The Day Of Visitation (Palm Sunday 2019)

THE DAY OF VISITATION

Text: Luke 19:28-44

In his book Strengthening Your Grip, Charles Swindoll made an interesting observation that is probably not so easily perceived very often---the difference between discipleship and prophecy. He said,"Christians all around the world will line up to listen to somebody talk on prophecy. Our curiosity knows no future bounds when it comes to future events. But instruction on discipleship---on giving up my goals and desires if God so leads---well that will empty the room fast!" (New York: Bantam Books, 1986, p. 94). It is sad to say, but his observation is correct. Why? Swindoll's answers were that we have "hang ups" in 1) personal relationships (Luke 14:26), 2) personal goals and desires and 3) on personal possessions (Luke 14:33), (pp. 92 -98). Jesus was telling the people that there was both something futuristic and contemporary in His message.

The display that they gave Jesus in His triumphal entry proved to be superficial over the next few days. They praised Him at the beginning of the week and voted for His crucifixion on Friday of that same week.

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace even before He began His earthly ministry. When we look at the teachings of Jesus we can see His ways of peace.

> Love your enemies and pray for them

> Turn the other cheek

> Go the extra mile

> Forgive as God forgives you

> Love your neighbor as you love yourself

> Love God with all of your heart and soul

> Be a good Samaritan

All of these things involved humility. They were also principles that were designed to bring forth an inward change in the hearts of humanity so that they were evident in our discipleship in our witness by our actions. Jesus was teaching us to do the things that makes for man’s highest good which in Hebrew is the definition of shalom. Shalom in English means peace. Jesus was teaching and modeling the way of peace.

As Jesus began His ministry, He began to establish a kingdom of peace. His ministry was also a ministry that was often misunderstood. The people in the crowd that day on Palm Sunday saw Jesus as a hero, a leader, a catalyst for change. They saw Jesus as someone who would overthrow the system. They saw Jesus as the one who would make things happen. Indeed, Jesus did make things happen. But, His method of change was not the same as their expectation.

The expectations of the people in the crowd was delusional. A delusion is something that is false such as a belief or opinion.

There is a story that I once read when I was in my freshman year of college. There was a man in a mental institution that had the delusion that he was dead. His counselor got sick of the ongoing routine of this man's delusion. "Eureka," he thought to himself of the solution to cure this patient of his delusion after several failing attempts. He thought that he would prick the finger of this delusional patient and prove to him that he was alive. During his next session with this patient, he pricked his finger in much the same way they do in the field of medicine when they need a small sample of blood for the purpose of running tests. After he pricked the finger of this patient, he thought he might possibly be cured of his delusion as he exclaimed something like "look at there, you are not dead because you can still bleed". To his surprise, the patient responded, "That only proves that dead people can bleed." It is sad that there are many who cannot be cured of the delusions of false beliefs or opinions any more than this man.

Incarnate, Jesus came to establish God’s kingdom here on earth. Jesus came to bring order out of chaos. They thought He came to lead a mob. It was as if Jesus came flying in a shuttle flight, when they expected a fighter plane. They anticipated combat. Jesus came to bring peace. They wanted a conquest. Jesus came to bring reconciliation. They wanted to retaliate and destroy their enemies. Jesus came teaching, turn the other cheek, love you enemies and pray for them. They wanted a physical kingdom. Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom that would tear down their walls and build bridges.

Before there can be peace without, there must first be peace within which begins in the heart. Jesus came not only to make peace and good will possible between men and God, men between men, but also the kind of peace between each individual and how we are sometimes at war with ourselves. Jesus knew that we live based upon how we feel in our hearts between God, others and ourselves. Jesus knew forgiveness and reconciliation made necessary changes possible.