Text: Luke 19: 28-40
Palm Sunday has special memories for some of us. You may have been confirmed on a Palm Sunday. That tradition goes way back.
As a child I remember getting the palm leaf and carrying it around between church and Sunday School. It was something different, special in a way but I wasn’t quite sure what it was. I probably wasn’t paying attention when my pastor or Sunday School teacher explained it.
Well let’s make sure no one goes home today wondering what Palm Sunday is all about. It’s about a very special King who came to Jerusalem a long time ago. And now in his Word, this King comes to you.
Blessed is the King who comes…
I. Recognize Him
II. See how he comes
III. Know the peace he brings.
On a Sunday, long ago. the roads swelled with weary pilgrims, many of whom were walking. They were on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. Some like Jesus, had made that 17 mile trip from Jericho. In that short distance, they would ascend over 3500 feet. That must have made for some tired legs.
` Matthew and Mark tell us how Jesus had healed two blind men along the way. John tells us that Jesus arrived in Bethany on Friday evening where he rested for the Sabbath. Then on Saturday evening, Mary and Martha held a banquet in Jesus’ honor. And think of this. At the table was Lazarus, the one that Jesus had raised to life some time before. Well as you might expect, word got out that Jesus and Lazarus were there. A large crowd gathered outside to see them.
That brings us back to Sunday when Jesus and his disciples began once more to make their way. Then there happened a wonderful convergence of two groups of people. Those who came out from Jerusalem met those still on the road and something special began to unfold. People spread their cloaks on the road. Not something you would do for anyone. They waved palm branches, something you did to honor and celebrate a victory. 37 When [Jesus] came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Recognize this King. You may remember that above Jesus’ cross the Roman governor would put a sign to mock the Jews and of course Jesus. It read: The King of the Jews. The religious leaders would protest. But it’s true. Jesus is the King of the Jews. He is that
King prophesied, and predicted again and again in the Old Testament. He would be a descendant of King David as Jesus was. In our Old Testament lesson we heard one of those prophet look out into the future and say: Rejoice! your King comes to you.
This King was prophesied and now on the road to Jerusalem he was recognized. They saw his miracles that God said would mark his coming, even Lazarus raised from the dead. They told of his miracles and word spread like wildfire among the pilgrims. Now they proclaimed him that King, their King. 38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna to the Son of David. Jesus is the King of the Jews.
But he is so much more of a king. Think of the donkey he rode. Where did it come from? Jesus had told two of disciples to go ahead of him into Bethphage. There you will find a colt, a young donkey, tied there. They found it just as Jesus said. But it wasn’t Jesus’ donkey. It belonged to another. What would you think if you saw someone opening your car door to drive off. You’d call 911.
Of course, Jesus did not intend to steal this man’s donkey. Only borrow it. But still, we’d wonder, what goes? Think of what now happens. When the owner challenges these men, they use the words that Jesus supplied them. The Lord has need of your donkey. If you and I were to tell someone that, we’d probably hear, yeah right. Unless Jesus had sent us with this word like he did these men. Then we would see that Jesus is much more of a king.
For what kind of donkey did Jesus ride. A colt, not ever ridden by anyone, not his owner and certainly not Jesus. This young colt was about to go through a crowd of shouting people. What might we expect? But what do we find when Jesus gets on that donkey? No bucking in protest. No attempt to throw Jesus into the road. And here’s why. That donkey was carrying its Creator, the King of kings. the Son of God. Recognize Him. Blessed is the king who comes.
But something is very different about this King. He sure doesn’t match up with what we might expect for such an important person. You can’t help but notice that too. See how he comes. Think about the Kings of Jesus’ day. How about King Herod? He was a shrewd ambitious leader who would do anything to keep his power, even kill his wife and sons when he suspected them of treason. Herod had built many beautiful buildings to make sure his name was remembered. Just suppose King Herod came by this day. What would you see? You’d see him riding in a golden chariot or atop some big beautiful war horse. You’d see him surrounded with his soldiers to impress you with his might. And he’d be met by all the important come to seek his favor.
This King is clearly different. See how he comes. There is no official welcome by the elite of Jerusalem. In fact the religious leaders are plotting to kill him and he knows it. Yet he comes. He comes in humility, just like his birth in a stable to a poor virgin mother. He comes in humility riding a donkey and a borrowed one at that. He comes in humility to put the needs of others, even the lowest person, above his own. Think of the words of our epistle. 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, (Philippians 2)
For that’s how this King came. He came to serve, to seek and save the lost. And understand. That was you and me and everyone else without him. We were lost, hopeless, with no real purpose in life. This King has changed all that for you and me. IN him we have hope and real purpose for living. Blessed is the King who comes. And this day, Know the peace he brings.
Many a president has come into office with a promise of peace. I remember President Nixon ran for office saying he had a secret plan to end the Vietnam War. How many years went by? How many thousands died before that peace finally came? I would not be surprised if Nixon’s secret plan for peace was a secret to him.
Well the people here proclaimed that this King’s coming was about peace. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest they shouted Or think of what the prophet called this coming King. the prince of peace. Think of what the Christmas angels sang at his birth. Glory to God in the highness and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. The coming of this king was about peace.
But what kind of peace? No more wars or need for armed forces. That’s not the peace his coming promised. At least not till we see him again. This King came to bring a peace far more lasting, far more wonderful. He came to bring a peace that we by nature are too foolish to care about.
Jesus brings peace between God and a world of people like you and me who have wiped our feet on God’s design for our lives. Look at the world that has come from that. Prisons overflowing. Drugs aplenty. Families coming apart at the seams. A country ready to throw out God’s design for marriage. The need for a defense budget that eats up so much of our national treasure. Grown ups who prey on youth. Youth who prey on the elderly. Why would God want to keep us around for another day?
I don’t know. But for some reason too wonderful to understand, he sent this King. He sent this King, his own Son, our Lord to bring peace, to right that relationship with Him that we made into such a deadly mess.
And how did he do that? Follow Jesus again this Holy Week. Watch him on Maundy Thursday as he institutes a Supper that assures us now of this wonderful peace. Follow him to the Garden of Gethsemane where this King prays in great anguish, where he is betrayed, arrested, abandoned and led away. His disciples, don’t know what to think even though Jesus has told them. But Jesus and his Father know. This King has gone to win the peace. To take on himself, your guilt and mine. This King has gone to bleed and die for you, for me. In fact, for the whole world. And bring us peace, forgiveness for our sins.
This is the King who comes to us this morning in his Word. As people shout their praise, he has no time to stop and smell the roses. He has no desire to get a count of how many palms were raised. No this King is determined to go the way of the cross for me. To lie in a tomb and then rise in victory, a victory that belongs to all who put their trust in him.
Blessed is the King who comes. Blessed is the King who comes to our hearts in this Word. Let the King enter, he is the King of the glory. Amen.