Luke 19 v 28-40
Before you begin to read this sermon, I want to mention that in recent times My posts through some technical action in the process of publication , appear to have resulted in many views not having been recorded. I have been unable to ascertain why this has happened, and just hope and pray some will still be published, and seen by regular readers..
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On Sunday we remember the first Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode
into Jerusalem on a donkey to proclaim Himself as the Messiah and was greeted
by cheering crowds waving palm branches, the same crowds who a few days later
would be crying ‘crucify Him’. This is
the beginning of Holy Week as we celebrate the events of 2,000 years ago and
follow our Lord’s last days before His crucifixion, the heart of the Christian
faith
Jesus had been in Jericho, and was now ready to go to
Jerusalem on the last stage of His life’s journey. He was going to walk the way many pilgrims
had walked. The walk from Jericho to
Jerusalem was only twenty miles where His end lay.
This was in fact more than a journey into Jerusalem, it was a
journey to the Cross, a journey Jesus could have avoided and left the world to
perish, but He readily went on to a very brutal and cruel death to take our
place on the Cross to pay the penalty for our sins, a penalty we are unable to
pay for ourselves.
On reaching Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two
of His disciples ahead to the next village, telling them they would find a colt
tied by the side of the road, and they were to untie it and take it to
Him. If anyone should challenge them,
they were to say the Lord needs it. We
are not told how Jesus knew this, but did so through the means of His supernatural knowledge. We
could find similar other instances in numerous parts of the Gospels, in which
he could foretell of what would take place.
This description of the
perfect knowledge of Jesus should be an indication of how necessary prayers of
repentance are needed, as He could know the lack of faith of professed
Christians, and the sins we all commit.
True faithful believers should be comforted.
All was carefully planned,
there was no sudden action, and Jesus did not leave until the last moment. It was a most brave act of courage, for there
was a price on His head. He did not try
to conceal His visit. It was a deliberate claim to be King fulfilling the
prophecy of Zechariah in the Old Testament, who foretold of the Messiah
entering Jerusalem on a donkey. By His action |He showed His people He came in
love and peace. But the hatred of men overtook Him.
So began the fateful journey down the Mount of Olives where
He was joined by waiting crowds who greeted Him wildly, laying their cloaks on
the road in front of Him and waving palm branches, and singing from Psalm 118
which was a psalm pilgrims sang as a hymn of praise to God. Palm branches were used to signify joy and
celebration.
Jesus would normally have slipped quietly into the city as He
usually like to avoid attention, but on this occasion although He knew a price
was on His head, chose to ride in triumphantly.
The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was like a King
riding into his capital, with many of His followers and pilgrims who had poured
into the city for the festival, rejoicing and praising God with loud
voices. He knew the time had come for
Him to die upon the Cross for all sinners.
His ministry and the sacrifice He had to make were over, and He wanted
the whole Jewish nation to give their attention. He had been publicly heard in the city before
He was betrayed, and falsely charged and convicted by the Jewish leaders.
The Bible teaches that the joy
of Christ’s disciples as He entered the city to be crucified, will be exceeded
when He returns for a second time.
Jesus knew a demonstration would happen and further enrage
the Jewish leaders, and in fact the Pharisees were annoyed, so making them more
eager to plot against Him. Jesus knew
that God had a plan for Him, which made the Jews change their intentions.
Jesus made it clear to the crowds that He was not the kind of
Messiah of their dreams; He came in peace not as a conquering warrior. They did not understand His intention, and
were following for the wrong motives.
These same adoring crowds would a few days later, turn equally wildly
against Him as He faced the Cross.
As He entered the city Jesus paused on the hill overlooking
it and we are told He wept because He knew that within a few years the city
would be destroyed by the Romans.
The Pharisees complained to Jesus that his disciples were rejoicing
and asked Jesus to stop them from doing so. He rebuked them fo so asking, and
said the stones on the ground would cry out, meaning all creation was made to worship
the King and Lord of all.
What is our
response as we remember that journey of Jesus?
We can reject Him as many did in Jerusalem, or treat it with an air of
indifference. But let us remember this
story of our Lord’s journey to the Cross was for our forgiveness and it cost
Him public mockery, the most cruel of deaths, and spiritual torment. As Christians we should ask ourselves, are we
following Him for the right reasons; do we realise the sacrifice He made for us
in the most horrific manner ever devised by man?
It is important for us to understand the lesson
we can learn from this event. It is not
enough to think positively about Christ. When we get to the last days, Jesus is
not going to say ‘Did you have nice thoughts about me?’ The question is, have we accepted He is the
Son of God and Saviour of sinners, and trusted in Him alone for our salvation.
For so many people to-day,
the Cross has little relevance beyond being a fashion accessory; the philosophy
is that they are self-sufficient, they may make an odd mistake, but at heart
are quite good; to admit they are sinful is a step too far. The Cross is an event that has been
remembered for more than two thousand years, and still is a most recognised
one. No one should wear a cross without asking themselves why they wear it.
Not only are we all sinful, (the Bible states ‘we all fall
short of the glory of God’), but we cannot save ourselves. This is something which does not go down well
with people, who see it as an interference in their lives. The intelligentsia mock and see religion as
silly and foolish, but are so fearful it might prey on their consciences they
try to have it wiped out, and reject the need of any Saviour, not wanting to
admit their sin or dependence upon God.
The message of the
Cross is that we must humble ourselves and surrender to God, which is an
affront to the proud. For those who do
accept this message, this foolishness becomes the very power of God, for the
Bible states that what seems foolish to the world, is in fact the very wisdom
of God.
But that action of our Lord
demands a response, if we are to claim the forgiveness offered. We all need to ask ourselves, if I stood
before God today, and He asked me why I should be allowed into heaven, what
would I say?
The Bible is all about commitment. We are reminded of the
superficiality of commitment in our own time.
Less than 10% of people think God worthy of one hour per week to visit a
Church. Yet if you were to ask people
their religion, the vast majority would reply C of E, and seriously consider
they were Christians. They would be
mortally offended if you suggested otherwise. Yet few people
seem bothered to think of Jesus, even less to do anything about it.
It is easy to say I am a Christian; easy to profess being a
Christian; easy to say I read the Bible. 95% of the population today believe as
long as you are honest, kind and helpful to others and do no harm, you are a
fully=fledged Christian.
Muslims in Islamic
countries are Muslims in the full sense of the word, and they find difficulty
in understanding how people who live in Christian lands, reject their faith so
completely. Why, on the Lord’s birthday
so many get drunk and engage in orgies. They will fight and defend their faith,
and the men will not feel embarrassed or ashamed to be seen going to worship.
Put many Englishmen in a Church and they feel disorientated.
Perhaps there's someone here who has been thinking through the Christian
faith. Now you need to simply and humbly
believe, and trust in Jesus Christ
who died on the Cross. On this Palm Sunday morning and hail him as
your matchless King.
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