Palm Sunday, Palm Sunday Procession
Notes
Transcript
Your King Has Come!
Your King Has Come!
My Brothers and sisters what a blessed day as we sing loud Hosannas for our King has come to Jerusalem, when he came to this earth, the Angels heralded his birth in Bethlehem, a town just 6 miles away, and now the crowds sing his praises as he enters into the holy City. Hailing the promised King, the Messiah, the Son of David. From the moment of his conception has been building to this moment, and the celebration that your King has come, Hosanna!
Now I want you to consider how important this week is not only to the disciples but also for you to know everything that happens in this one week. Just consider how much the writers of the Gospels set aside in their gospels to record what happened in this week. The gospel of Matthew 21-28 that is about a 1/4 of the book Mark 11-16 about a 1/3 Luke 19-24 about a 1/4 and the Gospel of John dedicates nearly half of his Gospel chapters 12-20 on this one week.
That is why we have so many Church services in this one week to focus on the most important parts, but we cannot cover it all, we would be at Church for hours every day. That isn’t a bad way to spend your time, but I say this that you might understand everything that happens, and that this is the most important thing that Christ is going to do.
Now Christ is not the King that they expected, that is why on Friday when the Shepherd is struck, the sheep will scatter, and this is the case for many people still today. That though they sing Jesus’ praises, they do not know what he has come to do, and misunderstand His purpose. For when we say that Jesus is King, it is natural to ask well where is His kingdom that Kingdom that we pray to come?
He is a King who has come to bind the strong man, who had taken captive God’s creation. He has come into the city Jersualem, and its name means, city of peace. A bit of irony that He goes there to die, but the city was named in anticipation of what would happen by his death. There Christ would establish peace with all nations, peace not just between our fellow man, but reconcile the world to God.
He is going to accomplish this by His willingness to suffer all things even death for the sake of those that hated him. Now the crowd did not understand that this was his purpose, and many still today misunderstand what the purpose of Jesus’ life is. They try to make Jesus into the image that they want to see.
There are those that want to see Jesus as only a great teacher of mankind, one whose way of preaching and teaching, would improve the moral character of all people. For that reason all should listen to his voice to learn what to do and how to live. Even going so far as to lay down ones life for others, and they will praise Jesus for this.
There are those that see Jesus as King and think that He has come to establish an earthly kingdom, we can certainly see that in the text, that people are chanting that He is the King of Israel, the Son of David, and they hope that he will establish an earthly kingdom in Israel. There are some that hope that still today, and think to make their home nation into a Christian nation, but they miss the point. The Kingdom that Christ has come to establish is not an earthly kingdom with geographic boundaries or the right king, or president, or party. Christ’s Kingdom is not of this earth, for His Kingdom will endure forever.
There are those who try to cast Jesus as one who is there to overthrow the social order, economics, and the list goes on there are many who try to make Christ into the figure and leader that they want Him to be, to suit their needs. That is why we should look at see at what Christ says in this last week, and observe what it is that He does, to understand properly why He has come to Jerusalem.
He is come to this city of peace not as Moral teacher, not as Political Leader, nor as Social Reformer of this World, Jesus entered into Jerusalem because He was the one who would bring peace between God and man. A peace that had been destroyed long ago and had set mankind and God at odds. This will shown clearly as those who claim to know God, reject him, hate him and crucify Him, and then He will rise again to life.
Now the sad thing is that most of the world doesn’t read the Scriptures, and indeed if we were to ask when was the last time we read through the Gospels or even the parts on His Crucifixion, we would understand why the majority of the world and those who profess to be Christian do not know why Christ is here. It is the reason that many scatter when trials and hardship come, or they seek friendship with the world rather than rejecting it. But if you read those chapters you will find out the real purpose of your King coming to Jerusalem.
Jesus went to the city of peace that you might have peace with God. That you might be forgiven, that you might be welcomed into Kingdom that has embassies established throughout every land, wherever the Word is preached and the Sacraments are administered, and people are born again as citizens, not of an earthly country which passes away, but born into a Kingdom which has no end, a citizenship that will not fade or be tarnished for it is established by the Son of God himself.
This week is about Christ rooting that Kingdom in His life, and showing that not even the power of death would be strong enough to stop the coming of His Kingdom. The crowd singing Hosanna today was right to sing Hosanna, but they did not yet realize how great their King is, and what He was going to do that they might be citizens. They think that all that Jesus taught or did is contained in the Sermon on the Mount in a few parables that they might know like the Good Samaritan, but without understanding this week, they are blind.
But for us, we have the wonderful opportunity this week to hear what Christ is doing for your sake, and witness his great love for you. We can then share with our friends and families the good news, not just of Lazarus’ resurrection but Jesus resurrection. That he has overcome death and the grave to establish His kingdom forever, a Kingdom that is for all people regardless of language, skin color, or who your parents are, it is a Kingdom where sinners are forgiven that they might enter into the presence of God.
So you O Christian, my Brothers and sisters do not let this week go past. Do not idly think oh well it’s just Holy Week again, rather see what the Apostles and the Prophets wanted all people to know. Hear once again and take to heart what the writers spent so much time detailing for they wanted you to know what Christ has done for you so that you might be part of Christ’s Kingdom. For Jesus is your King, and since He has saved us, let us join in the song of Hosanna. In Jesus name. Amen.