Reversal of Fortune

Bible Passage: Matthew 21:6-11, Matthew 27:33-44

Big Idea: Trust God's plan in times of apparent defeat.

Jan. 3, 1993 — The Oilers meltdown?! or the Bills Step-up!?!

TRANS: The darkest hour is just before the dawn… But, there is often an brightness that gave us a hope to begin with: a reason we had our hopes up and our expectations high! You can’t be crushed when you expect failure. But you can easily be devastated when you expect not only success, but roaring success. Ask Warren Moon or Webster Slaughter! Or, look to the Disciples at Holy Week.

Today, we have a Biblical diptych. Two stories to compare and contrast. And a great lesson about our Lord to learn.

1. Hosanna: A Celebrated King

Matthew 21:6-9

Holy Week starts with a celebration! The Rock Star is here!

2 King 9:13 shows Jehu receiving this welcome

In Maccabees, we read of Simon Maccabaeus having this welcome! — Both in triumph!

And the greeting: Psalm 118:26 “He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.”

Hossanna: Save now! Psalm 118:25 “Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success!”

As William Barclay says, “essentially, it is a people’s cry for deliverance and for help in the day of their trouble; it is an oppressed people’s cry to their saviour and their king.

TRANS: It is a gathering for a festival, a feast! of celebration! The Lord Who Delivers is remembered and praised for His love, mercy, glory, and grace! And, in the middle of this, the biggest personality in the region, and a top 10 world wide, is making a guest appearance! Of course they sang and shouted praise! There was electricity in the air! God was about to do something big!

2. Who Is This? A Questioning Crowd

Matthew 21:10-11

But, NOTE verse 10: many were asking, “Who is this?”

Didn’t I just say he was an A-lister?!?

Steve Miller legend...

He wasn’t “google-able”

Ask yourself, “How would I answer?”

Just a prophet?

A good man?

The Son of God?

Jesus often isn’t who we want Him to be

Clearing Temple tables

Holding a high standard of love

Holding a high standard of accountability

TRANS: I truly hope that we would answer with more than: “This is the prophet for Nazareth.” I hope we spend time occasionally reflection on C. S. Lewis’ tri-lemma: If you take the words of Jesus seriously, he was either a liar, a lunatic, or the LORD! There is no other choice! And yet, our Lord takes a path that scares us. It is a path to failure, to loss, to pain, to a bitter end. It seems like defeat has come and overpowered Him.

3. Golgotha: The Irony of Kingship

Matthew 27:33-37

And, so, we follow Simon, the Cyrene, we follow John and the Marys, we follow the crowds and the Priests and Scribes to the place of the Skull. We follow them to what seems to be a tragic ending to a promising movement.

Here, at Calvary, everyone knew who He was: “Jesus, the King of the Jews” was clearly written above His head.

Here, at Golgotha, there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We see the bad guys celebrating

We see the Priests taunting

Yet, we see the greatest power of God displayed and we don’t notice it!

TRANS: We assume it is weakness. We assume it is defeat. Yet, Jesus continues to teach by both word and deed on the Cross. He shares God’s love and forgiveness. He bears the burden of our hatred and scorn. He looks ignoble, yet He is the most noble. He looks defeated, yet He is conquering. He looks broken, yet He is mending all things!

4. Gethsemane: The Path to Glory

Matthew 27:38-44

Ironically, if He had come down, He would not have proved much to anyone. The same protests, “He is from Beelzabul, would be levied.”

I’m reminded of the scene in “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”

Aslan’s sacrifice: is it the end? “Do not cite the deep magic to me, witch. I was there when it was written!”

I’m reminded of the Israelites at the Red Sea when Pharoah’s army approached.

I’m reminded of Gideon whittling his army from 22,000 to 300 and THEN going into battle!

I’m reminded of Bills fans in ‘93.

I’m reminded that the darkest hour is right before dawn.

I’m reminded that the crucifixion happened on Friday, but Sunday was still coming!

CONC: So, take heart. When the light fades, all is not lost. He is with us in the valley of the darkest shadow, even the shadow of death. And He has defeated death, so it is no longer a threat! Trust in the LORD with all your heart, because ours is the LORD of reversal of fortune.