The Palm Sunday events are so important they are included in each of our four gospels. Interestingly, in Luke, we read a retelling of the story that does not include Palms. Listen to how Luke described the events of the first Palm Sunday in Luke, chapter 19, verses twenty-nine through forty-four:
Scripture Luke 19:29-44
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
“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.
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When 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:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Let us pray…
Message Triumphal Entry
When a king, or a president, or a prime minister arrives somewhere, it is a big deal. The jet lands at the airport and a red carpet is rolled out to the plane. Soldiers flank the runway and stand at attention. Usually, an important potentate greets the king as they step off the plane and are then ushered into a waiting limousine. The limousine is typically part of a motorcade – motorcycles, black cars filled with security, a decoy limousine or two all make up the motorcade as the king is rushed to his destination. When he arrives, another red carpet is rolled out. Sometimes, pages sprinkle flower petals on the ground so the king doesn’t have to dirty his feet on the carpet. In the olden days, horns would blow triumphant music to announce the king. Often, cheering crowds line the roads and wave flags to greet and celebrate the arrival of the king.
Jesus’ arrival to Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday was a tad different…. there were signs that demonstrated his royalty, but there were also signs that demonstrated his more humble predicament.
Unlike other kings or royals arriving in Jerusalem, there were no dignitaries waiting to greet Jesus at the city gates. Instead of princes and officials, Jesus was greeted by humble people – mothers with babies, men making deliveries, street urchins, and Jesus’ disciples who were former fishermen and carpenters. King Herod and his embassies were not there. Pontius Pilate and his generals were not there. Just regular people, people like you and me, were part of the cheering crowds….regular joes and jills threw down their cloaks and shouted hosanna.
In Roman times, returning military heroes and leaders arrived at prominent cities on horseback. Horses represented power, status, and freedom. Donkeys, on the other hand, were work animals. They were used by farmers in their labors, to transport items, and as beasts of burden. They were not considered regal, refined, or powerful. So, the Roman soldiers who were patrolling in Jerusalem when Jesus arrived on the first Palm Sunday may have missed the significance of who he was.
But, in the Old Testament, it was prophesied that the Messiah would arrive on a donkey. Zechariah chapter 9 verse 9 says: "Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey!" So, not only would the messiah arrive riding on a donkey, he was to arrive on the back of a colt, a baby donkey. I can’t imagine it was a comfortable ride – the scripture says the donkey had never been ridden on before….i suspect it would have resisted Jesus’ weight, and been scared of the surging crowd. But, however awkward it may have been, it was prophesied the messiah would come riding on the back of a donkey foal, and that is what Jesus did. The Jewish people in the crowd understood the symbolism…..the Messiah was here.
Kings and royalty are an uncomfortable concept for our culture. Although some of us are interested in celebrity gossip of the royals, the United States was founded when we rebelled against a monarchy – the Declaration of Independence lists 27 grievances against King George and the British Parliament. We declared ourselves independent from the rule of a monarch and his minions. We declared that all men, all people, are created equal and are therefore entitled to unalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We threw off the yoke of oppression and freed ourselves from the tyranny of a monarchy.
Yet, Christians relate to Jesus as our king. Last Sunday, Carolyn wisely explained to me that we Christians are princes and princesses because we are the children of God, our king. 🙂 As a people who don’t like to be subject to the control or the dictates of a monarchy, it is a little strange for Christians to declare Jesus our king.
But, in an ideal situation, what is a king? A good king is a leader who cares for their people. A good king is generous, kind, and just. A good king has sacrificial love – their love is selfless and unconditional. A good king is decisive. A good king is patient and forgiving. A good king is fair. A good king is trustworthy.
When little children trust their parents, they can relax and focus on playing and growing. When employees trust their supervisors, they can relax into their position and trust the supervisor will keep their employees’ best interests in the workplace. When a married couple trusts one another, they can relax into the joy of their relationship because they don’t fear their spouse will commit infidelity or hide their financial resources.
We can trust Jesus is a good king. Jesus was fair. Jesus was compassionate. Jesus was a servant-leader. Jesus was trustworthy. Jesus was loving. Jesus was forgiving. Jesus gave his own life over to be sacrificed on behalf of his followers, and even when he was in the process of being crucified, Jesus prayed for the people who were killing him.
We are subjects of the King of Kings. Jesus is our King. God is our emperor. And, because of their love for their subjects, their children, we can relax and trust in their good plan for our people. Our lives may be full of unpredictable situations. We may not feel like we have a lot of control over our health, our professional achievements, our children, our families….but, we can trust in the Lord. Jeremiah 29 consoles us when God says: “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We may not always understand God’s plans for us. Things don’t always work out the way we want them to work out. But, God’s love for us extends from this life to the next. Our faith provides us the promise that: “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Even though we are week away from Easter, the Easter promise is a reminder that God loves us and God has a plan for us. We can trust in the promises of our God. that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God. God is our present and our future. As much as Americans are resistant to having a king rule over us, Jesus is the loving king who looks out for his people. Thanks be to God, that we can trust in Christ the King. Amen.
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