What’s Going On

Please read Matthew 21:1-11.  Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The people were counting on His leadership to deliver them from the Roman Empire’s domination.  They were eager – full of anticipation, seeking freedom from oppression. 

As prophesized, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a young donkey (see Zechariah 9:9).  Here we find Jesus, King of kings, full of humility, walking alongside the crowds, making the humblest of entries.  The huge network greeted him as “son of David”, but through the cheers, there were murmurings.  By identifying Jesus as a king, the stage had been set and Pilate’s concern.  Jesus planned to establish himself as a king, which, by Roman standards was an act of treason – and was punishable by death was a reality.

The crowds shouted, ‘Hosanna.’  In Hebrew Hosanna literally means “Save us, help us.”   In Greek, it’s a shout of praise.  The crowd joyfully acknowledged Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy and the one who would bring salvation.  This hopeful assembly turned from cheers to jeers.  The same people seeking salvation shouting help us; those who are praising Jesus soon yelled, “Crucify Him!”   When things go our way, when God does what we want, when Jesus rises to our cause, it’s easy to cheer, but what about when He doesn’t do these things? Too often our cheering comes to a stop. Our words of adoration fade when we face obstacles.  Friends, that’s when we need to hold tight to our faith and trust in God.  The fact is, we don’t always get what we want, but God always gives us what we need.  

Maybe you find yourself today facing what appears to be an impossible situation.  Feeling like no one understands or can relate.  Friends, we are not alone.  Psalm 147 reminds us that His understanding has no limit.  A good Sunday took a 180-degree turn, by Friday Jesus found himself accused, arrested, tried, and sentenced to an excruciating death.   That week changed the world; it was an emotional roller coaster for Jesus.  Love bantered with hate, joy evolved to rejection, friendship fell to accusation, hope seemed to turn to sorrow, the crowded parade journeyed to the many notably missing at the cross.  He was confronted with the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, betrayed by Judas and denied by his dear friend Peter, three times.  In a matter of moments everything changed.  They then asked, “Who is this?”  No longer, is he praised, “the Son of David who comes in the name of the Lord,” now he is, “the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee” (21:11). This is a subtle but important shift. We sense tension, hear confusion, and denote rabble-rousing.  The emotions created a perfect storm for a mob-like mentality to take root.  The day swung from a roar to silence, from triumph to tragedy, from life to death.  His mother, a few other faithful women, some Roman guards and clergy remained, with a few by-standers but other than John, his disciples, and most supporters fled.  They took off.   

Where do we stand today this Palm and Passion Sunday?  Are we excited to stand up for Jesus?  Or do we follow the crowd?  Are we fading into the background?   Are we excited to proclaim his name and title as king in our lives? Are we willing to stand up against injustice?  Befriend those on the fringes of society?  Do we choose to walk with those in the dark – like Jesus did? Or are we going with the flow?  Minding our business?  Sitting on the side lines or even changing teams at half time?  During this week, I encourage each of us to take time to ask, in relation to this story, not who is He, but who am I?

Matthew wrote, “the whole city stirred.”  Jesus entered one of the most geographically, troubled places in the world…a place of strife and discord, yet as we witness, it does not compare to the challenges of the human heart.  We are that stirred-up city. Where do you stand today?  When was your life last stirred?  I look at my shaken and stirred events as opportunities – as nudges to me back on course with Jesus.  Sometimes our world turns upside down and that was the case for Jesus too.  

The question people had that day might be one you wrestled with.  Who is this?  Many thought they were welcoming one to conquer and defeat Rome’s government, but He was on a greater mission, He came to change hearts. He came to save us from our sins by His death and resurrection.  Who is this?   Who is He?  Jesus brought hope, to the people in Jerusalem centuries ago and continues to do so today.  Those people were looking forward to freedom from oppression and escaping the government’s corruption and exploitation.   Today we too look forward to freedom – an eternal freedom -- one from the sin that He bore for us. A freedom we know as we invite Jesus into our lives to be our Savior.   Let’s lay our hearts before him and surrender our will to him as we remember that Christ gave his all for all.  Yes, Jesus loves you!  And all God’s people say…amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Kerry

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