Palm Sunday: Who is this?
As I read the story of Palm Sunday this week found in Matthew chapter 21, the people of Jerusalem, with their question, stood out to me. The people of Jerusalem asked: “Who is this?” Who is this Jesus?
And this is the question for us as well. Who is this Jesus?
On this day, thousands of years ago, as Jesus journeyed into Jerusalem, the crowds sang Hosanna and they waived palm branches. But, have you ever wondered, as I have, why we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem? He’s been there before, so why do we celebrate? Why are the people that day, thousands of years ago waiving palm branches and laying down their coats?
Why do we sing Hosanna? Why do we decorate with Palm Branches? What is it about this day, and these symbols that mean so much to us?
Essentially what the people from the countryside and the villages were doing as they entered Jerusalem, with Jesus, was displaying their political signs for all to see. They were displaying all their hopes and their dreams of the future, including salvation from the current tyranny from the Romans.
When the crowds shouted Hosanna! and waived their Palm Branches they were certainly expecting great things of Jesus; particularly in regards to the politics of the day. In many ways, the actions of Palm Sunday were much like a current political rally or march. They were practically and visibly displaying their hopes and dreams for a new leadership.
The people had bought into the notion that the Empire could and would offer them salvation. Yet the Jews at the time did not believe Rome was capable of offering them salvation. They wanted, and believed they needed a king from the line of David. They believed, as Jesus was entering Jerusalem on the brink of Passover, that He would be their empirical saving king. They were fed up with Rome, a nation with many gods rather than the One. They believed only God’s chosen and anointed one could rule God’s chosen people with justice and righteousness.
And there they were, with great expectations, awaiting their salvation, salvation from the current hierarchy. They came to the city with hopes and expectations that Jesus would be their next David. They expected a man carrying a slingshot and sword. They expected a warrior, a champion, a hero. They expected Jesus to come in and replace the Romans with the Jews. They came that day, celebrating the release and relocation of those in power.
If you look back in the previous chapter of Matthew, chapter twenty, they really were thinking politically as two disciples even asked to be sat on the left and right of Jesus’ throne. Clearly they were thinking empirically. Clearly the problem of the day was that although the crowd offers the right words and actions, with the hosannas they sing and the Palm Branches they waive, they desired a salvation that is not a solution. It’s not a solution to their problems or the problems of the world. It’s not a long-term, life changing solution. They merely sought political prestige and independence.
Today we sing and wave our Palm Branches, not because we, like those before us, expect Jesus to follow in the way of the Empire. No, we sing because we still celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into our lives. We, as followers of Jesus’ way, resist the notion that the world is for us and for our kind. We resist the notion that salvation is something the world provides through its power and prestige. We sing and celebrate because with Christ’s help we resist the structure of society and its empirical power pyramid, backed by fear and force.
We are able to rest and find our place in the kingdom of God as we faithfully follow in the humble steps of Jesus. As we follow his way, we – you and me, are able to live as he did. We are empowered to live in humility. We are set free to let Love reign in us.
This week I read a story of a guy who loved baseball. He went to games all the time. And what I read was his story of a particular trip to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play. He said he arrived a little late that day, and as he crested the top of the stairs to the entrance to his seats, before he could see the field, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Apparently something had happened on the field that had people out of their seats and roaring. He quickly looked at his ticket, located his row and wiggled down to his seat. As he approached his seat, the man next to it was going wild with cheers, whistles, and applause. Embarrassed that he got there late and didn’t know what happened, he shyly tapped the guy on the shoulder and asked him “what happened?” Without the slightest embarrassment the guy next to him said, “I don’t know; I just got here.
I’ve had this happen to me before! I’ve walked in and immediately been caught up in the excitement. And this is exactly what is happening in Jerusalem. And, so it makes perfect sense why the people asked “who is this”!
As I read the story of Palm Sunday this week, the people of Jerusalem, with their question stood out to me as they asked: “Who is this?” Who is this Jesus?
And this is the question for us as well. Who is this Jesus?
Jesus is the humble king. He is the king of an upside down kingdom, a kingdom where Christ came for the poor, the sick, and those who are in need. Our humble king was born in a manger. He is the
King who rode into town upon a donkey.
Jesus is the one who kneels down and washes the feet of his friends.
The humble king, Jesus Christ, came for you and for me.
Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus reminds us to love the Lord our God with all our heart soul mind and strength, and our neighbor as our self. Jesus Christ, the one triumphantly riding into the city upon the back of a donkey, a symbol of peace, came proclaiming uncompromising, unconditional love. A love for humility and humanity!
That’s who Jesus is!
But as our city asks this question, perhaps we need to make it a bit more personal. Who is Jesus to you?
I hope we all have a personal story and experience with the Living God. I hope his story in our lives stretches beyond the crowd’s declaration. The crowds were saying: “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” Yet, I hope we are able to move beyond this simple declaration of prophet and location and move into the declaration that he is the living, relational God who so loves the world…!
I hope we are able to move beyond the empirical hopes and dreams of a new empire… And celebrate the coming of the Humble King; the Humble King, who came not for the rich and healthy, but for the poor and the sick. I pray that as we wave our palm branches, that we realize our empirical hopes and dreams become the ash of tomorrow.
“The whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?
On the cusp of Holy Week, Who is Jesus to you? As we prepare to remember Christ’s betrayal and crucifixion, who is Jesus to you? As we remember Christ’s death, who is he?
As we look forward to the coming days, did Jesus endure the stripes and the nails that we may go on living within this empirical society? Did Christ hang, broken on the cross so we may be disconnect from the realities of today and focus on the life beyond? Did Jesus walk, talk, and embrace the stranger that we may turn our eyes and walk on the other side?
“The whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”
I’d like to read you a relatively famous description of who Jesus is from Pastor S.M. Lockridge titled: My King
The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.
I wonder, do you know Him?
My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.
Do you know Him?
He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.
I wonder if you know Him today?
He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.
I wonder if you know Him?
He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.
Do you know Him? Well…
His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…
He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.
“The whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”
Who is this Jesus?
Who is this Jesus we claim to love? Who is this Jesus we claim to serve? Who is this one, whom we say we follow? Has his life, death, and resurrection impacted and transformed who we are and how we see the world?
Who is this Jesus?
Do you know him?
Do you follow him?
Have you stepped out of the empirical world with its focus on power, prestige and self-gratification – and into Christ’s upside down kingdom where the first will be last, and the last will be first. Where we wash each other’s feet, and humbly serve others – that they too may come to know the one who is the servant of all!
This week as we step into the biggest week of the church year – when asked who Jesus is, be bold. Share your story. Share how he has stepped into your life. Share how Jesus Christ has transformed you and share how you will never be the same again! Don’t be shy about your relationship with the Risen Lord – as the Apostle Peter was.
Rather, when the whole city is in turmoil, and is asking, “Who is this?” Boldly pronounce the powerful presence of the Humble King in your life!
We see him, we see our humble king seated upon a donkey. We watch him, we watch our humble king wash the feet of his followers. We’re shown the humility of our lord as he was baptized by one and anointed by another.
The Palm Branches remind us that salvation does not come from this world’s empire. Salvation comes from the LORD! This morning we celebrate Christ’s humility and his willingness to provide himself as our true salvation. Today, this Palm Sunday, we are invited into God’s Kingdom, where the humble King greets the lowly and invites you, the sick, the broken, the hope-filled seekers of a new kingdom into his Loving embrace. This morning, we can lay our hopes before God and seek his way, and seek his will, and seek his power for our lives! His humble, loving power!
Who is this Jesus?
He’s the one standing at the mouth of the tomb, with his arms outstretched, ready to embrace you with his humble life of love.
As I read the story of Palm Sunday this week found in Matthew chapter 21, the people of Jerusalem, with their question, stood out to me. The people of Jerusalem asked: “Who is this?” Who is this Jesus?
And this is the question for us as well. Who is this Jesus?
On this day, thousands of years ago, as Jesus journeyed into Jerusalem, the crowds sang Hosanna and they waived palm branches. But, have you ever wondered, as I have, why we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem? He’s been there before, so why do we celebrate? Why are the people that day, thousands of years ago waiving palm branches and laying down their coats?
Why do we sing Hosanna? Why do we decorate with Palm Branches? What is it about this day, and these symbols that mean so much to us?
Essentially what the people from the countryside and the villages were doing as they entered Jerusalem, with Jesus, was displaying their political signs for all to see. They were displaying all their hopes and their dreams of the future, including salvation from the current tyranny from the Romans.
When the crowds shouted Hosanna! and waived their Palm Branches they were certainly expecting great things of Jesus; particularly in regards to the politics of the day. In many ways, the actions of Palm Sunday were much like a current political rally or march. They were practically and visibly displaying their hopes and dreams for a new leadership.
The people had bought into the notion that the Empire could and would offer them salvation. Yet the Jews at the time did not believe Rome was capable of offering them salvation. They wanted, and believed they needed a king from the line of David. They believed, as Jesus was entering Jerusalem on the brink of Passover, that He would be their empirical saving king. They were fed up with Rome, a nation with many gods rather than the One. They believed only God’s chosen and anointed one could rule God’s chosen people with justice and righteousness.
And there they were, with great expectations, awaiting their salvation, salvation from the current hierarchy. They came to the city with hopes and expectations that Jesus would be their next David. They expected a man carrying a slingshot and sword. They expected a warrior, a champion, a hero. They expected Jesus to come in and replace the Romans with the Jews. They came that day, celebrating the release and relocation of those in power.
If you look back in the previous chapter of Matthew, chapter twenty, they really were thinking politically as two disciples even asked to be sat on the left and right of Jesus’ throne. Clearly they were thinking empirically. Clearly the problem of the day was that although the crowd offers the right words and actions, with the hosannas they sing and the Palm Branches they waive, they desired a salvation that is not a solution. It’s not a solution to their problems or the problems of the world. It’s not a long-term, life changing solution. They merely sought political prestige and independence.
Today we sing and wave our Palm Branches, not because we, like those before us, expect Jesus to follow in the way of the Empire. No, we sing because we still celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into our lives. We, as followers of Jesus’ way, resist the notion that the world is for us and for our kind. We resist the notion that salvation is something the world provides through its power and prestige. We sing and celebrate because with Christ’s help we resist the structure of society and its empirical power pyramid, backed by fear and force.
We are able to rest and find our place in the kingdom of God as we faithfully follow in the humble steps of Jesus. As we follow his way, we – you and me, are able to live as he did. We are empowered to live in humility. We are set free to let Love reign in us.
This week I read a story of a guy who loved baseball. He went to games all the time. And what I read was his story of a particular trip to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs play. He said he arrived a little late that day, and as he crested the top of the stairs to the entrance to his seats, before he could see the field, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Apparently something had happened on the field that had people out of their seats and roaring. He quickly looked at his ticket, located his row and wiggled down to his seat. As he approached his seat, the man next to it was going wild with cheers, whistles, and applause. Embarrassed that he got there late and didn’t know what happened, he shyly tapped the guy on the shoulder and asked him “what happened?” Without the slightest embarrassment the guy next to him said, “I don’t know; I just got here.
I’ve had this happen to me before! I’ve walked in and immediately been caught up in the excitement. And this is exactly what is happening in Jerusalem. And, so it makes perfect sense why the people asked “who is this”!
As I read the story of Palm Sunday this week, the people of Jerusalem, with their question stood out to me as they asked: “Who is this?” Who is this Jesus?
And this is the question for us as well. Who is this Jesus?
Jesus is the humble king. He is the king of an upside down kingdom, a kingdom where Christ came for the poor, the sick, and those who are in need. Our humble king was born in a manger. He is the
King who rode into town upon a donkey.
Jesus is the one who kneels down and washes the feet of his friends.
The humble king, Jesus Christ, came for you and for me.
Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus reminds us to love the Lord our God with all our heart soul mind and strength, and our neighbor as our self. Jesus Christ, the one triumphantly riding into the city upon the back of a donkey, a symbol of peace, came proclaiming uncompromising, unconditional love. A love for humility and humanity!
That’s who Jesus is!
But as our city asks this question, perhaps we need to make it a bit more personal. Who is Jesus to you?
I hope we all have a personal story and experience with the Living God. I hope his story in our lives stretches beyond the crowd’s declaration. The crowds were saying: “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” Yet, I hope we are able to move beyond this simple declaration of prophet and location and move into the declaration that he is the living, relational God who so loves the world…!
I hope we are able to move beyond the empirical hopes and dreams of a new empire… And celebrate the coming of the Humble King; the Humble King, who came not for the rich and healthy, but for the poor and the sick. I pray that as we wave our palm branches, that we realize our empirical hopes and dreams become the ash of tomorrow.
“The whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?
On the cusp of Holy Week, Who is Jesus to you? As we prepare to remember Christ’s betrayal and crucifixion, who is Jesus to you? As we remember Christ’s death, who is he?
As we look forward to the coming days, did Jesus endure the stripes and the nails that we may go on living within this empirical society? Did Christ hang, broken on the cross so we may be disconnect from the realities of today and focus on the life beyond? Did Jesus walk, talk, and embrace the stranger that we may turn our eyes and walk on the other side?
“The whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”
I’d like to read you a relatively famous description of who Jesus is from Pastor S.M. Lockridge titled: My King
The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.
I wonder, do you know Him?
My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.
Do you know Him?
He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Saviour. He’s the centrepiece of civilization. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.
I wonder if you know Him today?
He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.
I wonder if you know Him?
He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.
Do you know Him? Well…
His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.
I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…
He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.
“The whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”
Who is this Jesus?
Who is this Jesus we claim to love? Who is this Jesus we claim to serve? Who is this one, whom we say we follow? Has his life, death, and resurrection impacted and transformed who we are and how we see the world?
Who is this Jesus?
Do you know him?
Do you follow him?
Have you stepped out of the empirical world with its focus on power, prestige and self-gratification – and into Christ’s upside down kingdom where the first will be last, and the last will be first. Where we wash each other’s feet, and humbly serve others – that they too may come to know the one who is the servant of all!
This week as we step into the biggest week of the church year – when asked who Jesus is, be bold. Share your story. Share how he has stepped into your life. Share how Jesus Christ has transformed you and share how you will never be the same again! Don’t be shy about your relationship with the Risen Lord – as the Apostle Peter was.
Rather, when the whole city is in turmoil, and is asking, “Who is this?” Boldly pronounce the powerful presence of the Humble King in your life!
We see him, we see our humble king seated upon a donkey. We watch him, we watch our humble king wash the feet of his followers. We’re shown the humility of our lord as he was baptized by one and anointed by another.
The Palm Branches remind us that salvation does not come from this world’s empire. Salvation comes from the LORD! This morning we celebrate Christ’s humility and his willingness to provide himself as our true salvation. Today, this Palm Sunday, we are invited into God’s Kingdom, where the humble King greets the lowly and invites you, the sick, the broken, the hope-filled seekers of a new kingdom into his Loving embrace. This morning, we can lay our hopes before God and seek his way, and seek his will, and seek his power for our lives! His humble, loving power!
Who is this Jesus?
He’s the one standing at the mouth of the tomb, with his arms outstretched, ready to embrace you with his humble life of love.
As you go, allow your affiliation with Christ the Humble King to be evident to all. Go and Love!
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