Introduction:
A little boy was sick on Palm
Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from
church holding a palm branch. The
little boy was curious and asked, "Why do you have that palm branch,
dad?" "You see, when
Jesus came into town, everyone waved Palm Branches to honor him, so we got Palm
Branches today." The little
boy replied, " Aw Shucks! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus
shows up!"
Well this boy may have felt terrible
for missing church on Palm Sunday, but what could we say about a whole city of
people missing the arrival of a King who entered the city on a rather odd
looking, and most unusual carrier? The story of Palm Sunday was about the entry
of the King of Kings, God’s chosen ruler of the whole world into
Jerusalem. Was it a logistical nightmare? Why did he come into town? What was
the mode of his transportation? How could the crowd and the city officials miss
it all? The gospel writer Luke gives a detailed account of Jesus’ royal entry into
Jerusalem, in the midst of fanfare and a hostile environment. I title this
message: THE STORY OF PALM SUNDAY. Let’s look at what happened on Palm Sunday.
I. JESUS COMES TO JERUSALEM (28-29)
Last week we looked at Jesus’ intentional,
yet deliberate journey towards Jerusalem. In Luke 18:31-33 Jesus took the
twelve aside and made his intentions clear to them, “We are going up to
Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man
will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock
him, insult him, and spit on him. They will flog him and kill him. On the third
day, he will rise again.” Jesus explained to his close
disciples about the nature of his death and resurrection as it was written by
the prophets yet his own disciples did not understand the plan.
Even
today God is speaking His truth through the Bible times, and through the
sermons you hear on Sunday or from other sources yet just like the disciples we
too lack understanding. On this Palm Sunday and during the Holy week; let’s ask
God for understanding and clarity of his message. We learned last week that the
primary reason for his trip from heaven to earth was to seek and save the lost that
is you and I, and restore us back to the father.
Why
did Jesus come to Jerusalem? It was to be mocked, insulted, spit upon, flogged,
crucified and rise again on the third day. The manner in which he entered
Jerusalem this time was not a coincidence but was a fulfillment of the prophecy,
prophesied by prophet Zachariah in 536 B.C.
What was the prophecy? How was it fulfilled? What is its significance today?
II. THE
PROPHECY FULFILLED. (30-36)
In
536 B.C two prophets named Zechariah and Haggai both were preaching to the
first generation after the return to Judah from the Babylonian exile. The first
eight chapters deal with the remnant repenting, the judgment on Israel’s
enemies and the restoration of the nation of Judah. Chapters 9-14 deal
exclusively with the future beyond Zachariah’s days. Keeping that futuristic
view in mind, let’s read the prophecy. Zechariah 9: 9-10, “Rejoice greatly, O
daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your
king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with
salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of
a donkey.” Vs 9 of this prophecy has been fulfilled when Jesus made his entry
into Jerusalem.
Jesus
couldn’t have picked any other moment to make this spectacular entry. The city
of Jerusalem was bustling with crowds because of the Passover feast. Families
from all over came to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Jesus along with his
disciples too came to Jerusalem to celebrate. He sent out two disciples to a nearby
village with instructions to bring him a donkey.
The disciples went and found a donkey exactly as
Jesus described. As they were untying the donkey the owner (literally “lords”)
asked why are you untying the donkey and the disciples said, “The Lord has need of it” that’s it; no
more questions were asked, the disciples brought the donkey to Jesus. What can
we learn from this incident? Four things: First; the Lord needs some thing or
some one to accomplish his purpose. Secondly; as Christ needed a donkey to
communicate a message concerning his kingdom to the people of Jerusalem today
he needs you and me to communicate the gospel message to the people of our town.
Thirdly; God doesn’t necessarily use impressive
people to spread the message but often uses the humble. Fourthly; when God
needs some body, and want to use him or her for his purposes those of us who
have a so-called claim on them or lord over them need to learn to release them for
God’s purposes. Coming back to our text in the midst of jubilation Jesus made
his entry on a donkey. Imagine, the King of the universe! Riding on a donkey?
That sounds rather strange, isn’t it? The sight of Jesus riding on a donkey
sure must have sent shock waves to some but to those who had eyes to see, they
were given much needed hope and assurance.
Why did Jesus choose a donkey as his mode of transportation
why not a powerful horse ridden Chariot? Here are a few reasons for the usage
of the donkey. Firstly, in Palestine the donkey has always played a much more
important role than in the western world. It was the universal saddle of the
east. Consider the following scriptures: Abraham a very wealthy man frequently
used donkey. Genesis 22:3, “Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded
his donkey…When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering he set out to the
place God had told him about.” Secondly, in the book of Judges, we find that
riding a donkey is mentioned as actually a mark of high rank. Judges 12:13-14,
“Pirathon, led Israel. He had 40 sons, and 30 grandsons, they rode on seventy
donkeys.”
Thirdly, a young, donkey the mode of Jesus’
transportation was perhaps even more symbolic for the crowds gathered then,
than what the president’s “Air Force One” is for us today. By riding into
Jerusalem on a humble donkey, Jesus reminded the crowds of a 500-year-old
prophecy. “Behold your king is coming to you, your king He is Just and endowed
with salvation, Humble and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a
donkey.”
By using a donkey as his mode of transportation,
Jesus sent several implicit messages. They are: He was indeed the King, and the
messiah as was prophesied by Zechariah. He was rich in love, mercy and
forgiveness. He has come into the world to save people from their sin. He was
humble and righteous, unlike the then proud kings and unjust rulers. Jesus’ unassuming arrival
without any pomp and military power must have sent mixed reactions in the
crowd. While the Pharisees, scribes and teachers were offended and disgruntled
by the shouting of crowds, but Jesus’ disciples were jubilant and filled with
hope. It was a victory for the followers of Jesus.
III.
CELEBRATION ALL THE WAY: (Vs 37-38)
The
ordinary folk, the farmers, many of these people probably wouldn’t have passed
a Secret Service screening, but they nonetheless lined the road for the
approaching donkey-cade, were simply delighted with joy. As Jesus entered
through the gates, the crowds went out of their way, some took off their cloaks
(outer garments), John writes in John 12:13, “great multitude, took the
branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet Him.”
Not a few, but a great
multitude of the disciples came out to see King Jesus. The young, the old and
little children began to praise God joyfully, saying, Vs 37-38“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Throughout his
ministry wherever Jesus went crowds followed him. However, Jesus was not impressed,
by crowds he knew their hearts so he wouldn’t entrust himself to anyone easily.
But this time it looks
like the multitudes of his disciples got it right; really? They saw Him as
their future King, perhaps thinking that he would save them from the tyranny of
the Roman Empire. While the crowds and the disciples seemed to have gotten the
message, the Pharisees and the rest of the city missed it. How could they so badly miss it?
IV. A MISSED OPPORTUNITY. (39-44)
One would wonder how in
the world the Pharisees and the rest of the city missed a clear sign of the
entry of the messiah? Was it shear ignorance or was it a plain refusal to
accept Jesus was indeed the messiah prophesied long ago by prophet Zechariah? We need to look back to what happened, a few
days prior to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This was what he said out
of vexation of it’s constant refusal, we read in Luke 13:34-35, “O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I
have longed, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not
willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.”
Now again, for the
second time, Jesus rebukes all those who have missed those clear signs of the
prophet Zechariah. Luke 19:41-44, “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the
city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things
which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the
days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against
you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to
the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one
stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
What a tragic situation! Sadly, many on the first
Palm Sunday missed the glorious visitation of our Lord. Though they were very
familiar with scriptures, yet could not accept the truth literally walking in
front of them. Wait a minute, let’s not be too critical of all those who have
missed the boat. What happened to the city of Jerusalem could happen to anyone
of us.
It is possible that you and I too can miss the day of
the visitation of the Lord. Jesus still weeps over every soul that refuses to
accept him as their Lord and savior. On this Palm Sunday let’s take a pause and
see where you might fit in the story. There were several characters in the
story: The donkey, the disciples, the crowds, the Pharisees, the whole city of
Jerusalem and our Lord the Messiah. I was like the donkey which was tied up,
staying very close to my mom and dad, safely at home. The Lord saw something in
me, he sent his Holy Spirit, saved me and set me free so that I can be used for
his purposes. But I was to let go off by my parents, especially by my mother,
otherwise I wouldn’t be here today.
In closing, let me ask you a question? Which one of
the characters in the story do you see yourself in? If you see yourself as a
donkey, the crowds, the disciples then you have hope. But if you see yourself
as the Pharisees and the rest of the city in Jerusalem who knew the truth yet
refused to accept the truth, then I pity you. If Jesus were to arrive at Hope
Church today, what will be our response, will we gladly receive Him and worship
Him? Or refuse to accept him and miss a wonderful opportunity? My prayer is
that none of us will miss the day of the visitation of our Lord. Amen
