The Challenge of Palm Sunday

Sermon Review
24 March 2002
(Matt 21:1-17)

Introduction:
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem so long ago marked the final stage of his life on this earth. That it was significant is quite obvious. Using Palm and tree branches to welcome anybody indicated great honour. To lay down one's cloak for someone to either walk or ride upon was also a tremendous gesture of respect.

Furthermore, think of what the crowd was shouting out at the time. For example, in Matthew: Hosanna, to the Son of David ie. 'save us now, son of David'. Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord ie. How blessed is he who is God's representative. Or Mark who records the shout, 'Blessed is the coming Kingdom of David' - a Messianic reference. Or John who indicates the cry, 'Blessed is the King of Israel'. There can be no doubt that Jesus entrance was a clear statement to all that he was the Messiah, the true King of Israel. This is reinforced by his acceptance of these cries, and his stage managed ride upon an ass, a fulfilment of prophecy concerning Israel's King coming into Jerusalem Zech.9:9. Up till then Jesus had withdrawn from public notice, evaded being the center of attention, and told his disciples to keep quite about who he was.

But here he was only one week from his death making a very public statement about who he was and causing quite a stir in the holy city (Mat.21:10). Why was he doing this? What was his intention? Didn't he realize what would happen to him as a result of such confrontational tactics?

The simple answer is yes he did know (Matt.16:21), but it was necessary for him to come openly so the nation of Israel would finally make up it's collective mind about him - to choose to either accept or reject him - to stop their dithering. In this act and the ones following throughout the last week of his earthly life, Jesus was allowing Israel to choose him to either be their saviour or their judge. He was providing a catalyst for a defining response - and he got it.

So, what can we learn from this defining event? Any number of things, but lets consider choice this morning.

1. Let your yes be yes and your no be no: Matt.5:37 God is looking for people to make clear decisions for Christ or against him in their lives, and not sit on the fence. Or, in Biblical language, either be hot or cold (Rev.3:16), alive or dead (Rev.3:1-3), to be for him or against him (Matt.12:30), and to lose one's life so as to gain it (Lk.9:24) etc.

There comes to all of us times in life when we need to be open and honest with those we know and love, about all manner of things. God is no different. He too looks for us to be unequivocal and clear about where we stand with Him - to stop hiding behind vagueness and indecision, or busyness and inner and outer clutter. This was just as important for those in Israel at the time, as it is for us today. Think for a moment of the fickleness and cross currents of belief in Jerusalem - we have people claiming him as the Messianic King and waving palm fronds one day, being amazed at his teaching on others (Matt.22:33; Lk.19:48), with the authorities being vexed and frustrated at the broad scale of Jesus' following - Matt.21:15, 46, 26:5; John.12:19. Yet, due to some manipulation on the authorities part included, somehow we still have a sizeable crowd backing the death sentence of Jesus a few days later (Lk.23:13-25).

What makes the best sense is that there was an ebbing and flowing of belief and disbelief throughout the populace that changing winds and gossip and applied pressure could change. What good is this? God can do no more with fickleness and changeability than we can! Jesus said, 'let your yes be yes, and your no be no'; he said, 'let your eye be single', 'put your hand to the plough and don't look back'; James says to not be double-minded; Paul says ' not to be tossed too and fro by every wind of doctrine and the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming' etc. God looks for clear cut decision-making in relation to himself, both then and now. Both in coming to him in the first place, and then each day in our following Christ as disciples.

As it was then, so it is now - Jesus entrance into Jerusalem is a challenge to consider how equivocal or unequivocal we are in our faith and commitment to Christ. It says, choose this day who you will serve, and each and every day that we live. As a catalyst to us here today, Palm Sunday is a call to all to deal with ambiguity and indecision with regard to God . Jesus throwing down the gauntlet publicly in his entrance into Jerusalem is a challenge to stand up and be counted, to be known, and to live for Christ in the midst of whatever antagonistic winds blow from the Armidale community and beyond, into your life. Be aware: God will sue for choice in your life - and hold you as responsible for your decisions as he did the ancient Jews.

2. God on his terms or ours? Isa.42:17 'But those who trust in idols, who say to images, 'You are our gods,' will be turned back in utter shame.'

In the Triumphal entry, we have a chance to see what choice was on offer. It was the choice to accept God on his terms, or continue manufacturing versions of God that suited themselves and their own agenda. The ancient Jews wanted a supernaturally empowered military leader, or divinely equipped political revolutionary to free them from the Roman yoke and usher in a golden age for them. God brought someone divinely equipped and supernaturally empowered all right, but for dealing with sin - not the Roman yoke! This divine intent, flavoured by peoples fear, envy, power, and greed - inspired a vastly different range of responses to that desired - but in the final analysis the good will of the people and the hostility of the authorities were worth about as much as each other! The central issue, though, was that the Messiah didn't measure up - so the people rejected him.

Up through the centuries to today, we must ask ourselves, are we any different today than they were then? No. Each of us have our own expectations of what God should or should not do; be or not be like. Irrespective of what the Bible says, or what we are taught, how quick are we to reject God when he doesn't 'do' according to our expectation? How fast are we to disobey when it appears that God may be asking something of us that we don't like, or isn't seen as fair, or right, or proper, or wanted etc.?

The people of that day had the chance to know God as he is, not as they wanted him to be. In coming into Jerusalem the way he did on that fateful day, Jesus was opening the door for the nation of Israel to welcome home their Master and Lord. They chose to slam the door hard in his face because they didn't like what they saw, and so missed out on deepening their knowledge and experience of God. Oh how sad it is when we slam the door on God. Each day we have the opportunity to obey God and trust him despite what is asked of us, and what happens to us or around us - and each of those opportunities is an invitation to know God at a deeper level. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem by Jesus should remind us that God doesn't force his way into our life, but asks us to choose to swing our doors open wide to Him even when we don't 'like' what he is doing.

Q: What is he doing in your life at this moment that you do not like? What do you think is being asked of you that you are not happy with? Open the door and let God have his way. Do what he asks and don't be like the ancient Jews. They missed their golden opportunity - don't you.

Conclusion:

Dealing with fickleness by exercising choice and responsibility, and deepening our walk with God by letting him act and call us to obey as he sees fit, are part of the lessons of Palm Sunday - ones that all people need to take to heart, but us in particular! Take note that the first act that Jesus does, as the briefly acknowledged and proclaimed Messiah, was to cleanse the temple! The Gospel writers are not clear when he did this. Either Jesus went and cleansed the Temple that same day, or the next - irrespective, it was his first act. When God comes visiting, his people are his first concern.

Of all people, they should be the most ready to receive him. Jesus knew that if the Temple was not right, how could Jerusalem be? Equally true, if the church is not right, how can this city be? And if the temple of the Holy Spirit, that is the individual Christian, is not right, how can the church, and in turn this city be? Judgment begins with the house of God, Paul tells us. We need to take note that in order to ultimately impact Armidale in a defining way, this church is very much dependant upon the state of each of our individual hearts before God!

What will be achieved by God through us in Armidale ultimately depends upon each of us choosing to open our 'doors' and getting to know our God more deeply and well. It means letting God 'throw down' and 'cast out' as he sees fit, so he can lovingly minister to us and make us new and clean (Matt.21:14-16).

When we are willing to be open to God both casting down and healing us 'up' in our heart of hearts, then your Christian life will flourish; this church will flourish; and this city will be impacted by God through us as a church. Palm Sunday was about choosing; it was a challenge for a defining response from the ancient Jews.

It is equally as much a challenge for defining responses from us as individuals and as a church - to let him be our God in fact, and not just in fiction. To drop pretence and ambiguity, and welcome him as our Lord and Master, no matter what. The ride might not be what you would expect, but you wouldn't miss it for the world!
Blessings