As a nation, we love to throw a party, don’t we? We don’t need much of an excuse to raise a little ruckus now, do we? There are a lot of ways in which we do that, too. Parties, pep rallies, and parades to name a few. Everybody loves a parade, right? On Thanksgiving & New Year’s, we sit in front of our TV sets to watch parades - Macy’s and the Rose Parade. I had the distinguished honor of marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA, when I was in the high school band in North Carolina. (It looks really glamorous on TV, but marching non-stop for almost 7 miles isn’t too glamorous in person.) We see the bands, the fancy floats, and the big Snoopy balloons go by. Parades commemorate special events and special people. They can contribute to some really exciting times.
Some parades are purely for spectators; people watch them go by. Others are for participants. We experienced that firsthand when we lived in New Orleans and learned that you can work up a real sweat while watching and participating in a Mardi Gras parade. People are actively involved in the parade as it goes by. Some parades are small, like local Christmas parades or high school homecoming parades. Others are large, like the Rose Parade or Macy’s. But does size of the parade really have anything to do with its significance?
One of the most significant parades in history took place without big bands, clowns on motorbikes, or magnificent floats. In fact, this parade really only had one registered entry, but oh what an entry! This single entry was a man riding on the colt of a donkey. Yet, this parade leading into the city of Jerusalem marked the beginning of a week that would literally change the world forever!
Riding on the colt of a donkey, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem to begin the week that would lead to his crucifixion. “So what?,” you say. “What’s the big deal? What’s all the hoopla?” It was a big deal for several reasons. We’re going to spend a few moments together this morning seeing just what all the hoopla was concerning this parade led by Jesus. Let’s take a look in Luke 19:28-44.
The Palm Sunday parade was first of all …
1) A celebration
Like any successful event, a parade must be carefully planned. To insure that the parade would be the celebration he intended, Jesus planned it himself. Up to this point, Jesus had kept a pretty low profile. He had healed many, but had often stated, “Go and tell no one.” Now was the time for recognition. Since it was apparent that no one else planned to give Jesus a plaque, a gold pocket watch, or any other recognition, he decided to plan his own parade.
We’re often reluctant to go about tooting our own horn; we’re discouraged from doing so. When we do, it often has a way of coming back to haunt us. A man was honored by receiving an honorary doctorate at a major university. When he was introduced to the audience, the announcer said, “A very great man, no, a very, very great man indeed is with us tonight.” During the ride home, the man was still riding high on the crest of his wave of glory. He asked his wife, “Honey, how many very, very great men do you suppose there are in the world?” She said, “One less than you think, Dear.”
Understand this, there was no conceit on Jesus’ part to conduct this celebration. He knew what was needed for the event, and he insured that it was obtained. After all, he wanted the celebration to be a success for the welfare of those who would be in the crowd watching it.
The Passover feast was just about to begin. This celebration brought many spiritual pilgrims to Jerusalem and fueled the fires of spiritual and messianic expectations. Historians tell us that it was not unusual to have between two and three million people in Jerusalem for the Passover. This yearly reminder served to help the Israelites never forget that it was the blood of the lamb that provided their deliverance. Now, Jesus was about to be slain once-for-all, for the remission of sins.
So, this parade was a celebration of Jesus – of his greatness and his humility. Think about how well the Lord knew the people and the surroundings. He knew right where the colt was (vv. 30, 32). Did he have telepathic powers like Superman? No, he was just observant of the people and needs around him. He had watched carefully as he walked up and down the streets.
Interestingly, Matthew (ch. 21) tells us that the colt was a donkey and that it was with its mother. There the disciples were instructed to bring both of them, perhaps to help the colt not be so wild. Historians tell us that these animals were quite expensive. In our culture today, it would be like someone coming up to a bright red convertible Ferrari, opening the door, starting the car and driving away. When the owner comes running outside you would just say, “The Lord needs it.”
What else do you notice about the colt in verse 30? Notice that the colt that was used was one that no one had ever sat upon. The unused colt symbolized the perfection and purity of Christ. During this time, the donkey served as a symbol of peace. Very often, ambassadors of peace would enter cities riding on donkeys. Horses, on the other hand, were symbols of military might. Conquering generals would enter the city riding on a great horse. Jesus’ greatness shone through his humility as he brought peace to the world. This parade celebrated Jesus’ messianic mission as the Prince of Peace!
What a celebration occurred on that first Palm Sunday! But not only was the parade on that first Palm Sunday a celebration, the hoopla surrounding this event also indicated that it was a …
2) A proclamation
Jesus came to declare the truth of God’s word. Every declaration made by the Lord has either come to pass or will come to pass, Amen? As Jesus entered the city, he proceeded to fulfill prophecy. Jesus was declaring himself to be Lord, the coming Messiah. In fact, the parade was a fulfillment of the proclamation in Zechariah 9:9, which stated, “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, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The disciples also declared Jesus to be Lord, as they loosed the donkey colt for the Lord. No further questions were asked by the owner (vv. 33-34). It’s amazing to see that something of great value was surrendered to the Lord without any questions. The owner didn’t ask about its return or anything. Some cultural background helps at this point. According to a custom called angaria (ăng-gâr’ē-ə), a dignitary could procure use of another’s property for personal reasons. It would be like the President coming up to you and telling you that he needed to use your car. And you say, “Sure, if I can fly to Hawaii on Air Force One, right?”
Jesus is Lord, indeed, Amen?! What are you willing to give up for the glory of the Lord even if there’s no guarantee that you will get it back? Some possession, a job, some relationship, a habit?
I want you to notice the crowd. They recognized something special about Jesus, and so they placed their garments in front of the colt as Jesus made his way into the city (v. 36). Such an act was a common way to honor a famous civic or military leader. The other gospels record that some placed branches in front of the Lord as well, with John ch. 12 telling us they were palm branches - thus we get the name for Palm Sunday. These palm branches were a symbol of joy and victory and were placed on graves as a sign of eternal life. Since they often grew out in the desert near water, palm trees were a sign that life-giving activity was near. By laying palm branches on the road, the people were confirming the proclamation that Jesus was the victorious King who gives eternal life to those out wandering in the desert of life. What an emphasis on this Parade Sunday for the Lord!
The crowd also voiced a proclamation. Notice what they declared: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
The religious leaders complained about undue attention Jesus was receiving. Jesus knew they would respond this way - for they picked up on the messianic symbolism of his entry and considered it blasphemous. Jesus knew their feelings, and that’s why he had conducted most of his ministry outside of Jerusalem. They tried to get him to quiet the masses (v. 39). Jesus accepted the proclamation of the people, though, saying, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (v. 40). A week later, after the crucifixion of Christ, the stone would be rolled away – mouth wide open – declaring the resurrection of God’s One and Only Son! No, Jesus was not embarrassed about the attention he was receiving.
What a tremendous proclamation put forth during this time of celebration. But what was there to cheer about? A few clothes and branches on the ground, a borrowed colt, a King who wouldn’t live through the week. To know the events following this day of hoopla and ballyhoo might make the parade seem a bit premature. One can only wonder what the spectators felt when they saw Jesus die just a few days later. All the celebration and proclamations would fade to the background.
Do you remember the feelings of disappointment Dorothy and her friends had when the Great and Magnificent Wizard of Oz was exposed behind the curtain? Do you remember that scene? The Wizard spoke with much sound and fury, but seemed to have little substance once the curtain was pulled back. Did Jesus turn out to be that way? No way – no one pulled the curtain back on him. In fact, he ripped in right in two. When Christ died, the curtain in the temple separating the people from the Most Holy Place, which represented the presence of the Lord was torn from top to bottom. God and His eternal love and forgiveness were made accessible to man in Christ!
That leads us to another point about that Parade Sunday. While it was a time of celebration and proclamation, it was something more. It was time for -
3) An invitation
I want you to notice with me something very significant that happens in verse 41. As Jesus neared the city of Jerusalem, what did he do? He wept over the city. This is the second account in the Gospels of Jesus crying. The first was his weeping at the grave of his friend Lazarus. Here, he cries again. He saw the beauty of the city and realized what a tragedy was taking place before his very eyes. He saw the mixture of faces & the masses of humanity crowding there, and He realized the emptiness of their lives. They had not heard the message of peace. They did not understand the purpose of His coming. Jesus had come for the salvation of the people, but many were going to miss the blessing. It was to be a time of celebration, but perhaps many were celebrating for the wrong reason. It was a time of proclamation, but many had ears but didn’t hear. Jesus also came bringing an invitation from God Himself.
Jesus was riding through offering himself as the King of love and peace to all who would believe in him. The tears he shed were the tears of God shed over the needless pain and suffering of man because of foolish rebellion to God’s will. Jesus was passing through for the people. The parade was an invitation, as Jesus was giving people one more opportunity to respond to God’s love.
All good things must come to an end, or so the saying goes. Parades come to an end. And, there’s usually very little that’s glamorous about the end of a parade! It’s kind of sad to watch the street sweepers come behind the last float to pick up all the trash and various debris left behind. The heroes of the parade eventually fade, and the day is forgotten. The moment of glory soon passes. So, the moment of opportunity must be taken while it is still available.
Jesus gave the reason for his tears in verse 44 - “because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you." Jesus was literally saying that people did not notice God’s arrival on earth, His intention being to look after them and take care of them. Jesus, who was God in the flesh, and was proof that God had arrived on earth in a personal visit, came to provide salvation, to be a guide, to take care of those who receive Him.
Jesus was inviting people to come to the Lord. He spoke the tragic truth of things to come in vv. 43-44. Jerusalem would eventually fall in AD 70. The people calling out, “Hosanna, Hosanna,” would soon be shouting, “Crucify, Crucify.”
Jesus knew that the hoopla would be coming to an end. Do you know that feeling of letdown – like at the end of Spring Break, and you know you have to go back to school tomorrow? Turn out the lights, the party’s over. He was about to be discarded like yesterday’s newspaper. Even so, everybody needs a parade. Everyone deserves a time of being honored. This parade was for Jesus. But, it was also for the people - people like you and me - people who didn’t even realize what all the hoopla was about. People like blind Bartimaeus, who received his sight from the Lord; people like Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by the Lord; people like Nicodemus, who wanted to be a secret disciple, but who eventually stood up for the Lord.
Jesus didn’t enter the city on a horse of conquest. Instead, he came in on a humble donkey as a King bringing love and peace to the entire world. As a result, the religious leaders rained on his parade by ordering crucifixion, and many of people turned away from him in indifference.
As I said earlier, many parades are for spectators only. In New Orleans, we grew accustomed to participating. People riding by have something they want to give you. Jesus is passing by you this very day, and he has something he wants to give to you. Eternal life!
How will you respond to the parade today? Will you accept his gift to you? Won’t you come to Christ and see what all the hoopla is about? In fact, you have a special privilege today to keep the hoopla happening. God’s invitation is still open, and His proclamation still rings true. Do you know that the Bible declares a party is thrown in heaven every time a person gives his or her life to Christ? In Luke 15:7 Jesus himself says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Will you accept Christ’s invitation to you? You’ll be glad you did! There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a parade for Jesus this morning! Won’t you come forward and trust your life to Christ?
