March 28, 2021
There is a very nice lady in Tremont who was out in her backyard gardening, when a man came walking down the path between her house and the next house. She asked him if she could help him with anything. He said, no thank you. It turned out, he had just robbed the bank! So, it’s a good thing she didn’t help him. She understood that situation much differently once she knew the bank had been robbed!
Today is Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on donkey. Jesus and the people participating had a very different understanding of the situation they all were experiencing. And though we know today what the bystanders didn’t, we know how it all ends, we can easily be surprised by God as well.
People had always been attracted to Jesus. He spoke so well. He healed the sick. He spent time with people who others rejected. Jesus drew crowds whenever he showed up, so there’s no surprise that a crowd was there when he approached Jerusalem.
As Jesus prepared for his entry into Jerusalem, he tried to lower expectations. People expected him to be the messiah, the new king who would their situation for the better: he would defeat their enemies, the Romans. He would restore God’s people and nation of Israel, to an independent monarchy. There would be a bloody fight to make him King, but they thought it would be worth it!
But rather than ride in on a horse like a warrior, Jesus sent two of his disciples to go to a village, where he said they will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. They are to untie it and bring it to Jesus. If someone asks what they are doing, they are to tell them, “The Lord needs it and will bring it back shortly.” So the two disciples go, and it’s all just as Jesus said: they see the young donkey. They untie it and people ask, “What are you doing, untying that young donkey?” The two disciples assure them that the lord needs it and will bring it back soon.
So, they bring the young donkey to Jesus, put their cloaks on it like a blanket, and Jesus rides on this little donkey into Jerusalem. Jesus is trying not to look like a king or military leader. He is a simple guy, on a little donkey.
Jesus rides to Jerusalem, but again, people have big expectations of what Jesus will do.
v. 8 says, “Many people spread their cloaks on the road,” 800 years before this people threw cloaks in front of King Jehu as he went to be crowned king of Israel. People are treating Jesus like a king!
v. 8 continues: “…others spread branches they had cut in the fields.”
150 years before, people had spread branches in front of Simon Maccabeus when he and his brothers conquered Jerusalem from the Selucid dynasty. Simon became a prince. So, the people spread branches in front of Jesus like he is royalty!
We read in v. 9 how people were shouting to Jesus, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord!” then they say, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
They think Jesus is going to be king of Israel, like King David!
The people have in mind that Jesus is a king who comes with a sword, who is going to go after their enemies, and give them a military victory! They believe God will help them win this victory!
But Jesus has hugely different expectations. He came to Jerusalem on a little donkey. He knows he is headed for crucifixion, a shameful execution. He is going after something more important. he is going to take a different path that shows the power, love and forgiveness of God. Jesus’ kingdom is not according to our worldly wishes.
Not long before the palm procession, Jesus told his disciples in Mark 10:33-34 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
The disciples heard this but did not expect that what Jesus told them would really happen. They are expecting Jesus to come into his glory. They are looking to a future of greatness for themselves, when they will be at his side as he rules.
We know how the story goes. There was no violent revolution. Jesus did not become a prince or king. The Roman empire kept its firm grip on power.
Jesus had told his followers that he would go to his death. It would be humiliating. But his followers did not want to hear that Jesus kingdom is not according to their worldly wishes.
Something much better came out of Jesus going to Jerusalem than the crowds or his followers expected!
Jesus came on a mission to break down the barrier between us and God. Jesus came in love, to overcome the power of sin and death.
Thank goodness that Jesus did not meet the expectations of those around him!
Did you ever wonder why God allows things you don’t want to happen to happen? For example, why does God allow argument and conflicts in our relationships with other? Why does God make a world where we can’t afford everything we want? Why do we have health problems?
It is hard to understand these things. But Palm Sunday at least teaches us, Jesus’ kingdom is not according to our worldly wishes. Some good can come out of life’s difficulties. Arguments and conflicts, when we humbly work through them, can actually bring us closer to someone. Because we can’t afford everything, we might learn to be more grateful for what we have. When we have health problems, we learn to rely more on God and others for support.
Jesus’ kingdom is not according to our worldly wishes. Sometimes that’s good! We grow in our relationship with God and others because God does not meet our expectations.
My homework for you this week is to pray a line from the Lord’s prayer: “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done.” We pray this each Sunday. It takes a lot of courage to pray this. We’re saying, “God, do not give me what I want. Instead, give me what you want. You know best!”
Thank goodness Jesus did not give the crowd and his disciples what they wanted. Because he gave them and us something that was so much better: Instead of a military and political victory, he brought a victory of life over death, sin lost its power, as God’s grace and forgiveness triumphed.
Jesus went to the cross, he accepted his crucifixion. That would not be easy for any of us to do. He accepted suffering and humiliation. He showed us his kingdom is not of this world. Jesus also showed us, God’s kingdom is better than any kingdom of this world. And God’s way is better than our way.
As we walk through Holy Week, we remember Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus’ humble journey to the cross led not to an end, but to the beginning of something new, as he shattered expectations. Amen.
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