This is one of two Palm Sunday sermons I composed in Armenia. My teaching trips to Armenia are often around Easter time.
(Read Luke 19:28-35)
We see here that Jesus is in control. We need to remember that Jesus was never a victim of circumstances. Jesus never depended on others for the success of his ministry. Yes, he loved them, he gave them every possibility of being his disciples, but he never depended on them.
(Read John 2:23-25)
Jesus knew what was in man. He knew that the heart of man was inconstant and unfaithful. Jesus knew that even his closest friends would deny him. But he loved them, and he continued to go forward, obeying the Father’s will, fulfilling the plan of salvation. Yes, Jesus knew what was in man, but he also knew what could be in man. Jesus was there when man was made in God’s image; Jesus knew the beauty and the glory which were in man in the beginning. Of course he knew, because he himself is that beauty and glory. He is the image of God.
Jesus knew.... Circumstances and events never shocked him or overpowered him. Here in Luke 9, Jesus shows himself as the Lord of events. He tells the disciples beforehand that they’ll find the donkey tied up, and what the owners of the donkey will say, and how the disciples should answer. Later, when we read about the crucifixion, we must remember that Jesus was not a victim of circumstances. He was the Lamb of God, who went willingly to the cross for you and me. Remember what Jesus said, “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own will, and I take it up again.”
But maybe today I’m saying what should really be said on Friday, when we remember the Lord’s death. Traditionally, today is a happy day, when we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Yes, we should rejoice today, just as the people rejoiced on that day long ago. And we should rejoice even more than they, because of what God has done in our lives through this same Jesus.
But... Jesus knew what would happen shortly after this triumphal entry, and we also know. So this is part of the story which we cannot ignore. The Lord knew that these people greeting him on this day would soon reject and kill him, but here is the amazing thing: he allowed them to praise him. Why? He loved them and he was going to die for them. Also, regardless of the unreliability of the people saying the words, the words themselves were true. They were words that needed to be exclaimed. The words were true even if the hearts weren’t (read Luke 19:35-40). This moment was a moment of glory, even if the people didn’t understand it. The truth is bigger than people.
Jesus’ words are true to this day. If we don’t praise him, then the stones themselves will shout his praise. The glory of God is the one, single, unique reality behind everything. All creation is groaning for the day when God’s glory is fully revealed. We, who are God’s children, understand that and we also groan for that day. And we rejoice to think of it.
Jesus allowed these people to praise him, even though they would reject and kill him. Here the great grace of God shows itself. Also, Jesus was serving His Father. Nothing could stop Jesus from obeying the Father. God’s word predicted – “Behold, your king is coming, meek and lowly and riding on a donkey.” Jesus came to fulfill all the Law and the Prophets, no matter what it cost, even if it meant receiving praise from those who would prove untrue. In the end, of course, it cost Jesus everything.
Look at Jesus now, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, with all the people waving palm branches and shouting, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Look at the crowd. You see Jesus’ closest friends there. They’re ecstatic. They think this is the beginning of the kingdom on earth. They don’t know that in only a few days they will run away in fear and abandon Jesus. In that crowd, also, are those whose lips are still and voices silent, and their eyes full of hatred. They want to eliminate this Jesus. To them he is dangerous, a threat to their power and comfortable position. Also in that crowd are those who have almost no idea, really, of what’s going on. Maybe they never heard of Jesus of Nazareth before – they simply heard the noise, came to see what was happening and joined in the fun and excitement, and so they’re shouting with the rest, not even knowing why! Such is the power of a crowd. A very dangerous power.
And Jesus knows all this, and he goes on – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, presenting himself to God for all these people, giving himself to all these people even as He gives himself up to the Father in ultimate love. The real glory of this “Palm Sunday” is not the triumphal entry or the loud welcome Jesus received; no, the real glory is hidden in the heart of that young man riding on the donkey, the heart of him “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame.” He knew, but he went on, for us.
Did Jesus feel joy on the day of his triumphal entry? I believe he did. Not because the people were shouting for him; he knew what was in the heart of man. But Jesus’ joy was to do the will of his Father; he rejoiced in glorifying his Father. I believe Jesus also rejoiced that his mission would soon be over, finished, and that a new day would dawn for the children of God. John 1:11 tells us that he “came to his own”, that is, he came to that which was his own creation – in fact, he even made those stones that would cry out in praise if the people didn’t! But, “his own did not receive him”. Even in his triumphal entry they weren’t really receiving him – they didn’t really know who he was or what it meant to choose him, or what it would cost. They didn’t know his heart and will; they couldn’t share his love for the Father. At least, not yet. “But, to those who received him, to those who believed in his name, to them he gave the right to become the children of God, children born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
For us this is the joy of the triumphal entry. We see Jesus our King who comes in the name of the Father. And we know he has come to make us children of his heavenly Father. This Jesus, meek and lowly and riding on a donkey, has come to offer us his heart, so that we might be like him. he has come to give us peace – not peace as the world gives, but true peace with God – reconciliation and fellowship. This Jesus has come not to enjoy praise from unbelieving lips but to reveal the true glory of God, so that even the stones will cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Have you received this king into your heart? Has he made you a child of God? Have you received the peace he offers? If not, then you are like one of that crowd – maybe shouting and rejoicing, but not knowing why, still in the dark. If you welcome this King, Jesus Christ, into your heart and life, then you can rejoice in truth, with knowledge and understanding, because you will know him. He will open your eyes to see more and more who he truly is. And he will also let you know who you are – a sinner saved by grace, a reborn child of God, a servant of the King. Then, with all God’s children, you will wait with confident hope for the day of his return. He will come triumphant to receive his people as his Bride. He will finally answer the groaning and yearning of all creation, which waits together with the children of God to see him and shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
