Sermon Based on : Luke 19. 28-40; Isaiah 50. 4-9a; Philippians 2. 5-11
Preached on: – Palm Sunday- 14. 04.19
A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch.
The little boy was curious and asked, “Why do you have that palm branch, dad?”
“You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved Palm Branches to honour him, so we got Palm Branches today.”
The little boy replied, ” Oh NO! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!”
As many of you know today is Palm Sunday– The day, taken from all the four Gospels, where a whole city threw a parade for Jesus. As Jesus rode into the city, the people threw Palm branches in His welcome.- Thus we get our word Palm Sunday. – This day marked a time of celebration where Jesus was worshipped and praised.
This day is Bittersweet for us because even as we read of the celebration we know that Friday is coming- The cross is coming. We know that many in this same crowd will within a few short days exchange words of praise to words of death. Shouting Hosanna, Hosanna and then later shouting Crucify Him, Crucify Him.
And for us also there is a danger in the way we worship on Palm Sunday. Often times we sing hosannas on Palm Sunday and then we sing “Christ the Lord has Risen Today” the very next Sunday (there is nothing wrong with that). But the events of Good Friday are not on our personal religious calendars. Where Jesus’ death is mentioned. It is not that we completely ignore it. We just move past that fact as quickly as we can to get to the resurrection. we sometimes overlook Jesus’ suffering and death. We get all caught up in the joy of singing praises to Jesus as He triumphantly enters Jerusalem. And we forget that Jesus came to Jerusalem to die. On the one hand, the enthusiasm of the crowds is contagious. The King is coming into the Holy City! Hosanna! On the other hand, we see Jesus filled with pain. He accedes to the celebration — indeed, he initiates it. But he is somehow detached. Instead of lifting his hands in victory as might a politician or conquering general, he is subdued. And when Jerusalem comes into sight he begins to weep — not for himself, but for the city and its inhabitants. I praise God we have also read part of one of the suffering servant’s of Isaiah which talks about Christ’s sufferings.
Rejoicing and pain can co-exist. They did in Jesus at the Triumphal Entry, and they often coexist in our lives, too. There will be no complete rejoicing until we rejoice fully in heaven, after God has wiped away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).
The Lord Needs It
From Verses 29 to 31 say ‘When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.”
I guess, like me; many of you must have often looked at this account as supernatural — that Jesus knows there will be a particular young donkey tied in the town. And I’m sure he does know that supernaturally. On the other hand, Jesus probably has friends in many, many towns where he has stayed before, who have told him, “If you need anything just let me know!” Probably Jesus is taking up a friend on his long-standing offer. Notice that once the disciples say, “The Lord needs it,” there is no further argument. The owners are happy to have the Lord use their possessions for his work.
How about us? Do we argue when the Lord makes a demand on something that belongs to us? Yes, you have said, “I give you my life, everything I have,” but now when he makes a specific request, do you balk?
Dear Friends, we are to obey Jesus when he tells us to do something. Just because we don’t understand how everything will work out is no reason to refuse to budge when it is time to obey. We must be ready and willing for Jesus to claim use of our possessions and positions. Since he is our Master,( as we learnt even last Sunday) they don’t belong to us, but to Him.
The Significance of the Donkey
Numbers 19:2 tell us that An animal used for religious purposes must be without blemish and “on which yoke has never been laid” A colt can be a horse or donkey, but Matthew 21:2, 5, 7 and John 12:14 specify a donkey—thus fulfilling Zechariah prophecy in 9:9, which says: “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Jesus’ instructions are clear that the donkey must be one that has never been ridden ( Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7; 2 Samuel 6:3). It is set apart, consecrated for a specific use — for the Master’s use. There is a rabbinical tradition that no one should use the animal on which a king rides.
It is fascinating to me that in Zechariah’s prophecy the gentle king that comes into Jerusalem riding a young donkey is the same one who will defeat chariots and war-horses and bring peace to the nations. One of the final scenes of Revelation is a picture of the conquering Christ riding a white war-horse (Revelation 19:11-16), but today he rides a donkey in the hope of peace. We are living in the age of grace. God is withholding His judgement because He does not want anyone to perish but to believe in his son Jesus Christ.
When Jesus indicates to his disciples that he should ride on a donkey that no one had ever ridden before, he is initiating a public, kingly act. He is revealing openly that he is the Messiah.
Spreading Their Garments before Jesus
Spreading clothing to carpet one’s pathway was a way to honour the person. When the people are aware that Jehu had been anointed king of Israel, “They hurried and took their garments and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, ‘Jehu is king!’ ” (2 Kings 9:13) Mark tells us, “Many people spread their clothing on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields” (Mark 11:8). John’s Gospel indicates the people were going out to meet the procession with palm branches (John 12:13).
People in the crowd are now shouting out clearly messianic phrases:
- “Hosanna to the Son of David! (Matthew 21:9)
- “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ (Luke 19:38)
- “Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:13)
The Pharisees present in the crowd are scowling. They are deeply offended and can’t suppress their disdain.
Verses 39 &40 say ‘Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
Jesus could be saying that if the disciples are silent the rocks themselves would be forced to offer praise. Indeed, praise is sometimes poetically attributed to objects and animals (Psalm 96:11; 98:7-9; 114:1-8; Isaiah 55:12). But Jewish writings sometimes mention mute stones bearing witness when sin has been committed — in this case the sin of not offering praise when praise is due (Habakkuk 2:11; Genesis 4:10; and Joshua 24:27).
one of the strongest lessons of this passage is that Jesus IS King! He IS the Messiah, the Son of David, and as such, it is fitting that we worship him.
Let us pray
Lord, please help us to willing obey your instructions, even when we don’t understand all the details or their importance. Thank you for the immense privilege you grant to us to be participants in your mission, to play important parts in what you are doing. Help us to rejoice in you and praise you with an open heart, not resist because of our pain or from the wound of a doubting or distrustful heart instead give us a heart of praise and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
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