be our Savior? God himself came. Born in Bethlehem. Many thought He was a carpenter from Nazareth turned into a prophet like Elijah. Others rejected the truth of his miracles, the truth in the words He spoke. That reality has not changed. God gave humanity a “free will”, to accept or reject His message of salvation.
The Apostle Paul wrote: “For you see, just at the right time while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly”. Now, we have been justified through faith in Jesus. We have peace with God, the Creator of the Universe. There is no need to fear God’s eternal judgment because of our failure to keep His commandments. (Rom. 5:6)
It was for this reason Jesus came. The angel had told Joseph that when this child of Mary’s is born: “You shall give him the name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.” In the Gospel of John (12:27) records for us the words of Jesus. “What shall I say? Father save me from this hour….this approaching death? “No” It was for this very reason I came.”
The Drama of Holy Week will continue. There will be debates in the Temple. Passover will be celebrated with his disciples. He will be betrayed by one of his own with a kiss. There will be trials, beatings until that moment at the foot of the cross, when the Roman Solider proclaimed…”This man was the Son of God.”
I am so thankful that you chose to join our worship service as you “shelter in”. Thousands of Christian churches are telling the story of Jesus this week. It is our prayer at Redeemer that you will investigate the words of Jesus. We pray that you will come to the same conclusion as the Roman soldier at the foot of the cross. “This Man, Jesus, was the Son of God.” May you shelter under His Grace.
