Palm Sunday

There are a lot of people in our world…and in the Church— right now — who are struggling to see how we can celebrate.... They are struggling to see what there is to even celebrate...

People are looking at our current situation, and nothing seems right — churches closed, cities on lock down, people unable to leave their homes, people are losing their jobs, the economy is on the edge of a depression,.... and they are finding themselves alone, scared, not sure where to turn, wondering what will happen next...

It’s a scary place to be...

When we are faced with difficult times, it is easy for us to get “lost in the moment” — to lose track of where God is in the mess, and to lose hope.

If that is where you find yourself today.... Can I make you this promise?

There is HOPE in this part of the story. There is HOPE in the midst of trial and anguish. There is HOPE in the face of fear.

That is what Palm Sunday — the “Triumphant Entry” of Christ — is about.... HOPE!

Matthew 21:1–11 NIV

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Let me ask you this —

“Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem this way?”

(To fulfill the prophecy — Zech 9:9)

Zechariah 9:9 NIV

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

There are a couple of things going on here:

The Prophecy made it clear that the heir of David would enter on a donkey. This is why Solomon, Absalom, and Mephibosheth, all rode donkeys to their coronations.... By entering this way, Jesus laid claim to the title “Son of David.”

(Now this is an interesting one) Pilgrims entering into Jerusalem for religious festivals did not ride…they walked — Even if they had mounts — in order to show humble gratitude at coming to the house of the Lord. Yet Jesus — who had no animal to ride — sought out a donkey to ride… This statement would not have been missed.

As one commentator puts it:

“Christ was no ordinary pilgrim…this was God Himself returning to His own house!”

Is it any wonder the entire city was in an uproar?!

Now....I have to ask again.... Why did Jesus enter like this?

Everywhere else in scripture, Jesus is telling people to keep quiet about His identity.... But here..... He proclaims it boldly!

Why?

Jesus was proclaiming HOPE! He was revealing to the world — Hope exists!

I love this! Jesus barged right into the middle of their mess....into their worries....into their fears....into their hardships.... and declared: “I am HOPE! I am the Messiah — the promised King — the one who brings peace to you. Immanuel — God with [YOU]! I have come.... there is nothing to fear!”

How many of us need to hear that right now in our world?!

Do you hear Him? I think way too often, Christians, get too busy listening to the world around us.... And we miss God trying to give us HOPE and PEACE!

Christ’s desire — His whole purpose in coming into this world — is to make a "triumphant entry" into our lives...into our struggles...into our worries...into our fears...into the deep recesses of our hearts… For one thing and one thing only..... To Bring us Hope!

Because Hope changes us.....

Hope redirects our lives. Hope gives us strength in the face of anxiety and fear!

Christ is proclaiming the same thing to us today that He proclaimed to the Jews on that day.....

We do not have to fear because....God is with us.... He has come into our lives.... And He will see us through!

All we have to do is place our trust in Him.

Let me tell you — It is not about whether we take precautions in life or not.... It is about whether we trust God to see us through everything this life can throw at us.

Look at Acts 28.

Acts 28:1–10 NRSV

After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it. Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him. After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.

How many of us could just shake off a viper, and not even worry about seeing a doctor?

Even the natives thought Paul was going to die:

Acts 28:6 NIV

The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

Yet, Paul just shook it off and went on with his business....

You see, Paul had faith in God’s promise to him.

Acts 27:24 NRSV

and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’

Paul trusted the promise God had made him.... And not even the Viper could change that.

Acts 28:7–8 NRSV

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him.

Paul did not worry about infection.... Instead, he trusted God, went and healed.... And the result was a testimony and work of God amongst the people of the island.

Let me ask you — If God protected Paul from a storm, a viper, and disease, won’t He protect us as well?

You see.... That is the promise of Palm Sunday.... We do not have to fear, because God has come to us!

We do not have to wonder where Christ is..... We do not have to wonder if He is here.... We don’t have to ask “IF” He is going to take care of us.... He is!

Christ desires to enter into our lives...into our struggles...into our worries...into our fears...into the deep recesses of our hearts.... to dine with us…to talk with us…to comfort us....to make Himself dirty for us!

All we have to do is let Him in!

Revelation 3:20 NIV

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Christ is standing at the door to our lives, and He is knocking!

When we face trials…in the midst of our fears.... When we are wondering “How? How am I going to do this? How are we going to make it through? How?”

He is there.... waiting.

As we face the uncertainty of life, He is there!

All we have to do is open the door.

Let me tell you.... This is not a “once and done” thing....

Inviting Christ into our mess…into our lives…is not a once in a lifetime thing.

It is an everyday thing.....

It is an every time we find ourselves struggling thing....

It is an every time the Lord gets us up out of bed thing....

It is a life-sustaining, life-changing, life-saving daily ritual thing....

Christ is standing at the door....knocking.... saying “I got this!” If we want to receive what He has for us, we have to answer that door!

Let me tell you something..... when we answer that door, Christ doesn’t just change our lives, He doesn’t just save us, He empowers us!

He gives us the power to tell those fears, “Get out!”

He gives us power to say to the enemy “You have no place here!”

He gives us the power to say to diseases “You cannot harm me!”

He gives us the strength to boldly stand in faith, just as Paul did, even thouhg all the world is telling us to run and hide, knowing that we have absolutely nothing to fear, because He is with us!

But if we do not answer that door…then we are guaranteed to lose..... to experience fear, worry, uncertainty, and dread....

Psalm 118:8–9 NIV

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

So, I ask you.... Will you open the door? Will you proclaim with the Psalmist:

Psalm 118:14–17 NIV

The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.