--Illus: I have a personal hero list, and high on that list is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I admire him for his courage and conviction; what he did and how he challenged this nation is nothing short of inspirational. Furthermore, as a preacher, I admire him as an orator. His speeches are spellbinding. My favorite speech of his? It isn’t "I Have a Dream." I personally think his "Mountaintop" speech is his greatest one. Perhaps you know the story behind it. It was delivered in Memphis, TN on Apr 3, 1968. Dr. King was in Memphis to support striking santitation workers, sanitation workers grossly and unjustly underpaid. A rally was scheduled at Memphis’ Mason Temple, and Dr. King was scheduled to speak. But he was tired; his duties taxed him, and he had Ralph Abernathy (the man who was going to introduce him) fill in for him. Back in his hotel room, Dr. King got a phone call. It was Abernathy. He told him, "Get down here. This is YOUR audience. There’s a buzz all around, and these people are here to see YOU!" So, Dr. King went and delivered the speech. Everytime I read it or hear it, it still stirs me. I remember watching a TV documentary on it; all who witnessed it said that they were never so moved. An amazing speech. And what makes it even more moving was the timeliness of it. You see, he was assassinated the very next day. Amazing, isn’t it. How the euphoria of the Mason Temple and Apr 3 gave way to the Lorraine Motel and Apr 4?
--And if you think about it, we see that same principle all thru life. ’What principle is that?’
--I: Part One
--In Mk. 11-16, we have Mark’s record of Jesus’ passion week. Mark gives us a day by day account of this last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Two Sundays bookend the section.
--And when you think about it, the two Sundays are wildly triumphant Sundays. They are clearly high points.
--On the 1st Sunday, we have the triumphal entry. It’s passover time. The most important festival on the Jewish calendar.
--And remember that passover was more than a religious festival. It stirred patriotic feelings in the Jewish people as well. Passover commemmorated their deliverance from Egypt, from slavery, and God led them into the promised land, the land he’d give them forever and ever...Passover celebrated their formation as a nation and a people. It united them. It expressed solidarity.
--Think of what the 4th of July does for many Americans? Yes, it is a secular holiday, but we at times attach a lot of religious baggage to it, don’t we? For many, it is more than a secular holiday. Well, passover was like that and then some to the Jewish people. It stirred feelings of patriotism and nationalism.
--This, of course, made the Romans nervous. Passover was a very volatile time in Palestine. And because the Romans were so resented, passover gave the Jewish people a heightened expectation and sense of anticipation.
--Every passover, there was this hope. "Maybe this is THE passover? Maybe there’ll be another Exodus? Only the Romans will be the ones leaving! Maybe THIS will be the passover when Messiah comes and he glorifies Israel?!"
--This is the backdrop for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. And notice HOW he enters. (Read 11:2-11).
--You see, HOW is signigicant because of an OT prophecy. One etched on the minds and cultural consciousness of the Jewish people, especially at this time of year. It is found in Zech. 9:9-10 (read~~it talks about the Messiah riding in on a colt).
--They see Jesus enter the city, and then they think of THIS passage! ’Isn’t this the same Jesus who gives sight to blind people? He makes the lame walk? The deaf hear? The dead are raised? And the poor get the good news preached to them? Isn’t this HIM?! Is he THE one?’ Imagine the sense of anticipation and excitement.
--Illus: Can you understand that sense of anticipation? If you remember May 7, 1945, you do. What was that day? V-E day. The day Nazi Germany surrendered. It was a day of wild celebrations, especially in London. London, where they had been harrassed by Nazi bombs and rockets for months. There is one thing, though, about the celebration. The war wasn’t yet over. There was still the matter of Imperial Japan. And the world didn’t know about the bomb. An invasion of the home islands was likely, one that would have cost hundreds of thousands of lives. The war was not yet over, but they still celebrated. Why? Anticipation! With Germany out of the way, it was only a matter of time.
--That Palm Sunday was a Sunday of celebration and anticipation. A true high point.
--II: Part Two
--Of course, the very next Sunday would be triumphant as well, although it was also a bit perplexing and befuddling. How so?
--The bible tells us that Mary Magdeline, Mary the mother of James (i.e. Jesus as well) and Salome go to anoint the body. But their pressing concern in the stone over the tomb. ’Who is going to roll the stone away?’
--The stone would be huge and placed in a deep groove. Imagine pushing a car uphill and I think you get the idea of the task. And then there’s the matter of it being sealed as well.
--Well, imagine their surprise when they find it rolled back! And then they enter to find Jesus’ body gone! Furthermore, there’s a stranger dressed in white. ’Don’t fear. You are looking for Jesus. He isn’t here. He is risen. See where they laid him. Now you must go. Tell the disciples and Peter that he will meet you in Galilee. There you will see him as he before told you.
--And the women? Their response? You have to read it to appreciate it. Read 16:8....They were afraid?! Can you understand that? I think I can.
--Illus: Have you ever had your box, the one where you keep God, smashed? The woman was a deeply devout Christian woman, and a school teacher. She told her husband that she felt this inexplicable drive to do something for a fellow teacher at the school where she and he worked. ’I can’t help but feel like I am supposed to give him some money,’ she told her husband. He said, ’Maybe God is leading you to help him.’ So he gave his blessing. So she went to the bank and withdrew a bit over $1000. She put it in an envelope and went to the other teacher privately. She said, ’Look, I don’t understand this, and I don’t expect you to either. But I believe that I am supposed to give you this.’ And she gave him the envelope. When he opened it, he saw the money and counted it. ’I needed EXACTLY this sum of money by the day after tomorrow. I didn’t know where I was going to get it, and I told no one about it. Who told you?’ She smiled and said, ’I don’t know. I think God did.’ He tried to refuse it! Do you know why? He said, ’If you are right, I’ll have to change somethings in my life and rethink somethings, and I don’t know if I’m ready for that!’ She said, ’Take it, and keep rethinking. Maybe God is spurring you.’ He did take it, but notice his response. He was scared. He was frightened. God broke in and smashed his box to pieces. There were things bigger than we was. That can be hard for people to process, huh?
--The good news of the resurrection story is that fear fades and faith triumphs, huh? He IS risen! They proclaim and celebrate. And we STILL celebrate his resurrection! What a Sunday, right?
--In fact, you look at both of those Sundays, and both were days of vindication, expectation, and celebration. WOW! What wonderful days those 2 Sundays were!
--But what about the in-between? As you look at the passion week, what was the rest of the week like? Wasn’t as glorious, was it? Wasn’t as celebratory.
--On Monday, he cleansed the temple....on Tuesday, he dealt with critics trying to trap him in more ways than one....That week a close friend would sell him out for 30 pieces of silver....there was Gethsemanae....Peter’s denial....a mock trial....scourging and humiliation....and crucifixion. This was the rest of the week. No victory, celebrations, or parades here. What happened? Life happened!
--III: Application
--If only everyday could be Sunday! If only everday was a day of celebration, renewal and triumph! Of parades and vindication!
--I like Sundays. Know why? I love the worship. I love to celebrate the risen Lord. Being at church rejuvinates me. Plus there is seeing all you people, people I have grown to love and feel deep affection for. I draw strength from that. Maybe you do, too.
--Can you remember a Sunday that was extra special to you? You got that word from God you needed to hear! You almost didn’t go to church that day, but you are glad you did! You got the hug that you can’t explain, but it comforted you. The worship lifted you. You felt God’s grace and forgiveness in a special way that day! WOW! Sundays are great! If only everyday could be Sunday!
--But you know what? They aren’t. Sunday has to give way to Monday. And Monday’s aren’t always so uplifting.
--On Monday, it’s back to work and that difficult boss or co-workers...on Tuesday, there’s the signing of the divorce papers or the custody trial...on Wednesday, you gotta face those relatives with whom you’ve been estranged and you dread it...on Thursday, the chemo starts or the surgery is scheduled...on Friday, you see that ol’flame again. You know. You will be out of town on business, and he/she will be there. You saw them flirt with you, and before you knew it, you saw yourself flirting back! And you’ll be away from home! And they’ll be there. And no one will know you there.
--If only you didn’t have to deal with these things! If only you could keep them at bay! If only it was Sunday! But Sunday does give way to Monday. Celebration gives way to trial and temptation.
--But if there’s one thing we can learn from this one week of Jesus’ life it’s this: The true test of discipleship isn’t determined by how you celebrate on Sunday, but how tightly you hold on on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday....
--illus: Years ago, Joanne Woodward was in a made for TV movie, one based on a true story. She was a middle aged woman with 2 teenage daughters. Her husband left her for a younger gal, and it devistated her. She had to raise her girls and to back to work. She was a school teacher. But she found that she had a lot of angry and nervous energy pent up inside her. So she started running. At night. It was really the only time she had. So she ran the Boston streets at night. Past the police officer who told her to be careful. Past the tavern where the patrons yelled obscenities at her. She just kept running. Eventually, she decided she was gonna run for a purpose~~she was going to enter the Boston Marathon. Her daughters thought her too old. Her husband, with his younger trophy, laughed at her. She told the policeman. He puzzled. She even told the tavern patrons, and they heckled her. But she kept running. She kept training. Finally, the race game, and she ran. Ran well. And then she hit the wall. Ask any marathon runner about the wall. It is a real phenomenon. Your body gives out, and you just want to quit. Well, she hit the wall and fell to the ground. And in the crowd...was her husband. He left that woman and was hoping for a reconciliation with his wife. And he was yelling to her, ’Get up! You’re almost there!’ Also there were her daughters, ’Mom! Get up! You can do it.’ The policeman was also there, ’Lady, don’t quit now! You’ve worked so hard!’ Even the tavern patrons, ’Come on, lady! You can do it!.’ They were all cheering her on. But she couldn’t hear them. She was in a daze. Oblivious to their words. But somehow, she mustered herself up to her feet and staggered like a drunk across the finish line. Then she collapsed into the arms of her husband and daughters. She finished the race.
--And the lesson of the story? If you wanna win the prize, you gotta finish the race. Even when you hit the wall. And you know what? The wall doesn’t always hit you on Sunday, but on Monday, and Tuesday, and Wednesday....
--Everyday can’t be Sunday. Real faith knows that and presses on. THAT is discipleship. And that is reason to celebrate.
