A THREE-WAY KING
What can we learn about Palm
Sunday from a five-year-old? If you've ever asked a small child what they
learned in church that day, you know you might get a profound theological
truth, a funny story, or both. A christian blogger couple shares a funny story
about their five-year-old son. "On
Palm Sunday, we did the normal "So, what did you learn today?"
parental questioning. He was carrying a small branch, so we expected to hear
about Jesus riding on a donkey and people waving palm branches. Instead, our
son said, "We learned not to poke anyone in the eye." We smiled and
even chuckled a little."[1]
I wish some grown-ups would learn this lesson as well.
It was Palm Sunday, but 5-year-old
Annie stayed home from church with her mother because of a sore throat. When
the rest of the family returned home, they were carrying palm branches. Annie
asked them what they were for. "People held them over Jesus' head as he
rode by on a colt," her father explained. "Wouldn't you know
it," Annie fussed, "the one Sunday I'm sick, Jesus shows up and
offers pony rides! We can laugh at these jokes, but let me ask you these
questions? What comes to your mind when you read the story of Palm Sunday?
Do you think of the enthusiastic crowds waving Palm branches and shouting Hosanna? Or the poor and petrified donkey surrounded by the screaming crowds? Or about pony rides? What can we learn from the story of Palm Sunday? The original participants in this true story had missed it then. Even today, many Jewish people and world leaders, including Christ's followers, miss the essence of it. The story of Palm Sunday is all about a King and His Kingdom of a different kind. It was about"A Three-Way KinJohn 12:12-19
I. The backdrop of Palm Sunday: The timing of Palm Sunday couldn't have been any better—this actual event happened around one of the three most prominent Jewish festivals of Passover. Observing certain key elements before this Passover during Jesus' time is crucial to understanding the significance of Palm Sunday. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah, the festival of dedication, in Jerusalem. (John 10:22). The Jews asked Jesus to end their suspension of who He was by asking Him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus said, I told you, but you don't believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and they follow me. The Jews were offended and took up stones to stone him.
In John 12, we read about Jesus'
close friend Lazarus's death and his display of divine power in bringing him
back to life after being in the grave for four days. In this story, Jesus
addresses the unbelief of his close followers, friends, Jewish leaders, and the
crowds.
After seeing this miraculous sign,
many Jews believed in him, but some reported it to the Pharisees. Hearing that
report, the Pharisees convened a meeting to discuss their political and
economic fallout. The chief priest, Caiaphas, reasoned with them, reminding
them of his prophecy that "Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not
only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them
together and make them one. John 11:49-53.
Nothing persuaded the Jewish leaders from that day they plotted to kill Jesus. It was six days before the Passover. Many went up to Jerusalem for ceremonial cleansing. Pharisees and chief priests went up with an agenda to find and kill Jesus. Many Jews went to see Jesus and Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. Let's follow them to see whom they failed to see.
II. The Donkey: A Prophetic Sign of The Coming of the King.
One of the
prominent figures in Palm Sunday's story is a young donkey. We can have a great
theological discussion about why Jesus rode on a donkey instead of a horse. But
don't let the donkey distract us. The truth is that the donkey is a prophetic
sign of the Coming of the King. Amid the crowds carrying Palm branches and shouting,
Hosanna Jesus entered Jerusalem.
John
12:13-15 reads, "Hosanna! "Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!"
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: "Do not be
afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."
These verses give us the context connecting us to two ancient prophecies in Zechariah
9:9, Psalm 118:25-26.
Based
on these prophecies, what kind of a king were they looking for? Perhaps they
were looking for a military king who would ride in with his mighty army to
dethrone the Roman empire and establish a kingdom for Israel. The actual
prophecy of Zechariah gives us a different picture of a king who
doesn't fit the natural criteria of any earthly king. Let's read 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."
III. A Three-Way King
1.
A King of Righteousness.
Dictionaries define righteousness as
"morally justifiable or right behavior." Accepted standards of
morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness characterize such behavior. Could any
earthly ruler or King display such absolute righteous behavior? Where would
this righteous King come from? Isaiah prophesied that a "King will
reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness forever." Isaiah 9:8.
In Isaiah 30:1-20, we read about a futuristic righteous king
and his Kingdom. Vs. 1-2, "See, a king will reign in righteousness, and
rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind
and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow
of a great rock in a thirsty land." Vs. 16-17, the Lord's Justice will
dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of
that righteousness will be peace. His people will live in peaceful dwelling
places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest."
2. A
Victorious King:
The
people of Israel had always understood Zechariah's prophecy to refer to the
Messiah, to God's anointed King. When Jesus mounted a young donkey, he
presented himself as Israel's promised King. The people of Jerusalem recognized
this connection and shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Matthew
21:8. "Hosanna!" is not so much a word of praise as a prayer.
Originally, it comes from Psalm 118:25, where it is a cry for help:
"O Lord, save us." Its most basic meaning is "Save!" or
"Save us!" At first, the word pointed to a physical deliverance from
real enemies. Later, "save" developed a theological meaning. God is
concerned about our physical well-being, emotional status, and the salvation of
our souls.
God
can save us from anything that harms us. Therefore, waving their palms and
shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" the people cried out for
salvation from their victorious King. Many were looking for political
deliverance, but that is not the kind of victory Jesus came to win. He came to
give his life as an atonement for sin. The salvation he offers is deliverance
from sin, from death, and the eternal wrath of God. That is the ultimate
victory.
3. A
Gentle King: The
future King is righteous, victorious, and gentle. By now, we recognize that
this three-way King is no one else but Jesus himself. Several scriptures refer
to Jesus as the King. Rev 19:6, "On his robe and on his thigh, he has this
name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. It means that, in the end, all other
rulers will be conquered. He alone will reign supreme as King and Lord of all
the earth. No power, King, or lord can oppose His rule.
This sovereign King,
Jesus, invites all of us to follow his example. "Take my yoke upon you,
and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls." Matthew 11:29. On
this Palm Sunday, let us worship this "Three-Way King of righteousness, of
victory and gentleness. Unashamedly, let the world know that we truly are His
followers.
[1] https://jeffabel.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/what-can-you-learn-about-palm-sunday-from-a-five-year-old/
