LET YOUR KINGDOM COME!
Many Christians in the World observe
Palm Sunday with joy and anticipation. Christians in the East decorate their
Churches with Palm branches and conduct jubilant marches in the streets
depicting the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. What is the
significance of Palm Sunday? Is it the Palm branches and clothes people spread
on the road? Is it the donkey? Or the people shouting Hosanna, Hosanna? Or the
city marveling at Jesus saying, “Who is this?” What is Palm Sunday’s message
for the 21st-century Church-going believer?
I.
Palm Sunday shows that God Keeps His Promises.
There is a definite purpose behind
Palm Sunday. It is documented in
all four Gospel accounts (referred to by biblical scholars as “The Harmony of
the Gospels”) as recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, and
John 12:12-18. Each narrative highlights different details; for example, Ann
Coble points out that only John 12:13 mentions palm branches.[1]
God promised a Messianic King would come and establish His eternal Kingdom. Daniel prophesied in 606 B.C about a
divine Kingdom that God would set up, which will never be destroyed. It will
crush and put an end to all other kingdoms, but it will endure forever. (Daniel
2:44). Daniel saw a distinct image of the King of God’s eternal Kingdom.
“I
looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming
with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into
his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations
and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting
dominion that will not pass away, and his Kingdom is one that will never be
destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14). God’s people have been waiting for this prophecy
to be fulfilled. Who is this Son of Man, and when will He come, and how will we
know?
In
536 B.C, prophet Zechariah gave a sign for God’s people to look for. Zech
9:9, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and
riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Hundreds
of years later, when Matthew saw Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey,
he said, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say
to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Matt 21:4-5). Palm Sunday reminds us that
God is a promise-keeping God. How did the crowds and the religious leaders
respond to seeing this rare sight of Jesus riding on a donkey?
II. Palm Sunday Ushered in God’s Eternal
Kingdom.
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, he sent two
of his disciples ahead of them to a nearby village with specific instructions.
He said, “You will find a donkey with her colt. Untie them both, and if anyone
asks, say, the Lord needs them.” Why did Jesus specifically need a donkey
instead of a horse? Firstly, Zechariah prophesied the future King of Israel
would come riding on a donkey, not a horse. Secondly, to usher in God’s eternal
Kingdom.
Thirdly,
by riding on a donkey, Jesus exhibited the nature and the purpose of God’s
Kingdom. The symbolism of the donkey may refer to the
Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, unlike the horse, which is the
animal of war. A king would have ridden a horse when he was bent on war and
ridden a donkey to symbolize his arrival in peace. Christ’s entry to Jerusalem
would have thus symbolized his entry as the Prince of Peace, not a war-waging king.
Jesus
said when Pilot asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus said, “My Kingdom
is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest
by the Jewish leaders. But now my Kingdom is from another place.” John 18:36. By saying these
words, Jesus disappointed Jews who looked for a king who would set them free from the tyranny of the Roman
Empire. Jesus’ Kingdom was different, and so were his methods of deliverance.
Jesus, who was humble and gentle at
heart, needed a donkey, an animal of peace as He ushered in God’s eternal Kingdom.
Even today, Jesus needs donkeys, not arrogant and proud horses, to advance His
Kingdom. God’s children are to be like those peaceful donkeys. Jesus needs all His
followers to spread the message of His Kingdom.
Many
on Palm Sunday spread their cloaks while others spread branches and shouted,
saying, Vs. 9-10, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our Father David! Hosanna in the highest
heaven!”
The
Hebrew word Hosanna means “save.”Whether or not the crowd realizes what is
going on, their words are filled with great significance as they joyfully
announce the coming Kingdom of David (Mk 11:9–10; Ps 118:25–26). The chorus of
voices from the crowd heightens this expectancy as Mark pictures Jesus as the
long-awaited Messiah being greeted by the people of the city. The readers of
Mark already expect the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God.
In
one sense, the Kingdom of God has already come with the birth of Christ, and
more prominently, this triumphal entry into Jerusalem has fulfilled the
prophecy of Zachariah. Alluding to this fact, Jesus responded to the Pharisees’
question, “When the Kingdom of God would come? He replied, “The coming of the
kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say,
‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of God is in your midst. Or
“Among You.”NLT (Luke 17:20-21).
Jesus
was telling the Pharisees that He brought the Kingdom of God to earth. Jesus’
presence in their midst gave them a taste of the kingdom life, as attested by
the miracles that Jesus performed. His miracles prove the Kingdom has come: “If
I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon
you” (Luke 11:20). The Kingdom of God is in your midst, indicating in the
person and presence of Jesus.
Palm
Sunday ushers in God’s eternal Kingdom as Jesus changes the hearts of men, one
at a time. For now, Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). One day,
however, the Kingdom of God will be manifested on the earth (Isaiah 35:1).
Jesus Christ will rule a physical kingdom from David’s throne (Isaiah 9:7) with
the New Jerusalem as His capital Rev 21. In the meantime what is the message of
Palm Sunday for us?
III. We Pray: Let Your Kingdom Come! We Work
For His Kingdom.
Palm Sunday shows that God follows through on his word,
promises, and prophecies, unlike fickle people. Therefore, we can totally trust
and rely upon this promise-making and keeping God. Palm Sunday ushered in God’s
eternal Kingdom through the triumphal entry of Jesus. Similarly, it has invaded
our lives through the powerful entry of Jesus into our hearts. What should be our responsibility as we live
in this world and await His eternal Kingdom? Our job is two-fold: One is to
pray the prayer of Jesus who taught us to pray, Our “Father in heaven, hallowed
be your name, your Kingdom come, you will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10. Your Kingdom come! It means, first and foremost, we are asking
God to rule and reign in our personal lives so that we might work for his
Kingdom.
Secondly,
we are praying, “Dear Lord, please open the hearts of my loved ones, friends,
co-workers, and neighbors to receive Your gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.”
God’s Kingdom will expand as more people turn to Christ for salvation. They
enter the Kingdom when they come to know the crucified King of that Kingdom.
People need the gospel.
Thirdly,
When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” we ask God to shine His light into the world
so that others may respond to Him with awe and reverence (John 1:1–15).
Fourthly, we pray and actively participate in His Kingdom through acts of
kindness and love so that many will enter God’s Kingdom and worship the King of
Kings and the Lord of Lords.
