April 17, 2011

On Palm Sunday in Jerusalem Christians mark Jesus’ entrance into the Holy City.  The Catholics, the Orthodox, the Anglicans and other Christian groups will stage various processions into Jerusalem to commemorate this significant day in the Christian year.  In addition to the 145,000 Christians already living there, another 100,000 Christian tourists will join the throng.  Palm branches will be waved.  Palm leaves will be folded into crosses for people to keep as souvenirs. It’s a big day for Christians in Jerusalem.  But what does it mean?  That’s the most important question.  Today we are looking at Matthews account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Was he presenting himself as King?  He most certainly was, for that is what he is.  And the question that I want to ask is this, Is Jesus Christ the King of your life?

Of all the events of Jesus’ life, Palm Sunday has often seemed to me to be forced or even staged. I don’t say this because I have any sort of liberal bias.  As you know I’m quite conservative and hold to the full inspiration and authority of Scripture.  It’s just that, in the past I have had a difficult time seeing how the events of Palm Sunday came about.  But when we look at all four gospels, it does help to give a context for Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem.  In the Gospels there is a very clear turning point when Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem.  In John’s gospel we see this move towards Jerusalem in conjunction with the death of Lazarus.  There are a number of things that come together to set up the events of Palm Sunday.

For one thing it was time for the Feast of Passover.  Many pilgrims were traveling to Jerusalem.  Think about the fact that Jesus had quite a reputation up in the region of Galilee.  Many of the pilgrims would have firsthand knowledge of the teachings and miracles of Jesus.  They knew that God was with Jesus in a special way.  Then, of course, there was the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  Lazarus was wealthy and, no doubt, prominent.  Since Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, news of his death and resurrection traveled quickly and quite a few people came out towards Bethany.  According to one New Testament scholar, another factor is that messianic fervor was high.  The oppression of Rome combined with the reputation of Jesus started people wondering if maybe Jesus was the Messiah.  So we can see how the events of Palm Sunday came together.

But having said this, it is also important to observe what Jesus did in these verses.  As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t think Jesus read through the Old Testament and then said, “Okay, let’s see, I’ve got to do this and that, and this, just so I fulfill the Old Testament prophecies.” Rather my sense is that Jesus’ mindset and character was such that just by being himself, he fulfilled the prophecies.  Did he know he was fulfilling prophecy?  I think so.  In Lk.18:31 we read, “Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.”   My point is that I think the prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus in a natural way that flowed out of his life.  Jesus saw the way events were shaping up.  He knew he was going to Jerusalem to die.  He wanted to present himself in a way that is in keeping with the plan and character of God.  So he arranges for a donkey and her colt to be brought to him, and later his disciples saw the connection with Old Testament prophecy.  This is why Matthew writes, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet.”

Jesus intentionally presented himself in a certain way. The quotation from the Old Testament comes from two places.  It comes from Is.62:11 and Zech.9:9.  In Is.62:11 we read, “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ’See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.” Then in Zech.9:9 we read, “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.” What does this have to do with Palm Sunday?  It has all to do with the purpose of Jesus’ ministry.  Jesus, the Messiah came in peace.  In Lk.19:41-42 we read, “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace“but now it is hidden from your eyes.” Jesus came to bring peace.  What kind of peace? Well, first and foremost, peace with God, through the forgiveness of our sins.

So here is Jesus, the King, riding into his capital city, Jerusalem, not on a war horse, but on a beast of burden, the colt of a donkey.  By the way, Jesus still comes in peace.  He does not barrel his way into anyone’s life.  He is the Savior.  He took the guilt of our sins upon himself.  He paid the penalty of our sins by dying on the cross.  He offers himself to all who will come to him in faith for salvation and eternal life.  Don’t miss the clear message Jesus is sending, for while he comes in peace now, a time is coming when he will come again in judgment.  And if you have not received him while the opportunity is yours, you will be judged and condemned because you are still in your sins.

II. CONSIDER THE WELCOME OF JESUS THE KING. Mt.21:8-9

How did the people receive Jesus?  Well, it certainly appears that they welcomed him with open arms.  And it seems pretty clear that they received him as the Messiah.

For one thing, we see that many spread their cloaks on the road.  In doing this they were acknowledging Jesus’ kingship.  In 2Kings 9:12, when Jehu was anointed king over Israel, we read, “They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!” We also read that they cut palm branches and spread them on the road.  Interestingly enough, we read something similar in the apocryphal book of 1Macc.13:51.  It says, “On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred and seventy-first year, the Jews entered it with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel.” The palm branches seemed to be used in celebrations of national victory.

So clearly they are giving Jesus the royal treatment.  They are welcoming him as a king. But it’s also important to hear what they are shouting.  Originally Hosanna was a cry for help.  It means, “Save!” By Jesus’ day it had become an invocation of blessing and acclamation.  The phrase, “Son of David” was strongly messianic.  In 2Samuel 7:12-13, God makes a promise to David.  It says, “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever/ The Messiah was the son of David who would reign forever.  And again, v.5 quotes from Zechariah, referring to the messianic King who was to come.  The people praised God for sending the Messiah, their long awaited King.

Did the people get it right?  Yeah, they did, for the most part.  They connected Jesus with some of the right scriptures.  They linked Jesus with the promises of God in their Scriptures.  Yet they also got it wrong.  I am often struck by Jesus’ words in Jn.5:39-40.  He is speaking with the Jewish religious leaders and he says, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” You can do a lot of Bible study and miss Jesus.  Most of the people of Jesus’ day were anticipating a messiah who would overthrow the Roman oppressors and reestablish the Jewish kingdom.  The people were thinking in terms of a kingdom of this world, but Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world.  Jesus did not come to overthrow Rome.  He came to overthrow the power of sin and Satan.  He didn’t come to sit on a throne in Israel.  He came to sit on the throne of heaven as King of kings and Lord or lords.

I don’t know how much you know about Jesus.  I do know that one can have knowledge about Jesus and still go to Hell.  There are people who even think highly of Jesus, but they never turn to him as their Lord and Savior.  What about you?

III. CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF JESUS THE KING. Mt.21:10-11

As Jesus reaches Jerusalem we read that the city was stirred.  How interesting to see the effect Jesus has on the city.  When Jesus was born you remember that in Mt.2:3 Herod was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  Now, less than a week before Jesus’ death, as he comes to his city, the people of the city are stirred up.

The question on everyone’s mind was, “Who is this?” That’s always a good question to ask in regard to Jesus.  Now Jesus had been to Jerusalem a number of times.  Surely, many people had heard about Jesus.  But you know how it is in a city.  You find all kinds of people in the city.  Everybody finds their circle of friends.  City people don’t pay all that much attention to those outside their own circle or those from rural areas. So, yeah, “Who is this?” This question is sort of like the question we find in Mt.8:27, when Jesus calmed the Sea of Galilee.  The disciples in the boat asked, “What kind of man is this?” They knew Jesus, but then again, they didn’t really know him.  The people of Jerusalem knew of Jesus, but they didn’t really know him.  Who is this?

Some people, perhaps pilgrims from Galilee, said, “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” That sounds about right.  Do you remember in Mt.6:13 when Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Verse 14 reads, “They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus is one of the prophets; someone to hold in high esteem.  And yet, surely this question is deeper.  Who is this and what possible significance does this person have for me? This is really the most important question.  It’s like being on the tennis team.  You play at the number 2 slot and then someone new joins the team.  Suddenly things are up for grabs. You wonder to yourself, “Who is this?  What does this mean for me?  Will this guy bump me from my spot?” You try to size him up.  Well, the people of Jerusalem were wondering what significance Jesus might have for them.  Was he here to stage a coup?  Would there be unrest in the streets?  What is he going to do, and how will if effect me?

They didn’t pay attention to the donkey. The symbol didn’t register. Jesus was, indeed, coming to bring significant changes in the lives of those who would embrace him by faith and follow him in all of life. In Jesus’ day, no one but Jesus and his disciples knew that in less than a week, Jesus would be crucified on a cross.  No one except Jesus knew that he would rise from the dead.  Two thousand years later, we know all about it.  And yet, many still wonder, “Who is this.” If Jesus is who he claimed to be, the “Son of God,” if Jesus is God’s appointed king, the question is, do you know him and have you surrendered your life to his rule.  This is the most significant implication for us.  Is Jesus the Savior and Lord of your life? If he’s your king, then you will seek to obey him in everything.

When I was about 8 years old I lived in Allentown, PA.  I remember running down the block to Tillman Street.  The Vice President was riding in a convertible.  Richard Nixon.  He was running for President against John F. Kennedy.  The street was lined with people smiling and waving.  The crowed was stirred up.  Who is this? What is the significance of this man for us?  Months later they would be voting to entrust the country into the hands of a new president.  Well, Jesus continues to ride in peace, offering himself to any who will have him as their Savior and Lord.  What about you?