Palm Sunday (2)

Confusion

I don’t think you need me to tell you that these are confusing times.

Certainly, the fact that we’ve heard the word ‘unprecedented’ so many times in the last couple of years has added to this confusion.

Reality is, even if we looked at the time before the pandemic, I think we could make a pretty clear argument that we were living in confusing times.

Many of the morals and values of society were changing at a rapid rate. The political divide between the right and left was becoming a bigger and bigger chasm.

And then the pandemic hit, and divisions only exacerbated.

One of the problems with divisions, is that we are left with a problem of who to trust.

We question whether the experts have some sort of hidden agenda that is not exactly clear.

We believe there is an absolute truth. But when people you know and trust then two opposing views on a matter - what do you do?

I’ll tell you what happens - you get a whole heap of confusion.

With confusion comes chaos. And now we’re talking the devils language.

The fact that you are sitting here in this church, or for those listening online, the fact that you are taking time out to listen to this, I’m guessing that you want to know the truth. Maybe you might even have a desire for me to go through many of the confusing things that are happening right now and to set things straight.

If that is what you’re hoping, your going to be disappointed today. I mean, I could give you my view point on any number of topics - but the reality is, this would just add to the confusing noise.

So what do we do? Do we just sit in our confused state and… I don’t know… just grin and bear it?

Well, actually, today as we come to Palm Sunday, I think we can do an entire paradigm shift and take a fresh perspective on this.

This paradigm shift isn’t going to answer all your questions. In many ways, we’ll see that the confusion will continue. But we’ll see something surprisingly fresh come out of it.

Context

Well, let’s set the background for the first Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt.

Now we might think of our time as confusing (and it is), but while the specifics were quite different, I don’t think things were any less confusing for Jews at the time of Jesus.

Israel’s history has been turbulent, for the vast majority of the time since God first called them to be a nation. In the four or so centuries between the Old and New Testament, that turbulence, if anything, only increased.

Maybe you’ve heard of the Maccabean revolt, where for a brief period, the Jews gained a little independence back. But by the time Jesus was born, the Romans had a fairly tight grip on the region of Judea.

During the ministry of Jesus there was then this strange mix between the power of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish religious authority), and the Roman rulers.

You can imagine the people being confused - who do I listen to? Who’s really calling the shots?

Well, Jesus arrives in this context, and while we might look back and think - thank goodness, he’ll sort things out - but actually, people just end up confused even further.

Even look at the disciples with Jesus. In Mark 4 when Jesus calms the storm while out at sea, the disciples ask “Who is this?”

It would have been clear to the people of the time that there was something different about Jesus, but he wasn’t quite fitting what they were expecting.

People were asking if he was the Messiah - this longed for person who would save them.

But things were just not quite adding up - at least, they weren’t adding up to the way others were assuming they would come out.

So what was the average Jew to do? Even if they want to honour God, it just would have been very confusing. So should they just throw their hands in the air and say: ‘I don’t know… I give up!’

I ask this for the average Jew - but even for the disciples - the ones that have been hanging out with Jesus, they might be a little wiser - but even they still can’t quite figure it out.

Journey to Jerusalem

Well, as we come to Luke 19:28, we find ourselves on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

The gospel writers have been taking us on somewhat of a journey up to this point. Whether you’re reading Luke’s account (which I’m going to do today), or your in Mark or Matthew account, for the chapters leading up to this event, we see this sense of anticipation happening.

Jesus had warned his disciples that he would be put to death - but this just wasn’t computing in their minds.

Well, in verse 29, they reach Bethphage and Bethany. Two towns only a few kilometers out of Jerusalem. It’s also the town where in John 11, we read about the miraculous raising of Lazarus.

Now these twin towns are on the Mount of Olives.

It is from the Mount of Olive that you get a great view of the city of Jerusalem. In fact, we’ll see that for the week between the event we’re looking at today, and Easter, this is where Jesus will base himself - and it’s the location of the famous Olivet Discourse - that is, the teaching Jesus gives to his disciples about the end times.

A strange request

Okay, so we’ve finally on the verge of Jerusalem. The anticipation has been building - what do the disciples expect now?

Is this the time that all of their confusion is going to fade away and it will suddenly make sense?

Well, let’s look. Jesus selects two disciples - we’re not told who - and he gives them a somewhat strange request.

He tells them to go to the village ahead, and they’ll find there a colt which hasn’t been ridden. They are then to untie it, and if asked, just say the Lord needs it.

Well, somehow I don’t think this is going to allow any confusion to fade - I think it would rather add to the mystery of it all.

Particularly when they do it and it all happens exactly as Jesus says.

So what are they thinking now?

In Matthews Gospel, we’re reminded that this is in fulfillment of a prophecy we see in Zechariah.

Was this piece of Scripture coming to their mind as the next events unfolded. Even if they did, it would have still been very confusing.

You see, if you look at the wider context of Zechariah 9, which is the prophecy Matthew refers to, then it’s all about peace coming. Well how in the world is that going to happen? These disciples would be well aware of the political hotbed that exists in Jerusalem, and how could Jesus possibly do anything about that - particularly given that he’s actually predicted his own death - it just doesn’t make sense!

The paradigm shift

Well, it’s as we see what happens next that I’m going to suggest that we get the paradigm shift in how we come to these confusing times.

In verse 35, they throw their cloaks on the colt, and then put Jesus on top.

It might not all make sense, but somehow, this just seems the most natural thing to do.

And then they enter the final stretch into Jerusalem.

They start moving down the path with the great city being right before their eyes.

There would have been plenty of people on the road. After all, we’re coming up to one of the big Jewish festivals, so Jews from all over the place would be needing to attend.

So most people would be moving in the same direction.

But as Jesus moves along, the most remarkable thing happens.

People start throwing down their cloaks in front of Jesus.

In John’s Gospel, we learn they also threw down palm branches, hence the name Palm Sunday that we use today.

Back in Luke 19:37, we’re told that as they go on that downward stretch to Jerusalem, the whole crowd just burst into joyful praise to God.

All those miracles that they had witnessed come to the mind of the crowd, and in loud voices they start shouting:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heave and glory in the highest!”

What is happening?

So what is happening?

Well, none of this is stopping the confusion of this mysterious moment.

But yet, in the midst of utter confusion, God can clear people’s minds so they can see what is truly important.

Do you think the crowd actually understood Jesus as a king coming in the name of the Lord?

Do you think they had any comprehension with what it means to have peace in heaven?

I don’t think they did - at least, not in a way that they could put into words.

But something seems to have shifted when they gazed at this man riding humbly on a colt. Something suddenly made sense.

That confusing political mess, and the religious confusion would all still remain - but for a moment, none of that mattered. It didn’t matter, because somehow, with Jesus in view, they had what they needed - and as a result, their hearts were filled with the most amazing joy.

What is the paradigm shift?

So what is this paradigm shift that I’ve hinted at?

Well, it’s a shift that says that… just for a moment, forget all of your confusion, and just let Jesus be Jesus.

Stop trying to intellectualize everything… stop turning everything into a debate… stop trying to think that it’s even possible to figure everything out… and just let Jesus be.

And as you do, allow the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to who Jesus is.

You might not be able to write a paper that would pass a Bible College assessment - but that’s not our aim.

Rather we’ll see a Jesus who is above all of the mess we have. We’ll see someone who’s got it. He understands, and that’s all that matters.

The shift we need to take is a shift that takes us from thinking we need to understand it all, to accepting that Jesus has got it.

And that’s not always an easy shift to make.

At times, it will leave us feeling like we’re out of control - but sometimes we need to get that out-of-control feeling before we actually are ready to make the shift in our thinking.

We’ve got to avoid being that Pharisee in the crowd in this story.

Do you see what’s actually happening with the Pharisee in this picture?

He’s not made the shift. He still thinks he can try and figure it all out.

And for him, none of this makes sense. People are praising him in a way that you just should not praise another human being.

And so the Pharisee tries to bring sense to the situation. He calls out to Jesus: “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

I can actually identify with this Pharisee. He’s trying to bring order to this crazy situation.

But Jesus’ answer brings us back to the better perspective. He simple replies: “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

You see, just because you don’t fully comprehend it, it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

And that’s what Jesus says. There is a truth so deep here that even nature itself will attest to it.

Not switching off brain

Now, let me just explain one thing I’m not trying to say. When I say shift from worrying about how you’re going to solve everything to just let Jesus be Jesus, I’m not saying to switch your brain off.

The matters around us still require our wisdom. After all, in our day-to-day life, we will need to make decisions about what we’re going to do, and this means sorting through some of the mess around us.

This is not a call to disengage. Rather, it’s a recognition that even after you have engaged your mind, there is still going to be some confusion, but not letting that get you down. Rather when you focus on Jesus, you’ll find the simplicity of the praises that will naturally occur.

Application

So, what does this mean for us today?

Well, let’s come back to the confusion that perhaps you are going through.

I spoke in my introduction about many of the confusing things that are happening to our entire society.

I dare say, however, that for many of you, there are lots of confusing things that are happening in your personal life.

It might be relationship issues. Perhaps you have an estranged family member, and it just pains you to think about what has happened.

Maybe there are other problems that just keep occurring, such that every time you think you’re getting ahead, you just get knocked back down again.

Now those problems are real. In no way do I want to minimise them.

But just try something. Try putting everything aside for a moment and allow the Holy Spirit to give you a Palm Sunday moment.

A moment when the only thing that matters is that there is a God in heaven who loves you very much and going to carry you through.

Allow the Holy Spirit to put aside all of your worries so you can focus on Jesus. And in that moment just allow the praises to flow. Sing. Dance. Write a poem. Do whatever it is that you can to just praise God.

Yes, I know that the problems will still be there. But when we encounter Jesus like the people encountered Jesus here, things change.

Now, perhaps you might say, but wait a moment, wasn’t this same crowd praising God here, the same crowd that only a short five days later were crying ‘crucify him!’

Or even if they weren’t exactly the same people, it certainly could be argued that they weren’t there sticking up for Jesus.

Well, it’s true. Even after having an experience like the Palm Sunday crowd, you still won’t suddenly make all the right choices. But in that moment, they had the clarity that they needed.

When Jesus emerges

Now it is interesting to see what happens to Jesus as he emerges out of this. He weeps over the city.

He’s just gone through this amazing experience we’re the whole crowd is praising his name, but then he’s hit with the reality of the situation.

He knows the utter anguish that is going to come on this city.

This shift that I’m talking about in shifting our mindset, it’s not an easy way out of whatever problem where facing.

But it does help us to know that there is someone who is with us throughout our worries. Someone who is powerful to save.

Conclusion

I started by talking about all of the confusion we’re facing as a society. The fact that deep divisions are occurring and we have no idea who to trust.

Well, until that day when Jesus comes again, confusion will still reign. It will reign because in God’s patience he is waiting to the full number come in before he puts a final end to the problem of evil in the world. And while ever evil exists, confusion will occur.

But this problem will come to an end. We know it will come to an end because this is the whole story of Easter.

But even in the midst of everything, God will allow us that clarity where we can put all our worries to the side, and just focus on Jesus, the blessed king who has come in the name of the Lord.

We will get a glimpse of the one who brings peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

And because of this, our heart will sing.

Seek out those moment. Seek out those times when Jesus is your one and only focus and sing his praises.

Let me pray...