Focus

Intro

Matthew 21:1-11 “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Background

Today is Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem and finally allowed his disciples to publicly proclaim who he was. It was the day he forced the Israelite leadership and the entire nation to decide one way or the other. Who is this Jesus?

For Jesus, it is the end of his three year ministry and it ended with one of the temptations he faced at the beginning. Indeed, it was a temptation that confronted Jesus throughout his ministry. The temptation to turn to earthly means and an earthly kingdom.

Each Gospel account gives us a different angle on what Israel expected. Matthew tells us the crowd called Jesus the “Son of David” and proclaimed “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Mark’s account says something similar but it is a little different. “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David.” Luke also has similar greetings to Matthew although he adds, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” John’s gospel has the crowd welcoming Jesus with, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” It appears the people were looking for some type of leader but were the looking for a Messiah, specifically, and, if they were, what were their expectations of that Messiah?

The Messianic expectations of the Israelite community in Jesus’ time were defined in Second Temple Judaism. The Second Temple was the one that was rebuilt during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. That temple lasted into the Intertestamental Period - the period of 400 years between the last prophetic book of the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus;

A look at the expectations of Second Temple Judaism reveals a chaotic scene. There were multiple ideas of the “Messiah” and there was not a broad consensus. I have heard many sermons that claim the crowd was looking for a political leader to overthrow the Romans. I am sure you have as well. But that was only one of many different expectations.

According to Tabletalk Magazine:

The word messiah comes from Hebrew/Aramaic mashiach, meaning “anointed one.” The Greek equivalent is christos, which likewise derives from the word “to anoint,” chri. In the first century, “Messiah” and “Christ” were virtually synonymous (John 1:4 ).

“In the second temple period (516 BC–AD 70), messiah generally designated the right to rule. Second temple texts indicate the lack of a uniform concept of messiah in ancient Judaism. At times, expectations centered on a messianic age rather than a specific figure ( Isa. 2:1–5 ; Mic. 4:1–5). Some thought of the messiah as a heavenly being akin to the enigmatic figure mentioned in Daniel 7:13. Others, like the Samaritans, thought of the messiah primarily as a teacher (John 4:25 ). Most, however, conceived of the coming figure as priest, prophet, or king (or a combination of these).

The expectation of a priestly messiah is found in the Qumran community, which most likely traced its origin to the rejection of the corrupt high priesthood at the Jerusalem temple by a group of priests in the mid–second century BC. Some of the Qumran writings (the Dead Sea Scrolls) pit the founder of the community, the Teacher of Righteousness, against the Wicked Priest. In addition to conceiving of the messiah in royal terms, therefore, the Qumran covenanters thought of him as a priestly figure, a “messiah of Aaron,” though on the whole the community was primarily concerned with ritual purity, not messianic expectation.

More common was the expectation of a future prophet. When John the Baptist appeared, priests and Levites asked if he was Elijah or the Prophet (John 1:21, 24 ). The expectation of Elijah was rooted in God’s promise to “send . . . Elijah the prophet” ( Mal. 4:5). When Jesus fed the five thousand, people surmised that He was “indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world” ( John 6:14; see also 7:40; Deut. 18:15, 18 ). Associated with this was the expectation that the coming Messiah would perform signs and wonders as Moses did at the exodus (John 6:30–31; 7:31 ). At the triumphal entry, the crowds exclaimed, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee” (Matt. 21:11, 46 ).”

Eric Chabot of the Christian Jewish Foundation says there were six main Messianic thoughts:

#1: The Davidic King Expectation

#2: A Transcendent Messiah/The Son of Man

#3: A Miracle Working Messiah

#4: A Prophetic Messiah

#5: A Priestly Messiah

#6: A Suffering Messiah (per Dr. Michael Brown) A minority opinion.

The main thing they all have in common is none of them expect what you might call a “heavenly” messiah. All of them are focused on earthly, here and now actions. Jesus’ closest disciples thought along those lines. After his Resurrection they were asking if he was going to restore the kingdom at that time. They were looking to earthly answers for a spiritual problem. They desired the right leader at the right time to solve all our problems. The question is, do we?

Human History

Throughout recorded history, men have always thought their kingdoms were unassailable and eternal. It is one of the pervading characteristics of humanity that we think we can solve our problems either through technology or government. Our thinking is no different than the people of Jesus’ day. The right leader at the right time will change the world.

It’s amazing, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, that we still continue to think that. Looking at a timeline of recorded human history you can find several kingdoms or dynasties that lasted several centuries. One or two for a millennium or so. But, the one think you won’t find, is one single unbroken nation from then until now.

Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Greek, Roman, European - all have had great runs but they have all fallen at one time or another. There once was a time when it was truly said, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” Virgil, in the Aeneid, stated “imperium sine fine,” “Empire without end. Another Roman poet, Albinus Tibullus was the one who coined the phrase, “Urbs Aeterna,” the eternal city - referring to Rome. Someone forgot to tell the Visigoths and Huns.

It really isn’t surprising that the inhabitants of Jerusalem would welcome Jesus. If he was going to reignite the reign of David’s line that’s great. If all he is going to be a miracle working teacher - boy, could we use one of those. If he will be a priestly character that will smooth our path to God then so much the better. But, at the core, they are all earthly focused roles.

Church History

The unfortunate truth is church history has followed a similar path. Even though Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world and told Peter to put his sword away, the church has too often looked to political power and military might to bring the Kingdom of God. We have too often tried to the tools of the kingdom of man to bring the Kingdom of God.

In some ways, it is understandable. The Old Testament is filled with the story of kingdoms established by God. From Genesis to Malachi the story of Israel is one of dispersion, submission, renewal, and kingdom. The issue is the Israelites, as Christians, soon confused the source of their renewal and kingdom. It is easy to forget that it is God that raises up and brings down and believe it is our own strength, intelligence, and prowess that are the cause.

Many of us think the Middle Ages is when the marriage of church and state started us down the wrong road. But that didn’t start it, it just continued our human way of thinking. The state churches after the Reformation were no different. The Anglican church controlled by the king of England was no different. The political involvement of many church groups in America are no different.

We all have a bad problem of telling ourselves the right leader at the right time will solve all of our problems.

Nebuchadnezzar

While not a believer I think the example of Nebuchadnezzar can give us perspective. If you remember, he set up a huge golden statue for all his subjects to worship. It wasn’t just ego or trying to win over their loyalty. There was symbolism there as well. Gold does not tarnish, it does not rust. He was letting people know his kingdom would last as long as that statue stood. Forever.

Yet, his dreams show something entirely different. In his first dream, the head of gold gave way to to arms and torso of silver, which lead to a stomach of bronze, to legs of iron, and finally to toes of iron mixed with clay. Note that the kingdoms become less refined and beautiful but more powerful and difficult to remove as you move down the statue. Until you get to the toes which represents kingdoms and nations that have no staying power at all.

His second dream is even more appropriate to what is happening in Jerusalem. Daniel 4:1-18 “King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

We know that this bothered Daniel and eventually he told Nebuchadnezzar the dream was about him and begged him to be humble and righteous. If you remember, about a year after this Nebuchadnezzar is walking around his palace and says, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 4:30.

He hadn’t even finished speaking before the dream became reality. 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 4:31–33.

Isn’t that where human power and might always end up - in madness? Look at the innumerable wars throughout history. Look at what is happening around the world today. The news is dominated by Russia and the Ukraine but there are uncountable conflicts underway all over. We have yet to find the right leader at the right time to solve all of our problems, at least at the human level.

Until next sermon

Nebuchadnezzar’s problem was where his eyes were focused. The Jews on Palm Sunday had the same visual defect. Christians today have inherited that disease. We all pay lip service to the idea that God is sovereign; we all understand the limits and liabilities of human power, and yet we continue to look for the right leader and the right time to solve our problems.

Our Easter sermon will show us where our eyes should be focused and why we are unable to see that without the occurrences of Easter week. We will come to understand what Charles Spurgeon understood. “Perhaps accidentally Napoleon was a grand advancer of human liberty, since he first taught the old kings that the pretense of divine right could not keep crowns on unpopular heads, and that young men from the ranks might still mount a throne. He produced a code of laws, which, for simplicity of justice, has never been surpassed.

Still, he relied too much on coercion and the sword—his enormous armies were his bulwark and security. Strong battalions were the cornerstone of his empire, and though for a while he stood firm, and armies advancing against him were only like so many waves dashing against the rocks of his tremendous power, still after all his many wars he was overthrown. He was said to have uttered in St. Helena that memorable speech, “My empire has passed away. I founded it upon the sword, and it is gone. Jesus Christ established an empire upon love, and it will last forever.”

So will it last. When all that kings and princes can do with statecraft, and with power, shall have dissolved like frost in the sun, Christ’s kingdom must stand because it is based upon the law of love. His person is the incarnation of love, his teachings are the doctrines of love, his precepts are the rule of love, his Spirit is the creator of love, his whole religion is saturated with love, and because of this his kingdom cannot be moved.”

Charles Spurgeon, 300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Lynnea Smoyer (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017).

The answer to our problem does not lie in the right leader at the right time to solve our problems but in changing our focus. Next Sunday we will learn where our eyes should be directed. Here’s a hint - finish reading the story in Daniel 4.