The Hope of Palm Sunday

The Hope of Palm Sunday

Last week

Last week I pleaded with you that without hope we have no reason for living.

A theme running throughout the Old like a scarlet thread was there is hope.

Things might seem bad, life might be difficult.

You might feel like you are stuck in the miry clay.

But there is HOPE!

God is going to send a saviour – a King who will bring in God’s Kingdom.

A Kingdom that will never fade away, an eternal kingdom.

1. The Seleucid Kingdom

Some 160 years before Jesus, events that occurred, help us understand a little about how the Jewish people of Jerusalem were longing for a Messiah to come and usher in God’s Kingdom.

The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV had defeated the Egyptian armies and now come into Jerusalem needing money. He plundered the highly valuable items used in the temple to Worship God. The books of Maccabees although not part of our Biblical canon are great tools to take us inside of the minds of the Jewish people 160 years before Jesus.

1 Maccabees 1:20–24 (NRSV)

(20) After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred forty-third year. He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force.

(21) He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils.

(22) He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off.

(23) He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures that he found.

(24) Taking them all, he went into his own land. He shed much blood, and spoke with great arrogance.

And the atrocities and disrespect for the Jewish people continues.

1 Maccabees 1:29–37 (NRSV)

(29) Two years later the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large force.

(30) Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many people of Israel.

(31) He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses and its surrounding walls.

(32) They took captive the women and children, and seized the livestock.

(33) Then they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.

(34) They stationed there a sinful people, men who were renegades. These strengthened their position;

(35) they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great menace,

(36) for the citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, an evil adversary of Israel at all times.

(37) On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood; they even defiled the sanctuary.

After all of this, Antiochus IV was still not finished.

He wanted everyone to adopt Greek culture and customs, this included worshiping only the Greek Gods like he did.[1]

1 Maccabees 1:41–50 (NRSV)

(41) Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,

(42) and that all should give up their particular customs.

(43) All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.

(44) And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land,

(45) to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and festivals,

(46) to defile the sanctuary and the priests,

(47) to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and other unclean animals,

(48) and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane,

(49) so that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances.

(50) He added, “And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die.”

And the oppression the Jews endured continued.

Those that were caught in possession of the books of the law, the Old Testament were put to death.

Those that circumcised their children were killed.

And we told amidst this persecution some faithful people stood firm.

Some believed that in the end – God will prevail – There was Hope even though it all seemed so bad.

1 Maccabees 1:62–64 (NRSV)

(62) But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.

(63) They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.

(64) Very great wrath came upon Israel.

Amidst this depressing and seemingly hopeless backdrop, a Jewish leader emerged.

Mattathias

He starts to fight back against the Seleucids.

After he dies, his son Judas Maccabeus then emerges as a great hope for God’s people that want to remain faithful.

To cut a long story very short.

Judas Maccabeus leads a Jewish army, defeats the Seleucids and allows Israel to be a free and independent nation again.

After they liberate Jerusalem, read about this triumphant parade.

1 Maccabees 13:51 (NRSV)

(51) On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred seventy-first year, the Jews entered it [Jerusalem] with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel.

And after they purify and restore the temple.

Listen to what they do.

2 Maccabees 10:3–7 (NRSV)

(3) They purified the sanctuary, and made another altar of sacrifice; then, striking fire out of flint, they offered sacrifices, after a lapse of two years, and they offered incense and lighted lamps and set out the bread of the Presence.

(4) When they had done this, they fell prostrate and implored the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, but that, if they should ever sin, they might be disciplined by him with forbearance and not be handed over to blasphemous and barbarous nations.

(5) It happened that on the same day on which the sanctuary had been profaned by the foreigners, the purification of the sanctuary took place, that is, on the twenty-fifth day of the same month, which was Chislev.

(6) They celebrated it for eight days with rejoicing, in the manner of the festival of booths, remembering how not long before, during the festival of booths, they had been wandering in the mountains and caves like wild animals.

(7) Therefore, carrying ivy-wreathed wands and beautiful branches and also fronds of palm, they offered hymns of thanksgiving to him who had given success to the purifying of his own holy place.

Now let’s fast forward 160 years.

Now God’s people find themselves living underneath Roman Rule.

Those people longed for a Messiah, The Messiah who would come and bring into being God’s long promised Kingdom.

This longing for a Messiah, the one who was to come simmers in the hearts of the people.

Then Born in a manger was a baby called….

Before Jesus was born Jesus’, uncle Zacharias (John the Baptists father) was filled with the Holy Spirit and Prophesised.

Luke 1:67–75 (NLT)

(67) Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

(68) “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.

(69) He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,

(70) just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.

(71) Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.

(72) He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—

(73) the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.

(74) We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear,

(75) in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

Was Jesus this coming Messiah, the saviour?

Was Jesus the one who would bring in God’s Kingdom and drive the Romans out?

We now come to when Jesus as a grown man, this miracle worker, a person who often spoke about God’s coming Kingdom.

A man that his closest disciple Peter days earlier said

Mark 8:29 (NLT)

(29) Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

I want to ask _________________ to come and read to us what happens when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem from Luke’s Gospel.

Luke 19:28-44

Luke 19:28–44 (NLT)

(28) After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples.

(29) As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead.

(30) “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

(31) If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

(32) So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said.

(33) And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

(34) And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.”

(35) So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

(36) As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him.

(37) When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

(38) “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

(39) But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

(40) He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

(41) But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.

(42) “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.

(43) Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.

(44) They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”*

2. The _______________ Entry (Luke 19:28-44)

Let’s now piece together what happened when he enters Jerusalem.

What type of entry was it?

a) Mount of Olives

Firstly, Jesus enters Jerusalem from the East, coming from the Mount of Olives.

For us this little insignificant detail may not seem that important, but for the Jewish people who were longing and hoping for a saviour a redeemer one who was coming to bring in God’s Kingdom this was an important sign.

The prophet Zechariah describes a future day when oppression will be great, but God will stand up and fight back emerging as the ultimate victor and the Lord will be enthroned as King.

Zechariah 14:1–9 (NLT)

(1) Watch, for the day of the LORD is coming when your possessions will be plundered right in front of you!

(2) I will gather all the nations to fight against Jerusalem. The city will be taken, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the population will be taken into captivity, and the rest will be left among the ruins of the city.

(3) Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past.

(4) On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south.

(5) You will flee through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.

(6) On that day the sources of light will no longer shine,

(7) yet there will be continuous day! Only the LORD knows how this could happen. There will be no normal day and night, for at evening time it will still be light.

(8) On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.

(9) And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD—his name alone will be worshiped.

This would have fuelled people’s expectation that Jesus could be this promised King who was going to liberate and free them from the oppression of the Romans and Herald in God’s Kingdom.

b) The Kings Colt

Secondly not only is Jesus arriving from the East, thru the mount of Olives.

Jesus also rides in on a colt, or as Matthew stresses on a donkey’s colt.

Matthew 21:5 (NLT)

(5) “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’ ”

The prophet Zechariah also tells us that when the King comes he too will come riding on a donkey’s colt.

And as a humble King, he will also purge Jerusalem of battle chariots and war horses.

These two weapons of war, would have been symbolic of the Roman army that has occupied Jerusalem.

Zechariah 9:9–10 (NLT)

(9) Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

(10) I will remove the battle chariots from Israel and the warhorses from Jerusalem. I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.

Would Jesus entering Jerusalem on a humble colt have fuelled this expectancy and hope that he was this Messiah?

The one who was going to bring in this new Kingdom of God.

c) Garments

The People also throw their garments over the road into Jerusalem

This was a way of people showing honour and homage to a royal figure.

This strange practice also had an old testament precedent.

Jehu is a strong and effective military commander.

A soldier’s soldier

A man who can courageously face the enemy, and drive them out of God’s land.

In the book of 2nd Kings a strange event unfolds.

The Commander Jehu is in his meeting room with all his captains, when a messenger of the prophet Elisha comes and asks to speak to him alone.

2 Kings 9:5–6 (NLT)

(5) When he arrived there, he found Jehu sitting around with the other army officers. “I have a message for you, Commander,” he said. “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. “For you, Commander,” he replied.

(6) So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the LORD’s people, Israel.

When Jehu’s fellow peers in the army hear, Jehu tell them that a strange man came and anointed him with oil and announced him King.

They instantly.

2 Kings 9:13 (NLT)

(13) Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram’s horn, shouting, “Jehu is king!”

When Jesus is welcomed into Jerusalem with everyone laying their garments on the road, this was a significant political statement, and a demonstration of their deep longing and hope that Jesus would be this warrior King that would free and liberate them, heralding in God’s Kingdom.

d) Long live the King

The people lining the road that day was hoping and longing that Jesus was this long-awaited King that would free them.

Luke also tells us that the crowd was so caught up in this expectancy that they shouted and sang as he came into the city.

They went wild thinking that the day of their liberation had come.

Listen to their shouts again.

Luke 19:38 (NLT)

(38) “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

Or in Mark

Mark 11:9–10 (NLT)

(9) Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!

(10) Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”

And similarly, in John

John 12:13b (NLT)

They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!”

In essence they were shouting and singing:

Our King is here! Long live the King.

Long live King Jesus.

Our King has Come – Praise the Lord

e) Political subversion

Luke chooses not to speak into a significant act of political subversion going on in the background.

Does anybody remember what plant featured prominently in Judas Maccabeus’ victory parade and celebration of the purification of the temple?

The Palm Branch

This act of political subversion has become our symbol of the Sunday before Easter.

Waving the palm branches was a serious act of defiance to the Romans.

Our King has come – your fate you Romans will be the same as the Seleucids.

You will be defeated.

God will prevail.

Listen to the Apostle John’s version of Jesus entry into Jerusalem.

John 12:12–16 (NLT)

(12) The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors

(13) took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!”

(14) Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

(15) “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”

(16) His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

This event is commonly referred to as Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Yet we know that he was not triumphant in the way the crowds wanted him to be triumphant.

He came not with a sword.

Instead he came in peace

He freely gave his life when he was to die on the cross.

I contend the fanfare of Jesus entry into Jerusalem is really a sign of the crowd’s impatient hope.

If you are taking notes, this was an impatient entry into Jerusalem.

Jesus was patient, and following the path and time of God.

But the crowd offered Jesus “an impatient entry”

3. The impatient hope

Immediately before Jesus entry into Jerusalem, Jesus told a prophetic parable, a story that spoke to the heart of what the people were thinking and longing for.

Luke 19:11–27 (NLT)

(11) The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.

I want to pause here:

Why did Jesus tell the story?

There is a significant backdrop to this story, but often when a Roman was appointed King over a territory they would journey to Rome, where they would then officially claim the title as King over a region.

That journey would often take months.

The story Jesus tells us is one what tells us what we are to do in that impatient time when we wait for the Kingdom to come – to be fully realised.

(12) He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.

(13) Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’

(14) But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’

(15) “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.

(16) The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’

(17) “ ‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’

(18) “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’

(19) “ ‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’

(20) “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe.

(21) I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’

(22) “ ‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant,

(23) why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

(24) “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’

(25) “ ‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’

(26) “ ‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

(27) And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’ ”

What Jesus wants us to hear and implement is:

Be patient, he has a journey he must take to be inaugurated as King.

But while we wait for the King to return, we need to be productive, growing and using what the King has given us.

We know that a time is coming when Jesus will return.

As we wait, we are not to retreat into caves, lamenting how bad the world is.

No we are to use what we have to grow God’s Kingdom

Bruce Barton writes that:

Upon his return, Jesus would inaugurate a kingdom more powerful and just than anything they could expect.[2]

God does not need a cheer squad, people chanting “long live the King”

We know from the Easter story that those same people that welcomed Jesus were the ones that chose a known revolutionary leader Barabbas to be freed, sending the one they welcomed as a Messiah days earlier to the cross and his death.

While we wait for the King to return.

What must we do?

Cling to our great hope in the King and our future lives in his eternal kingdom.

And, Jesus is telling us that as we wait, don’t be idle but instead do God’s work.

Be good stewards.

Use what God has given us to further the reach of His Kingdom.

SONG: Eli – the Lumber song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31xRZFs-Gj4

[1] His policy of attaining political unity by propagating Greek culture eventually met with violent resistance from the Jews.

F. L. Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 79.

[2] Bruce B. Barton et al., Luke, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1997), 433.