Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009
Behold Your King!*
Luke 19:28-40
Sermon Objective: To encourage the congregation to embrace and worship the King.
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 21:4-5, Romans 14:17; 1 Timothy 6:12-19
28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going
up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called
the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30"Go
to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied
there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone
asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33As
they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying
the colt?"
34They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on
it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,
the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for
all the miracles they had seen: 38"Blessed is the king who comes in the
name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your
disciples!"
40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will
cry out."
(Luke 19:28-40)
INTRO
I remember as a child many experiences with parades but two stand out as particularly vivid. The first was when I was about 8 years old. It was REALLY cold that December as my family and I stood on a street corner in downtown Tulsa watching the parade. This, as you have probably figured out, was a very special parade for me … it was the Christmas parade. I remember the Shriners in their little cars. I remember bands playing. I remember some really exciting looking floats. I remember clowns. But what I remember most were the elves that came right in front of Santa’s sleigh and the candy they threw to us children on the sidewalk. Santa’s float and sleigh were the highlight of the parade … I still remember it to this day.
The other parade was quite different but just as exciting me to me. I was now a youth and we lived in Conroe, Texas … just north of Houston. This parade happened on a VERY hot day. The crowd was older. There were only a few bands and instead of floats there were long black Cadillacs and men talking in their sleeves or carrying guns. This parade was none-the-less exciting though. It was the first time I ever saw a United States President … Gerald Ford.
Both parades were memorable and both parades were memorable to me for the same reason … the prominent figure associated with them.
A CONTRAST OF PARADES
Today’s Parade of Palms looks back to another significant parade. And, as with my experiences, this parade was noteworthy because of the prominent figure … King Jesus was being introduced! The King was on display!
Interesting enough, the writers of the Gospels were also aware of two parades. No doubt they saw the contrasts and intersections between them too. Both parades took place in Jerusalem and they took place within days of each other.
ROME
At some point during the week prior to Passover, Pontus Pilate arrives in the
city of Jerusalem. He approaches from the west; from “Caesarea by the Sea” (Caesarea
Maritima). It was Pilate’s primary residence and it was a very a pleasant place
to palace. Caesarea Maritima was about sixty miles away.
Can you imagine Pilate’s procession? He arrived with columns of imperial guards, cavalry, and soldiers. Flags and golden eagles mounted on poles glistening in the sun; creaking leather, clanging steel, the thunderous thump of horses hoofs, the earth-shaking rhythmic march of foot soldiers, the drums, the swirling of dust, and the eyes of onlookers; some in awe, some in terror, some with resentment.
Pilate’s arrival was a demonstration of Roman Imperial power; this procession was well known in the Jewish homeland. The residents and visitors alike knew exactly what the show of force was communicating because it was standard practice for the Roman governors of Judea to be in Jerusalem during feasts … not out of respect or worship but in case there was trouble. This was especially true of Passover which was a celebration of deliverance from the tyranny of a former oppression; their liberation from an earlier empire.
But Pilate’s arrival was not only a demonstration of Roman Imperial power; it was also a demonstration of Roman Theology. Roman theology stated emphatically that Caesar was the son of god. This emerged under Caesar Augustus and his inscriptions on coins, documents, and elsewhere declared him to be “lord”, “savior”, “son of God”, and the one who brought “peace on earth.” At his death it was believed that Caesar ascended to Heaven and took a permanent place among the gods.
Yes, this procession not only represented a rival social order but a rival theology as well.
JESUS
At the other end of the city, from the east, another procession ensues. This
one was void of all the pomp and circumstance. It was attended by the peasant
class. It was in honor of a man who came from a peasant village called Nazareth.
The journey began 100 miles away in Galilee and ended in Jerusalem … a journey very central to the Gospel. The whole story has been aiming at and moving towards Jerusalem. Luke tells us early in His book that “when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT JESUS’ PARADE THAT READS LIKE A COUNTER DEMONSTRATION. And Jesus himself set it up in advance.
Jesus’ counter-demonstration aims at proclamation too. It proclaims an alternate way to live and view the world.
His processional does not strike fear in those who observe. In fact, they are
welcome to participate. It does not reinforce the powerful establishment. In
fact, it offers no show of force. Jesus rides a colt …. a beast traditionally
used during times of peace not war. He proclaims a kingdom of peace … as opposed
to violence and terror. Matthew’s account makes this clear by reading the prophecy
from Zechariah:
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5"Say
to the Daughter of Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a
donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' " (Matthew 21:4-5)
Yes, Jesus offered (and still offers) another way in direct response/contrast to Rome’s vision of reality. Jesus offered the Kingdom of Heaven not Earth. Jesus offered the ability to live at peace with one’s neighbor … to love your neighbor ... to love your enemies!
And we all know how it ends. Later in the week these two realities clash and Jesus is slaughtered by the regime of power.
And we all know how this, too ends; death does not diminish the coming Kingdom; it actualizes it! It gives it new dimensions and new potency. And eventually God’s Kingdom and its values prove to outlast the Roman alternative.
And from that day to this God’s values have clashed with regimes and powers. And from that day to this God’s Kingdom values inevitably liberate those under the forces of tyranny. First Rome; later South Africa, Rwanda, and Kosovo. Yet to come are Darfur and a host of others … all will see the vanquishing of the forces of evil and all will see the Gospel of Jesus Christ play a role in that transformation.
LORDSHIP (28-36)
Transformation of the Kingdom’s kind comes to society when God’s people, vested
with God’s Spirit, stand for righteousness in the midst of evil.
They stand knowing the cost.
The mantras of the early church were spawned by the contrast between these two realities. “Jesus is Lord” did not only acknowledge Jesus but rejected Caesar. “No King but Jesus” was even more bold and risky.
It is not by accident that during this parade Jesus is referred to as “Lord.” And it is not by accident that we see strangers, beasts of burden, and followers alike all submit to Him.
Lordship is at the heart of service. It is at the heart of a counter-demonstration that offers a counter reality to live by. Trust me … if you want the world to take note of your King it will start with Lordship.
CELEBRATION (37-38)
37When he came near the place where the road goes down
the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God
in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38"Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
One of the things lacking in the Roman processional was celebration. This was not a victory parade in the presence of the faithful … this was a show of force. This was equivalent to German tanks rolling into Paris and reminding the residents that it was either complete conformity or death.
But Jesus’ counter-demonstration, once again, shows hints of a counter lifestyle. Joy is the norm in God’s Kingdom. Praise and celebration are appropriate and expected. In fact, even the rocks are poised to breakout in Hosannas!
It makes sense that citizens of the Kingdom of God would be known as joyful and peaceful. A kingdom ruled via force, threat, and death certainly cannot illicit such a response but a Kingdom of love, forgiveness, and relationship most certainly can.
For some an earth-bound Kingdom with a corrupt value system and a quest for temporal gain works well. For those on the inside it its easy to postpone thoughts of eternity and live in the here and now.
But for most, the greater reality of a reign of righteousness is inviting and eventful – just like it was for those peasants at the original parade.
Closing
The Bible says, “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
You can pursue and invest in whichever Kingdom you wish. You can follow Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and enjoy his eternal reign of righteousness, peace and joy or you can follow the rulers of this time-bound world and enjoy the stuff that lasts but a moment.
But make no mistake about it … you will be present at one processional or the other.
We often end our Palm Sunday services with an opportunity for you to identify with Christ in a manner that can set the tone for the remainder of Holy Week. This year is no different. The cross has been put in place and the index cards are located there. The women’s ensemble will sing for us and as they do we will take the opportunity to write our names on the index cards are tack them to the cross.
If you choose to do so I trust you are saying (1) “Jesus I acknowledge your
sacrifice as the sacrifice which paid for my sin.” and (2) “Jesus I will identify
with you and glory only in your cross.” Even as Paul said in Galatians 6:14;
“may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Let’s pray together.
This Sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
*Special acknowledgement to Marcus Borg’s book, “The Last Week” for the insights
and contrasts between the Roman processional and the processional of Jesus.