April 8, 2001 Luke 19:28-40
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Several years ago I attended a Garth Brooks concert with my wife in Manhattan at the “Country Stampede.” I felt kind of out of place in the whole scenario. I wasn’t wearing cowboy boots. I don’t own a ten gallon hat or chaps, and I don’t know how to ride a horse. But that’s not why I felt out of place. As I scanned the crowd that evening, I could see all of these people rising to the tops of their seats, singing along note by note - and something just didn’t seem right. It just didn’t feel right to praise this guy like the greatest thing since sliced bread. Although I like his music, I just couldn’t justify paying thirty to fifty dollars to just to listen to his music. (We had gotten free tickets.)
Think about it - for all the hubbub, how much do singers and stars really do for the audience? A few hours of ear blasting music might get the blood pumping, and give you something to talk about and fondly remember for a month or two—but soon it’s a faded memory and a faded and worn out T-shirt, which needs be replaced by another concert. To each his own, but to me - it just didn’t seem worth it.
Jesus did not smash guitars, crank out tunes, do any solos or arias or unplugged performances. His manger was never shown on MTV’s “cribs.” He never got a music award. Yet, His entrance to Jerusalem shows that He had those who praised Him. Like the fickle fans of music today, you love the guy one week, and hate him the next. Today, on Palm Sunday, the disciples called out “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” They threw their garments before Him and honored Him. Jesus deserved all the praise He received, and more.
Jesus deserves our praise, as well. If we will not give it, the stones must cry out. Let’s take a look this morning at why Jesus deserves our praise, now and forever. We all have a good idea why—but let’s take a look at what this Palm Sunday Gospel tells us:
Jesus Deserves Our Praise
I. For His Person
The first temptation held forth the promise to Adam and Eve, that they would be “like God.” Every sin and temptation since then holds forth the same empty promise: “if you do this, you will be like God. YOU will have the control, YOU will have the power, YOU will have the glory. YOU will have the praise you deserve.” Whether it’s a temptation to pride, selfishness, greed, immorality, rage, slander, or whatever. That’s the empty promise. The devil knows it works. People have bought into it since the beginning. Interesting isn’t it - dogs are happy with their dogginess, sheep with their sheepiness, but humans always want to be more.
Problem is, as sinners, we want to be like God—and we can’t even get being human right. God made us in His image. He made us caretakers of His creation. He wants us to be like Him in this respect: that we care for others, and have mercy on others, and be faithful in the work He has given us. But we can’t even get that down right, and the devil comes along and gets us to think that somehow, we can be more: we can be like God. We can barely take care of ourselves half the time, let alone a family, or even a pet. And we think we’ll be capable of ruling the universe. Sin turned the tables, and has us falsely try to become our own God. And ruins us all the more for it.
Salvation, then, had to turn the tables one more time. For our salvation, God had to humble Himself and become a MAN. He had to be born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law. But unlike us, Jesus succeeded in being human. The Son of God was born of the virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and became fully human. Like us in every way, but without sin. He relied entirely on His heavenly Father, with unshakable faith. He obeyed every commandment. He showed every mercy. He was in every way what we were supposed to be. The image of God, yet content and satisfied in God, and in doing His Father’s will.
The man named Jesus is that Son of God, the Righteous One who rode in to Jerusalem that day we call Palm Sunday so long ago. And notice how He goes about getting the praise that is due Him. You’d think when the Son of God became man, and came to live an earthly existence, it would be in great glory and power and such. You might even think He’d come with condemnation, showing by every deed, “you stupid sinners! This is how it’s done! Now feel my wrath!” But God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. And so Jesus came, humbly, gently, quietly, lovingly, with peace, forgiveness, healing, and help for all. He rode in on a young donkey, a colt that had never been ridden. No huge war chariot, no fancy limousine, no arrogance. Yet they praised Him nonetheless.
Contrast that to our typical rock star. When the Bulls were world champions a few years ago - they would turn out the lights, have a strobe light and a loud speaker and announce, “And NOW - your five time champion - Chicago Bulls! Weighing in at 205, from the University of North Carolina, Michael Jordan! Then they come running in pumping their chests. But when you look closely at these icons, Roger Rockstar or Harvey Hoopster is typically a failure as a human being. The percentage of children that professional athletes have out of wedlock is shocking. Roger Rockstar sends out his roadies for young girls, groupies, saying “the Rockstar has need of you backstage, after the show.” They strew his way with their underwear, thrown on stage. He is praised and adored for his rude selfishness, his wealth, his power. Some eventually get their life straight, but most leave behind broken hearts, broken homes, and broken lives. Roger Rockstar does not know how to be a human being, and yet he desires to be a god. When he comes to a town, he comes to give a little music, and takes the money, the virtue, and whatever pleasures he can from that place. And for most who praise him, the noise for what passes as music is enough for them to give over their bodies, their hearts, their minds, their money, their very souls. When rebuked for praising Roger Rockstar, the fan just stubbornly praises him all the more.
I guess that’s one reason why I feel uncomfortable at rock concerts. Even if I really like the music, it doesn’t feel right to me to be in the midst of a crowd that is going bonkers over a sinful man. Especially one that is known to have a rap sheet a mile long. It doesn’t seem right when our kids know the words of every rock song but can’t even recite one verse of I Know that My Redeemer Lives. It doesn’t seem right that they are willing to put scantily clad pictures of Brittany Spears on their walls but are ashamed to put a picture of Jesus up. It doesn’t seem right that we will not be too embarrassed to sing with our favorite music but we are too embarrassed to sing out at church. Many children today will brazenly listen to music with warning labels on it, but not listen to one word of a solo sung at church. By our actions we echo the refrain of the Pharisees, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” Ah, how dimly we view the truth of the gospel, and the glory of our Lord! We have a Savior who is of greater worth than any on MTV. We have a powerful God who became a human - who could tell the future - that a donkey would be freely given to the disciples - who could ride on an unridden colt with no problem. The stones must cry out in dismay, and the stars in heaven must take up the praise that we let dwindle! Yet, thanks be to God, who forgives us our sins of weakness through Christ Jesus, whom we so poorly praise! Thanks be to Jesus - who rode on in Majesty to DIE for our sins! May He give us strength to praise Him properly in this life! And may we have the opportunity to learn properly to praise Him in heaven! We have plenty of reason to praise Him for who He is: the God man come to save us!
But we have more reason to praise Him, and that is for His office.
II. For his office as king
We can understand praising someone because of his person - because he’s a good guy - humble, talented, etc. But we also are to praise him for the simple fact that He holds an office that demands respect - as King. That’s difficult to grasp - to praise someone just because of his office. Take for instance the President. When Presidents Clinton and Nixon lied to our faces, it was hard to show them much respect. We say, “why should I show respect to someone who lies to me? How can I?” When President Bush didn’t win the popular vote, some may think, “how can I respect someone who didn’t win the majority of the votes?” Yet the concept that God says is “respect them because of the OFFICE they have been given.” David RESPECTED Saul even though he had no reason to - simply because of his office. That’s what God tells children to do with their parents. That’s what God tells members to do with their Pastor. This becomes difficult when the Pastor doesn’t have the personality that you like or the President doesn’t have the morality that God requires. But when your parents or pastors or leaders are worthy of praise - it becomes much easier.
Kings are worthy of praise. Before I mentioned the praise of rock stars. Of all rock stars, there is only one known as the “king.” And as far as all rock stars go, he seems to have had a humility that is practically non-existent among such folk. Despite his faults and weaknesses, there are still thousands of people who like to imitate him and talk about him. He certainly brought something special to his hearers, some great temporal comfort through his music. Yet, I think he recognized who the real King was.
There’s a “previously unreleased” recording of an informal performance. I’m not sure who was present: seems like it was a warm up in front of studio executives, who aren’t known to be appreciative of anything smacking of piety. And most musicians aren’t known as “good church going Christian folk.” Most would be uncomfortable, to say the least, during a worship service. But anyhow, Elvis starts warming up. He sings a line or two of various songs. He starts, but doesn’t finish “Santa Claus is coming to town.” But then, for some reason known only to God, he breaks into “Our Father, who art in heaven.” During it, there are a few comments, chuckles on the tape, sound check statements, like “how’s that” for volume, and the like. But unlike the other things he warmed up with, once he starts singing the Lord’s prayer, he’s got to finish it. All the way to the amen, and beyond. The feeling that he puts into it—I listened to the whole CD, and can’t find one song that has near the expression that he put into the Lord’s prayer. I won’t know for sure until I myself reach heaven, but based on that little thing, it seems to me that Elvis, the king, deep down knew who the real King was. It’s interesting that even the king of rock recognized his King - and praised him. And so he wasn’t afraid to praise Him - even through the snickers.
The disciples of Jesus also weren’t ashamed to praise Jesus on that Palm Sunday. The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Why did the disciples praise him? The disciples had seen some of those miracles, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind. Even raising the dead! A dead little girl, He brought back to life for the sorrowing parents. A dead son, He brought back to life for the sorrowing and widowed mother. A dead friend, He brought back to life, for the sorrowing sisters. This king - instead of abusing them and making many demands of them - was GIVING them joy, health and life. More importantly, this King, Jesus, brought blessing and peace in the name of the Lord - peace between God and man. Therefore, it was EASY for them to praise their King.
We may never see the miracles that the disciples did. But we will always have reason to praise our King.
✓ Kings of the world live in great palaces, huge mansions and estates. They are difficult to access or talk to. This King, whom heaven and earth cannot contain, chooses to live within your heart, making our bodies His temples by His Spirit. We can talk to him any day and at any time.
✓ Kings of the world make great demands of their people and work them to death. They abuse their power to enrich themselves. This King came to suffer and die. Crowned with thorns, He died on the cross, the notice: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” posted above his head. He paid for the sins of the world—your sins, my sins. And by His blood, reconciled the world to Himself. God has made His peace with the world—He no longer declares war on the world of sinners that has declared war on Him. Rather, He seeks to save the lost. We find our everlasting comfort in the King who came in the name of the Lord, and who died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. Yes, this King died. But He rose again, and lives now and forever.
✓ Kings of the world have their pick of the litter when it comes to a bride. Many in the near east will take a harem, made up of only the most perfect of women. And when a woman in a harem becomes less than perfect, such a wife or concubine is abandoned for a new one. However, this King of Kings calls us, His believers, who are far from perfect, His Bride. We bring Him nothing, but He cleanses us from our sins, and will present us as glorious and spotless before Him. When we fall short of perfection and God’s glory, as we often do, He does not cast us away—no, He forgives us, and showers us with His grace all the more! This King does not just deserve our praise—He earns it! Oh, let us praise Him now and forever!
When the elections were going on this past year for President, I’ll never forget the picture of an African American lady - sitting on a chair with her hands in her face, sobbing uncontrollably when Al Gore seemingly had lost the Presidency. Everything that she had worked for - believed in - and fought for seemed to be lost when George W. Bush was announced as the President. Listening to someone even say “President Bush” - probably makes her cringe yet today. In politics, there isn’t too much middle ground. Either you love your leaders or you hate them.
With Jesus, there isn’t any middle room either. When the Pharisees heard Jesus be praised as the Messiah - they hated it. They told him to stop it. But not us. When we hear Jesus’ name be praised - we love it, for we know it is well deserved - because of His person and because He is the merciful and almighty King. Therefore we can sing -
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
And drives away all fear. Amen.
