"why Did The Cheering Stop?"

Title: “Why Did the Cheering Stop?” Script: Lk. 19:29ff.

Type: Theme/special occasion Where: GNBC Palm Sunday 2020

Intro: Gene A. Smith, an American historian, authored a book entitled, “When The Cheering Stopped.” The book told of Woodrow Wilson, and the events surrounding WW1. Upon the end of the war, people were optimistic. The dream was that the world had at last been made safe, and the way had been paved for democracy and freedom everywhere. When Woodrow Wilson paid his first visit to Europe, he was greeted by large crowds, and he was cheered every place he went. In many people’s eyes he was more popular than the greatest war heroes throughout the land. The cheering lasted for about a year. The political leaders throughout Europe were interested more in their own agendas than a lasting peace, and the people slowly lost hope. On the home front, Wilson met opposition in the Senate, and his League of Nations was rebuffed. Under tremendous stress, his health began to fail. Woodrow Wilson, who almost two years earlier was heralded as a hero, came to his last days as a broken and defeated man. In our text today, Jesus at the absolute height of popularity on Palm Sunday. Yet, in less than a week, the cheering would stop.

Prop: Today is Palm Sunday, 2020 and we are reminded once again of the fickle nature of the crowd that at once so willingly embraced Jesus and then rejected Him.

BG: 1. Jesus Christ on that original Palm Sunday rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s foal, a hero, being proclaimed by the adoring crowds as Messiah. A week later that would all change.

2. The author of this passage, Luke, was 1st class historian. Gives us great insight into people, hopes, dreams, and anger and hatred.

Prop: Today we’ll notice 3 reasons why the cheering of Palm Sunday stopped by Good Friday.

I. Why Did the Cheering Stop? Because they Didn’t Recognize Jesus’ Purpose.

A. What was the Purpose in Christ’s 1st Coming?

1. Unquestionably the people of Christ’s day did not realize the true reason for his coming.

a. Notice with me the telling statement at the end of this passage, v. 44 “because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” There are two ways one can interpret the word visitation. One idea carries with it the concept of bringing judgment, however, this does not fit the context of the passage. The other, is the idea of bringing relief or deliverance…this seems to fit the context. This is the same word used in Mt. 25:36 where Jesus says that “sick and you visited me.” Now, can you see the irony of the passage? Here is this nation of people, the Jews of Israel, suffering under oppression and bondage of Rome, praying for, asking for, pleading for God to send the Messiah to deliver them…and completely missing His coming!

b. Illust: THE MAN ON THE ROOF: A man was trapped on his rooftop by the rising waters of a flood. A fellow came over in a rowboat and called to the man, “Hop into my boat! I’ll save you!”The stranded man refused, saying, “No – God will save me!”The water rose to the man’s knees, and along came a rescuer in a motorboat. “Get in my boat! I’ll save you!” cried the boater. “No!” the man on the roof replied. “God will save me!”Soon after, the water was up to the man’s chest. Now came a helicopter with a sling suspended from it. “Grab onto the sling!” called the pilot. “I’ll pull you up and save you!”As the man called, “No, God will save me!” a wave swept him off the roof and he drowned. As he entered into heaven, God greeted him, saying, “Welcome to heaven! Glad to see you! Before I show you around and introduce you to some of the angels, do you have any questions?”“Well, yes Sir, as a matter of fact I do have one question.” the man replied. “There I was, stranded on my roof, with flood waters rising all around me! Why didn’t you save me?”“Well!” replied God. “I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What more did you want?” He missed what was right in front of him. So did ancient Israel. So do we today.

2. The Distractions of Daily Life Forced the People to Miss out on Christ’ Purpose.

a. Jesus is not implying that the people of Jerusalem did not know His purposes. These people were, in fact, looking for the KOG, and Jesus had already told them that the KOG was in their presence (Lk. 17:20-21). They knew His claims as the Son of God. They had witnessed His miracle working power. Yet, there was one significant reason why they could NOT see Christ’s purpose in coming, and unfortunately, it is the same cause of affliction in our own day: They had their eyes on their immediate condition and could not get their focus off of their current circumstances. (Anyone know someone who is so caught up with the problems and concerns of life fail to look to the Creator and Sustainer of Life for help?