Palm Sunday 2000 - Obliged to Joy

Reading: Zechariah 9:9-13
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)

I.   Rejoice!

     A.  We are Invited to rejoice

         1.  Join in the celebration!

               a.  Come on! Get on the band wagon!

               b.  It’s time to start praising!

         2.  The celebration has already begun!

               a.  Throughout history God’s people celebrate the coming Messiah!

               b.  This is not a somber, but joyous time!

               c.  In fact the somber time around the corner, gives us more case to rejoice!

     B.  We are Obligated to rejoice

         1.  Yes, this is a command: Rejoice

               a.  Why do we think of it as optional?

               b.  The Hasidic Jews, consider it a sacred duty to praise God enthusiastically!

               c.  Isn’t joy related to thankfulness?!

         2.  Paul tells us:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

         3.  It is not simply something we might enjoy doing, we owe God our Joy.

               a.  Our cup overflows with blessings.

               b.  Should it not overflow in praise too?!

     C.  Rejoice Greatly!

         1.  Not just a little bit!

               a.  Not a timid, half-hearted joy.

               b.  Not a straight-faced, self-controlled joy

               c.  Rejoice Greatly!

         2.  Rejoice a lot–be really joyful!

               a.  Really, not pretend. Really!

               b.  Rejoice often, much, deeply, loudly.

               c.  Like David dancing before the Lord Joy

         3.  Not only that Shout!

               a.  Do you get the idea here that this kind of worship isn’t quiet and meditative?!

               b.  Exuberant joy! Extroverted, unashamed joy! Out loud, who cares who sees joy!

II.  The King Comes

     A.  Our King comes to Us!

         1.  Our King is coming to us!

               a.  Not a party’s choice, not someone self-appointed, not an imperial power

               b.  Our King–we belong to Him / He to us

               c.  He’s coming to us! To be with us!

         2.  He came and will come again!

               a.  He was born in Bethlehem.

               b.  He comes on Palm Sunday

               c.  He will come again in power!

         3.  He comes to us every day!

               a.  Through the Holy Spirit

               b.  (Do we recognize Him when he does?)

     B.  Our King is Righteous

         1.  Isn’t it about time we had someone with power who is worthy of it!

               a.  Aren’t you a little tired of it already!

               b.  Jesus is worthy of this kind of power!

         2.  Isn’t it about time we had someone with power who we know won’t abuse it!

               a.  Power corrupts, absolute power . . .

               b.  But Jesus can’t be corrupted!

               c.  That’s something to celebrate!

         3.  Our King is Good!

               a.  He is morally upright

               b.  There’s nothing suspicious in Him.

               c.  He is good to us

     C.  Our King brings Salvation

         1.  Not taxation, not inflation, not subjugation.

               a.  Not to get from us.

               b.  Not to use His power for His gain.

         2.  He comes to rescue us, from oppression.

               a.  The oppression of our 3 great enemies

                     (1) Our own sinful nature

                     (2) This crazy, sin filled world

                     (3) The crafty and subtle devil

         3.  He comes to set us free!

               a.  Free at last! Yes, we’ll really be free!

               b.  Free to be exactly who God made us.

               c.  Free to worship and praise God completely.

III. The coming King is Gentle

     A.  Our King is Humble

         1.  Humble/Gentle: aniy – afflicted, like us!

               a.  He doesn’t come in a show of power

               b.  He comes humbly, gently, afflicted

               c.  Just as we are afflicted.

         2.  Not proud, indifferent, aloof. Humble.

               a.  So different from most kings/politicians!

               b.  He isn’t cut-off from us, He’s like us.

         3.  As Jesus is gentle and humble in heart

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

     B.  Our King takes away the War Horses (v.10)

         1.  He will put an end to all warring!

               a.  He doesn’t come to rally the troups!

               b.  He comes to disband the army?!

               c.  All war and fighting will end.

         2.  We won’t need a strong defense

               a.  He will be our defense

               b.  We will need no other

         3.  We won’t even need a deterrent!

               a.  There will be no challenge

               b.  Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess: Jesus Christ is Lord!

     C.  Our King comes on a Donkey

         1.  Not a military but civil procession.

               a.  Not a show of might, but of solidarity

               b.  Not to intimidate, but to consolidate

         2.  This animal is borrowed!

               a.  He doesn’t even own a donkey!

               b.  He is one of us!

         3.  Jesus doesn’t come to proclaim his power but to set us free.

               a.  To free us from the waterless pit. (v.11)

               b.  To make us “prisoners of hope!” (v.12)

The Bottom Line:

Other Readings: Psalm 118:22-29; Luke 19:28-40