Retrun Of The King: Palm Sunday Series

Palm Sunday:

4/5 The Return of the King

INTRODUCTION

In 1976 upstart Burger King began designed a new ad campaign hoping to push there sales higher in an effort to knock of industry leader McDonalds. With their campaign a new slogan quickly was embraced as the spirit of independent Americans.

Watch this video. (Burger King Comericial)

Have it your way has become an unofficial amendment to the American Bill of Rights. We want it our way and actually we also want it now.

Nearly 2000 years ago a group of people lined the streets of Jerusalem as a Carpenter’s son arrived for Passover. Though the waves braches in the air and praised his coming, everyone had their own ideas of who he was and what he should do. They all wanted Jesus, but they wanted him their way.

Let’s look at one of those passages together.

Turn with me to Mark 11:4-10

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

"Hosanna!"

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"

"Hosanna in the highest!"

TRULY CELEBRATING PALM SUNDAY MEANS ACCEPTING WE CAN’T HAVE IT OUR WAY.

One of the things I really love about Holy week is the truth that Jesus refused to be forced into other peoples ideas of who he should be. That is so rare. Most of us are molded by what other people want us to be. But not Jesus.

He doesn’t let people have it their way when it comes to relating to him. Let’s explore that this morning.

I. Having it our way with Jesus implies we get to define His Role in our Lives.

On that day numerous individuals were lining the streets each seeking to force Jesus to fit their idea of who he should be.

A. Teacher

Some had heard him on the seas shore, some had hear him talk about loving your enemies, practicing forgiveness and loved to listen to him. They loved his wisdom. And as long as he was just a teacher they could accept him. For Jesus teaching wasn’t enough.

Even today the most common way people try to force Jesus to fit into "their way" is to say he was a good teacher, he was moral, he taught tolerance and love. I can accept him as a teacher.

B. Conformist

The Scribes, Pharisees and other religious leaders all wanted Jesus to conform to their ides of how he should act, what he should teach what he should do. They had had numerous discussion with him. Each hoping that he was going to conform to their religious ideas and views. Jesus wouldn’t.

Today people still want Jesus to conform to their ideas and their life style. They desire to dictate to him what he should do, what he should approve of what he should be. They want him to be a conformist to their ideas of who he should be. He won’t

C. Revolutionist

The Zealots were excited to see Jesus as he arrived in Jerusalem. They long to see him over throw all those who opposed them. They wanted Roman occupation to end. They envisioned Jesus as the head of a mighty army that usurp power form their oppressors and bring about the Kingdom of God. Jesus Wasn’t

Today there are many that want Jesus to be their leader supporting their opposition to the government and culture. They want to see him force himself upon other so their causes would be enacted in congress. He won’t

D. Disciplinarian

Some in the crowd on that day longed to see Jesus rebuke the sinners and condemn the unrighteous. They longed to see him dole out punishment upon the guilty, upon the immoral, upon those whose lifestyles were impure. He didn’t.

Some today want him to do similar things, to Judge some harshly because of their egregious sins, their immoral acts, past failures. He still won’t.

E. Wonder Worker

Some in the crowd that day showed up believing he was the wonderworker, the feeder of five thousand, the healer of the infirm. They long for the next trick the next wonder he would perform. Would they benefit from it? What would be their blessing for showing up.

He wasn’t to be their genie in a bottle.