“The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
‘Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!’
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.’”
“The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat…” This phrase became iconic during the days of my youth. The phrase was heard weekly during the introduction of the weekly television production, The Wide World of Sports throughout the time period of 1961 to 1998. The phrase might well be used to describe the attitude of those who followed Jesus of Nazareth on that exciting day when He entered Jerusalem for the final time shortly before His crucifixion.
Jesus was haled by the crowds as He entered the city while seated on the back of a little donkey. However, His entrance stirred the religious leaders to a murderous fury cementing their determination to do something to rid themselves of this persistent irritant. I propose to review these events, focusing first on the excitement of the populace before reminding us of what His entrance presaged and how the same populace would react to His crucifixion, engineered by the religious leaders.
Even though we might be inclined to deny it, our tendency is to be emotional, reactionary creatures. We witness some particular action, and as if we actually understand what we are seeing, we react. Our reactions are not always wrong; but that doesn’t mean that we understand what we are doing. In fact, we seldom fully comprehend what we have witnessed. We see, but we don’t really understand. We always filter what we witness through the lens of our background experiences, through our ability to grasp what we are witnessing, and through the influences of those about us.
In that moment when we witness a given event, we may be astonished, but our astonishment is often little more than entertainment. Like audience members watching a magic show, we see the amazing stunts, but we can’t explain what we just saw. Nevertheless, we felt a thrill at that moment. Caught up in the excitement generated by a great crowd, we may imagine this is the way things always will be.
On one occasion, I listened to a popular evangelist verbally pummel the sitting President of the United States before delivering a brief emotional story designed to do little more than stir the emotions of his listeners. He quickly followed this with an appeal for his audience to dedicate themselves to serve Jesus. The altar was almost immediately filled as men and women left their seats to stream to the front of the auditorium. Many of the men kneeling at the altar that evening were students who sat under my tutelage.
As I exited the auditorium that evening, a prominent businesswoman spoke to me, saying, “Doctor Stark, wasn’t that a powerful message?” I stopped walking before responding, “Mary, what did you see and hear tonight? I saw a Baptist bully who verbally bashed the leader of our nation before tugging at the heart strings of those who were present tonight.” My soul was disturbed and my heart was heavy. I had witnessed a dreadful act of manipulation from the pulpit of the church I dearly loved.
The following day, my heart still in turmoil at what I had observed the evening before, I asked in one of the classes I was teaching how many of my students had gone forward at the time of the altar call the previous evening. At least two-thirds of the men present raised their hand. “Tell me,” I asked of those indicating they had gone forward to the altar, “what decision you made and how it will shape your life.” Though several attempted to answer, not a single scholar was able to clearly state what decision had been made or how that decision would shape his life going forward. Caught up in the excitement of the moment, they simply wanted to experience what was happening, but they didn’t have a clear understanding of what they were doing. It was an example of the emotional, reactionary nature of otherwise good men.
Something like that appears to have happened in the incident recounted in our text chosen for this day. People were excited at what was taking place, and they filled the streets to praise God because a hero was entering their city. Jesus entered riding on a donkey colt, just as prophesied by Zechariah, who had prophesied,
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
[ZECHARIAH 9:9]
The people were attuned to what was written, and here was this miracle worker from Galilee approaching the city just as written. Well, you can surely understand the excitement His coming generated. Who could tell what He might do in their city!
I am not prepared to say that no one was changed by what happened on that day. I believe it is reasonable to conclude that most of us would be prepared to argue that the crowds were obviously excited as they witnessed Jesus riding on a colt into the city. But even a cursory knowledge of human responses leads us to acknowledge that it is not out of the realm of reason that some of those present at that time would shortly join with the mob that howled and bayed for the death of Jesus of Nazareth. Some who were excited by His entrance into the city were undoubtedly among those who called for His death. Emotions tend to dictate a response that can be rescinded as readily as it was first made.
We know there were Pharisees among those in the crowd. Some of these pious souls wanted Jesus to rebuke His disciples. Doctor Luke reports, “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples’” [LUKE 19:39]. However, the Master answered their impassioned plea, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” [LUKE 19: 40].
Perhaps it due to this refusal to silence those praising Him that we read that the Pharisees present at that time began to grumble; however, they were already offended. John observes, “The Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him’” [JOHN 12:19]. Why, the man wouldn’t listen to reason, which is what we often say when people won’t do what we want. In the eyes of these Pharisees, Jesus was unreasonable; the Pharisees weren’t getting their way! And even though they had to this point showed a measure of tolerance, they would soon join the Sadducees. There would need to be another approach if “reason” was to prevail.
Before the Pharisees could enter into coalition with the Sadducees to engineer the charge that would lead to the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, they would be compelled to witness the crowds cheering His arrival in Jerusalem. In fact, it was the growing adulation of this upstart Galilean that fueled their rage and precipitated their united determination to kill Him. In this message, we will focus primarily on the jubilation that attended Jesus’ presentation of Himself to the city. Surely there are essential lessons we can learn in order to ensure that our own service honours Jesus the Christ.
A SEMINAL MOMENT IN TIME — “The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
‘Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!’
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him’” [JOHN 12:12-19].
It certainly seems to be an attitude that accurately describes modern Christendom, that people willingly recognise that Jesus has done some great thing. But the general recognition of those praising Him seems to quickly revert to complaining to the Master, “What have you done for me lately?” In short, we seem incapable of anticipating good from the hand of Him who has blessed us richly in the past. We live in the moment, unable to attribute good to the One Who has shown us such grace in the past.
Two thousand years ago there was a vague realisation that Messiah, when He came, would present Himself by coming into Jerusalem riding on the foal of a donkey. You are perhaps aware, as they were, that Zechariah, guided by the Spirit of the Living God, had prophesied,
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
[ZECHARIAH 9:9]
Then, just as the Prophet had said, here was this man from Galilee coming into the city. He was riding on a little donkey, a colt, in fact. Could this be the promised Messiah? Apparently, many of those present were acting as if this was indeed the Messiah. Among those in the crowd were many who had witnessed some of the marvellous things He had been doing, such as calling Lazarus out of the tomb after he had been certified as dead.
It had only been a few days since Jesus had made the journey to Bethany at the request of Mary and Martha because Lazarus was extremely ill. Jesus had already stirred up a great deal of bitterness in the religious community because He had revealed that He was the Son of God. The Jewish leaders had attempted to stone Him, but He simply walked through their midst and seemed to disappear. These religious people were infuriated to the point that they were prepared to kill Him if they could but get their hands on Him. Then came that trek leading Him to Bethany.
During His delay in going to Bethany, Lazarus had died. His body had been prepared for burial, the spices had been wrapped in the winding sheet and he had been laid in a tomb. There was no question that Lazarus was dead. But then Jesus came. Martha had rushed away from the grieving assembly to find Jesus as soon as she heard that He had at long last come. And Jesus had comforted her by encouraging her to look to the destiny of all who hold faith in Him. He had spoken those exciting words that lift the spirits of God’s people to this day: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” [JOHN 11:25-26].
Well, quite a few people had gathered when Jesus was escorted to the tomb where He commanded them, “Take away the stone.” Martha protested, saying, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Those present had heard Jesus assure her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” Before the stench of the tomb could assault their nostrils, everyone had had heard Jesus cry out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” They had been stunned when they saw the dead man, hobbled by the grave clothes, walk out of the tomb. Transfixed, they stared at what was taking place, and only reacted when Jesus commanded them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” And there he stood, Lazarus. He was alive and standing right there! Would the Messiah do more than this?
No wonder that the Apostle writes that following this demonstration of power, “Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him” [JOHN 11:45]. Wouldn’t you believe in Him? Even telling the story causes many to believe that He was a miracle worker. To this day, people need only to hear what Jesus did to believe that He can perhaps do great things, and they are prepared to believe in Him.
Doing good and even performing miracles doesn’t mean that everyone will be pleased. Many of the Jews saw and believed, but there were others who were not so pleased. You see, there is a verse that follows that sets the stage for what can only be seen as perhaps the darkest moment in the whole of world history. John notes, “But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, ‘What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation’” [JOHN 11:46-48].
For the religious leaders, the issue was power—their power. Jesus clearly possessed power, and someone with what was obviously more power than theirs constituted a threat to their continued hold on power. And Jesus assuredly possessed power—real authority. Power, not service to the people, motivated the religious leaders, wakened them each morning, and sustained them throughout their days of controlling the lives of others. Anyone teaching people to be free through faith in the God Who gives life will always be seen as a threat to those who see political power as the ultimate power. Caesar, the vast number of individuals occupying the hierarchy of church leaders, Ayatollahs, Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Mao Zedong, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, members of the World Economic Forum, and too often political leaders within the western world, see the faithful as a threat to continued power.
And power is the ultimate purpose driving those enamoured of this dying world. Why else would Communists suppress the faithful where Communism prevails? Why do the Ayatollahs suppress all others who refuse to place themselves under the heel of Islam? Why are Liberal leaders in Canada and Democrat leaders in the United States threatened by a bogeyman of their own imagination that they call Christian Nationalism? These power brokers fear any threat to their tenuous hold on power, and the Faith of Christ the Lord that instills people with the message of freedom in the Risen Saviour terrifies those who imagine that they hold power over others. Power brokers are always threatened by people that are free, because free people will soon cast off the chains that bind them, refusing to kiss the ring of those who lead only through fear and intimidation.
Let’s focus once again on the text. Please remember that religious excitement does not necessarily translate into worship of the Saviour. Emotion is not worship, though worship may ultimately touch the emotion. In the case of those excitedly welcoming the “prophet from Galilee” to the city, it would appear that many of these were not worshipping, but rather acting on impulse because others were excited.
I have grown increasingly cynical when pondering what seems at times to be an explosion of worldly attitudes garbed in Christian dress among contemporary churches. Today, churches have “celebrations” as worship; but celebration is not worship. How often have you attended a service in which a worship team performed, and the audience (congregation)?)) stood mute, or nearly mute while the performance continued? Many times, it seems as if worship teams are more intent on generating excitement than they are focused on leading us into the Most Holy Place where we will meet the Risen Lord of Glory face to face. Someone has sold us the notion that excitement can be equated with worship. However, we know that too often, the excitement of those gathered in the auditorium or in the stadium is transient, based on the exuberance of the moment as people are lost in a throbbing rhythm and hypnotic repetition of phrases. We would discover a more settled, a more permanent sense of awe if our worship was real.
There is an apparent outbreak of “Jesus talk” throughout contemporary society. Perusing various forums and reading the posts on a variety of social media sites, I’m astonished to note so many Christians! I see statements of how those posting love Jesus and yet many are prepared to anathematise others as ungodly in comparison to themselves. The only problem is that in many instances I know the individuals making the posts, or at least I know their character by lifestyle choices! Often, these individuals are poorly acquainted or perhaps even unacquainted with the interior of a church building and they give little evidence of knowledge of the liturgy that might be used in a church. At times, some prominent individuals that claim to be dedicated to worshipping the Master have made a point of saying that they don’t pray. I find it astounding that one who claims to follow Jesus would dismiss the necessity for prayer. Such declarations lead me to question what there is in the life observed that would lead any follower of the Risen Lord to believe that these dear souls are following Jesus! And yet, these same individuals are making posts that indicate they are religious and they speak approvingly of the good they anticipate because Jesus is blessing them. Such claims confuse me!
Here is an example of the excitement when a well-known individual professes to love Jesus, only to drift back into the lifestyle exhibited before that profession. Kanye West turned heads in 2019 when he announced he had committed his life to Jesus. At that time, he proclaimed, “I’ve been radically saved. I believe [the gospel] message and I want to get that message out to the world.” [2] Things have changed for Mr. West. Now he says he is a god, and he has issues with Jesus because Jesus didn’t show up when Mr. West prayed. He is disappointed with Christians, especially because they pray. [3] What shall we say of all the Christians who were excited by Mr. West’s excitement in 2019?
Throughout the years we have seen a fascinating parade of notable singers, stars and starlets professing excitement about Jesus, only to witness them drifting away from following Him. Robert Zimmerman, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, Eldridge Cleaver, and a continuing number of prominent people have at one time or another registered their excitement about Jesus, only to drift into indifference about the Faith, or even hostility against the Faith. I suspect that in many instances they imagine they can use Jesus to get what they want rather than desiring to be a follower of the Master.
I suppose I don’t need to speak about the funerals of prominent people who, if they are judged by the lifestyle that marked them throughout the days of their lives, were openly hostile to the Faith of Christ the Lord. Preachers speaking at their funerals and the individuals who deliver the eulogies praising them assure those in attendance or watching on television that the recently departed individual is now producing shows or acting in shows for the amusement of the Lord. How could I know that Jesus enjoyed crime shows, ribald comedy, and shows that glorify violence! And many who once entertained us as singers are now singing in God’s choir, if the preachers who presided over their funerals are to be accepted as correct! Who would have known that Jesus enjoyed risqué lyrics and bawdy songs!
Movie plots and television shows are praised and promoted even by Christian media and websites, as are the actors that play in these shows. Pardon me if I wonder how I could have missed reading that verse that directs the faithful to praise and promote people if they say something good about Jesus. I am unable to find that verse that says we are to accept those that have nothing to do with Jesus as His followers when they die. To be sure, I’m aware of the incident that is recorded in the Gospels when John wondered about someone casting out demons. You do recall the pericope, don’t you?
Peter likely related the story and Mark wrote it down, “John said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us’” [MARK 9:38-40]. But there is nothing said that the one who was casting out demons in Jesus’ Name were not speaking ill of the Master. They were engaged in a noble work to set at liberty those who were held in thrall by the evil one. They were not fighting against the Son of God. And John said nothing about whether they were living in rebellion to the Master!
Furthermore, it should be obvious that casting out demons is not the same as saying something nice about Jesus while living for the world. Earth dwellers are denoted by their commitment to the things of this life and through their opposition to righteousness. Why are people so excited to be counted as standing with Jesus at one point only to claim that they are not interested in the Christian Faith at another point? One reason may be revealed in a biblical warning delivered to a young theologue serving in Ephesus. Recall that Paul wrote Timothy, warning him, “The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” [1 TIMOTHY 4:1-2].
Allen Parr recently addressed the issue of a disturbing number of worship leaders who reject Christianity, questioning how these worship leaders can sing, and even write, songs of praise only to reject the Faith later. He names Audrey Assad, who wrote some spectacular songs of praise, Hillsong worship leader Marty Sampson, and singers Lisa and Michael Gungor. [4] Parr finds that reasons for abandoning the Faith include intellectual doubts and skepticism; negative experiences with church or religious community; disappointment with God; and LGBTQ+ discrimination. Certainly, all these reasons have been used as an excuse for rejecting Jesus; but a major reason he didn’t address is that we worship worship! We don’t meet the Risen Saviour through our efforts, and we become disillusioned with Jesus. He didn’t meet our expectations! And those meeting Him in our text were unwittingly setting themselves up for a fall!
RESPONDING TO MESSIAH’S PRESENCE — “The large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
‘Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!’”
[JOHN 12:12-15]
Just as was true in that ancient day described in our text, so it is until this present day that multitudes are willing to praise Jesus, provided there is no cost involved. We have often witnessed people holding unrealistic expectations about what they will receive if they “invite Jesus into their hearts.” These expectations are planted by us who preach the message of Christ, and while we preach promising what will not necessarily be delivered. And in too many instances these people are disappointed when their expectations are not met! We preachers are known to tell people that all their problems will be resolved if they only come to Jesus. It is true that Jesus is a real problem solver, but those coming to Jesus can expect to face trials. Often, our real problems begin when we come to faith in the Son of God!
The message of the missionaries on the first mission journey would likely be dismissed by many in this day. The divine account informs us, “When [the missionaries] had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” [ACTS 14:21-22].
The missionaries were but iterating the words of the Master, Who taught His followers, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” [JOHN 16:33].
We who declare the message of life need to speak realistically, and that means that we will teach those who listen to us, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” [2 TIMOTHY 3:12-13].
People come to Jesus to receive wealth after a period of profligacy, seeking relief from the consequences of a life lived without thought of the cost of their choices, hoping for peace after a life marked by violence—and they are frequently disappointed when what they thought they were promised doesn’t materialise.
You can fill stadiums with vast crowds if there is no particular cost for gathering. The excitement will be palpable, and a sense of anticipation will even lead those present to shout loudly, exclaiming how exciting it is to be part of the crowd. They will sing songs of praise, and even lift their hands as they sway to the hypnotic beat of the popular choruses. However, few among those gathered in the great crowds will ever bother crossing the street to speak with a neighbour to invite them to share in a service of worship. Few who shout with great excitement in the vast congregation will ever stand firm against wickedness if standing invites ridicule and rejection.
Churches go out of the way to ensure that the crowd is entertained as worship leaders and worship teams whip up excitement, performing for the crowd. Let’s be honest, flashing lights and a throbbing bass together with clanging cymbals do not bring us closer to the Lord. Without doubt, such accoutrements can stimulate the emotions, but they can never lead us to forsake our sin to seek the Lord.
I am not against music or against worship leaders; nor am I necessarily opposed to music that has a syncopated beat and a vibrant bass. I do enjoy the older hymns that have blessed the faithful throughout generations, but I know that newer hymns written to honour our Lord are a blessing as well. I am opposed to music that while entertaining fails to point those hearing the music to look to the Son of God! I’m not suggesting that services should be boring. In fact, the unpardonable sin for a pastor is that he should deliver the message of the Lord in a manner that is boring.
I am not against preachers touching the emotions of those who listen, I am against sermons that fail to remind those who listen that Jesus Christ is Lord and that because He is Lord He is worthy of our best service. I am opposed to the sermon that fails to call us who listen to eschew our pet sins to follow the Lord Christ. When the sermon has been delivered, I am concerned that those who have heard what has been said leave the church building with the knowledge that we serve a great God and that each of us is charged to submit to His reign over our life. To say less is to dishonour our calling and our Master.
THE DISCIPLES’ CONFUSION — “His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him’” [JOHN 12:16-19].
Politicians never change. They imagine that if they can control the narrative, they can delude the people into believing whatever they happen to be selling at that moment. And the Pharisees were politicians! They may not have been compelled to run for office, but they understood that they held the attention of the people by meeting the expectations of the multitude. Hold onto this thought: the Pharisees were politicians, just like politicians in this present day. Our elections are more of a popularity contest than they are a serious effort to select the most capable managers of the nation. We are astounded whenever an elected official is actually competent at governing! Usually, these creatures of the swamp are good at selling themselves and terrible at fulfilling their promises.
Politicians never change; and among the churches are far too many politicians. During my time teaching preachers, it disappointed me greatly to observe that among the young men who sat in my classes were some who viewed the churches as stepping stones for advancement to bigger and more influential churches. Occupying the pulpits of our churches are too many pastors who conduct their service with an eye on which church is vacant so they can get their name in contention to fill that pulpit. They spend as much time reviewing the ads telling of vacancies among the churches as they do reading the Scriptures. Their attitude is a major contributor to the paucity of long pastorates. Consequently, the average tenure of a pastor in the United States (and the figure for Canada is likely similar) is five years. [5] While it is true that “pastor-eating” churches are a problem, “church-climbing” pastors are a contributor to the ill health of the churches.
One of my favourite preachers from another era used to say, “If you don’t want trouble, don’t do anything, don’t say anything, don’t be anything.” That is a pretty accurate assessment of life. Take a stand for Christ and righteousness, and you will have plenty of opposition.
Okay, what has all this to do with Jesus entering into Jerusalem? Thank you for asking. It was the week when the Jews would be celebrating the Passover, which spoke of divine deliverance from bondage. Rome was always concerned about the Jews who were passionate about being free, especially free from Roman occupation. Therefore, it was customary that the Roman governor would come to Jerusalem at that time to circumvent any riotous intentions of the populace. Some people have suggested that on this day, Pilate entered the city, as was his custom, coming from Caesarea via Joppa before heading west to Jerusalem, accompanied by his entourage of Roman troops. He entered the city riding on a white horse and with a display of might, saying effectively, “Don’t mess with Rome!”
Perhaps Jesus chose deliberately, but on that same day, perhaps even at the same hour, entered the city from the east, riding on a donkey and accompanied by His disciples. Contrasted with the entrance of Pilate, Jesus’ approach was low key; and yet, the crowds were excited at His coming. Matthew notes, “Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee’” [MATTHEW 21:8-11].
Pilate brought a message of political power and state might. Jesus brought a message of peace. This is the One who promised, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” [MATTHEW 11:28-30].
When we consider the contrast between these two entrances, perhaps occurring on the same day, it is amazing that the excited people crowded around Jesus. His was not a message of imposed law and compelled submission, but rather a message of love and sacrifice. Here is where the information intersects with the message this day. The crowd was waving palm branches, the symbol of revolt used by the Zealots who advocated overthrowing Roman rule by force. Palm branches were outlawed at various times in Roman history because of the strong emotions this symbol stirred in the populace.
This crowd wanted to make Jesus King, and their excitement was in great measure in anticipation of political freedom. The cries of “Hosanna” were more of a military chant than anything that day. This underscores Jesus’ broken heart as Luke records what happened as He approached the city. “When [Jesus] drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation’” [LUKE 19:41-44].
Today is Palm Sunday, a time of celebration in many churches. But from the standpoint of Jesus and those who truly worshipped Him as He entered into Jerusalem for the last time before His crucifixion, it was a time of tears, a time for heavy hearts. To be sure, there would be joy, but it would be necessary to go through the dark vale of tears before rejoicing would come.
The days are increasingly dark; the future grows ever more foreboding. Prospects for peace are dim and seemingly out of reach for mankind. The nations of this world are rife with trouble, turbulence, tumult, and turmoil. Political strife and a general sense of unrest increases with each passing day, especially throughout the western world. Conditions on the world stage seem to be rapidly approaching the times of which Jesus spoke when He taught His own, “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” [LUKE 21:25-26 NET 2ND].
Tragic as that development may be, more tragic still is the knowledge that the spirit of unrest seemingly invades the churches as church leaders become more political still. Church leaders not only promote church and denominational politics, but with ever greater enthusiasm they advocate for one national political leader or another and the congregations are stirred to agitate for political change in the nation. I note on various ministry websites, brother opposing brother as we anathematise one another because someone saluted the wrong flag. I know that it is the responsibility of elders to oppose wickedness and to advocate for righteousness; but I cannot help but wonder whether we preachers, who are supposed to proclaim righteousness and oppose evil, are even able to define wickedness any longer.
I must deliver this warning to God’s people: train yourself to avoid becoming so enamoured of the politics of this life that you miss the appointment you have received to be holy. If I am a citizen of Heaven, then why would I allow myself to be consumed with the politics of this world. I am not advocating that we withdraw from the world, but I am cautioning that we are not destined for this world. Surely the words the Apostle has given apply in this case. Paul cautioned, “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’ (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings” [COLOSSIANS 2:20-22]?
It will be good for each Christian on this Palm Sunday to recall and apply in our own lives, the admonition the Apostle delivered when he wrote, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” [COLOSSIANS 3:1-2]. My final word today is, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” [1 JOHN 5:21]. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] See Jesse T. Jackson, “‘I Have My Issues With Jesus’—Kanye West Calls Out God for Not Answering Prayers While Labeling Himself a ‘God,’” March 20, 2024, churchleaders.com, https://churchleaders.com/news/473727-i-have-my-issues-with-jesus-kanye-west-calls-out-god-for-not-answering-prayers-while-labeling-himself-a-god.html?mumara_id=19662335, accessed 21 March 2024
[3] Ibid.
[4] Jessica Lea, “Why Have Well-Known Worship Leaders Left Christianity? Allen Parr Explores Whether These 4 Reasons Are Valid,” March 19, 2024, churchleaders.com, https://churchleaders.com/news/473559-worship-leaders-left-christianity-allen-parr-reasons.html/, access 21 March 2024
[5] Oluwajuwon, “Average Tenure Of A Pastor,” May 27, 2022, Churchgists, Average Tenure Of A Pastor - CHURCHGISTS.COM, accessed 23 March 2024; Trevin Wax, “The Myth of the Church-Hopping Pastor,” April 12, 2007, TGC, The Myth of the Church-Hopping Pastor (thegospelcoalition.org), accessed 23 March 2024; Pastoral Care Inc., Statistics for Pastors (pastoralcareinc.com), accessed 23 March 2024
