Today is Palm Sunday, the week before Easter when we look at Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem as He begins His final week of ministry on earth. This was a time when people celebrated His arrival by placing robes and branches – most likely palm branches – in the road as a symbol of His kingship. It’s called the “Triumphant Entry” because Jesus is coming as King, although how He will triumph is different than the people thought it would be. He would be the victor through His coming death and resurrection.
So let us read the Gospel of Luke, “When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mountain that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent left and found it just as He had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and they threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. Now as He was going, they were spreading their cloaks on the road. And as soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “Blessed is the King, the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
So we have a good picture of whats happening here. And remember, during that time, palm branches were placed in his path before his arrest on Holy Thursday and his crucifixion on Good Friday.
Up to this point in Christs’ ministry, a lot has happened. Jesus performed many miracles and his words were heard and spread through the region that literally changed lives; many of the leaders are squirming in their seats to hopefully catch him off guard to potentially kill him, partially because of the power he has that the leaders could never obtained; but yet, Jesus is coming to the point of the city where he is more than welcomed, he is exemplified!
Scripture tells us that the people who is witnessing the grand event remember the words of the Prophet Zechariah, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion. Sing aloud, Daughter Jerusalem. Look, your King will come to you. He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and riding on a donkey.”
Even though this particular verse does not appear in the Gospel of Luke, as it does in the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of John, surely its behind Luke’s narrative of the event.
And I can just imagine how the disciples, are standing with Jesus at this point, and they can just hear the words of God glissen from the psalms, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord!”
Now it is true, there where some people that did not really have an idea who Jesus was, except from word of mouth about being a miracle worker, and even a risen prophet of old. But regardless of the view points, Jesus brought something to these people that no one else can do, even today! Hope! And it is this Hope I speak to you today on this Palm Sunday!
To have Hope, one must have the mechanism of Faith in their life. And to have Faith, one must do something that no one else can do for us, and that’s to accept things of God by means of the Holy Spirit. The everlasting strength that surpasses all understanding.
To go even further with this, the people saw Jesus as the Hope of the world. Why? Partly because scripture proclaimed his coming, but mainly because he was Emmanuel ‘God with us!’ The people of the day knew a hoax preacher versus a genuine believer. They have seen many false prophets come and go, so it wasn’t that abnormal to have a proclaiming dictionary walking around the neighborhood, spilling out fancy words and performing some really interesting actions to help lead people to their direction. Jesus was different! There was something about Jesus that drawed these people to him. Yes it was by Gods design and direction, but what everyone wanted then as we do today at our fast paced world! We want it now! That is what the people was screaming. Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna, Hosanna, which means “Save Us Now.”
They wanted it, and Jesus, time and time again delivered, without any reservations. He broke the molds of sin in peoples lives by eating and conversing with deep in debt sinners of all kinds; healing diseases that our Center for Disease Control would out right ban any contact with; gave instructions and direction to high level officials and caressed and welcomed the most humblest child into his arms. Jesus was all over the place in the lives of so many!
Yet, here he was, riding on a donkey, one of the most under privileged animals a person could have. And the donkey, was no soldiers steed. The colt or donkey was maybe young and still wild and unbroken. Perhaps it has ever been road before.
And it is this triumphant entry into the great city of God, Jerusalem, do we find even the Greeks, gentiles, wanting to see Jesus even while riding this donkey or colt. Some proclaim him King or Lord, but there was some misunderstanding like I mentioned earlier, that some did not recognize who Jesus really was. Like what one Pastor said, “Those present reminded me of Acts chapter 19, some shouted one thing, others shouted another thing, and most didn’t have the foggiest idea what they were doing there in the first place.”
When Jesus marches amongst us in our lives, whether in Jerusalem or right here at Memorial, there is joy, there is hopefulness, there is strength and power; and there is also misunderstanding and even rejection, even in the house of God. And if you think about it carefully, when we read about Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, these same people that welcome him in, will also in just a few short days, turn directly against him. It could be because Jesus fail to live up to their expectations. Such is true with the saducees and pharasees, as their stronghold on the people of Israel was being threatened; and even they whom had access to scripture, denied the prophecies of the messiah coming to them by way of a manger.
With the proclaiming entry into Jerusalem, I can also just imagine what the disciples may have thought to themselves, “When are we at last going to go up to Jerusalem and seize power, run out the Romans, setup a new King of David government, one where you will be enthroned with honor and glory? When are we going to Jerusalem? Can’t wait.”
I do believe, that was many peoples expectations! And yet, others thought more prudent and fearful ideas like, “How can this man on a donkey even think about taking on the largest military force on earth; roman authorities and even the leaders of the church already wanted this man dead and his disciples to be thrown into prison, its too dangerous to put our hope into such a man.” And I’m sure there was many other thoughts!
Funny though! Jesus disciples praised him, but by the end of the week, they will learn what they think they knew of Jesus needed to be reconfigured! At their best, they try to obey Jesus and do as he tells them, but they don’t really have a deep understanding of just what is happening right before their eyes! I can only imagine the emotions and feelings they are experiencing walking with Jesus on the donkey, into the same city that will ultimately crucify him.
Today is a very special day in knowing who Christ is in our lives, and in reading and knowing how God interacted with his people. I want you to notice a specific point this palm Sunday. Not the reactions of lack of reactions among the disciples, the crowd and even biblical scholars. The main thing is God’s reaction to them and to us in the arrival of Jesus.
In the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem, no body comes to Jesus; he comes to them. To the praising people, the scornful, to the misunderstood and confused, the joyous and mocked and even those that don’t know what to think. He came to all of them, including us today.
He parades in our world in so many unexpected ways; he is the worker behind the scenes. God doesn’t wait for your response to him, he is already at your door knocking to come in.
The good news about Palm Sunday friends, God has turned towards us, even when we are the most wretched, most sinful, most undesirable people on earth. Like a game of chess, Christ makes the first move to save us now, ‘Hosanna in the highest.’
Some of us people on earth are confused about who Jesus is, who he was and even what he can do for us, but I want you to rest reassured my friends, listen to these words! Rejoice and be glad! God has come! Jesus has come! And he will always come to us, when we call upon his name! Hallelujah! We are forgiven, we are redeemed, and we all are his adopted children, even when we are at the weakest point in our lives.
And I want to close with these final thoughts. When it comes to knowing who God is in our lives, think about this statement found in Gospel of Luke 19:39, “And yet some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, Teacher, rebuke Your disciples! Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!”
Think about that for a moment! God so desires a relationship with us, the God of all creation, the God of miracles, the God of our lives, that even if people will not praise and worship God, the Rocks and the Trees will! Gods desire is for you and me. Every single day. When we call on the Lord, he will answer, and he will deliver. Maybe not in our timing, and sometimes the answer is no, but our best interests is always on his mind.
What wonderful day, Palm Sunday, for us to remember the entry of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. In addition to allow Jesus to enter into your life. Allow him to use your unused talents. Allow him to use your resources and redeem them from misuse. Allow Jesus to reuse your places, blessings, talents and everything for him. And always remember, let go, and let God reign as Lord and Master in your life. Amen