Sunday Rise Up

There's a high point in the Jesus story where Jesus stops delaying, the inevitable confrontation, that's going to happen between him and the Jewish leaders. And at this moment in the story Jesus publicly presents himself for who he really is, which is the Son of God, the Messiah that the Old Testament of the Bible have talked about and we call this High Point moment Palm Sunday, which is today. It comes one week before and even more important day, which we call Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday, but that, but we're here at at this first one, this Palm Sunday day and Palm Sunday is combined sort of day. Part. Happy part solemn happy because Jesus is presenting himself or who you really is, and people are recognizing him and praising him for it and solemn because it's the Sunday before the Friday, when Jesus is hanging on a cross for us. So there is a seed in the celebration day of what's going to happen. And we're going to explore that story, that happy and solemn story. It, it places faith, in Jesus and rejection of Jesus alongside each other. So the first thing I'd like to do as I've got to just give you a quick run-through of the Palm Sunday story, what it is, and then we're going to dig into the Bible material and experience it. I think this is the right way for us to experience the Palm Sunday story. That is a happy and somber combination has been traveling with people from the North of Israel, to the South where Jerusalem is and they've come down the Jordan River Valley because it's the easiest way to travel and then they turn west from the Jordan River Valley, and they go across this. 25 miles of barren Wilderness toward Jerusalem, all along that Baron walk. You keep seeing the horizon line and they would they all knew that when you got to that Horizon and you came over the horizon. Isn't that the city of Jerusalem would open up in front of you? So, as it's, this moment of waiting for that, and Jesus chooses that moment, when this crowd, they're traveling to Jerusalem. For the Passover is going to come over the top of the hill to be the moment when he's going to publicly present himself for who he really is. So the people cheer, they say things that are very clearly about him as Gods King and they come over the hill and Jesus is riding on this Cult of a donkey. And he sees Jerusalem spreading out in front of him. And he cries. That's the Palm Sunday story. So let's dig into it and learn from this happy summer combination time. We're going to read a little bit and I'll just make some comment as we go along the way. So, it starts with this, after Jesus had said that he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem. And as he approached Bethpage and Bethany to little Villages at the top of the hill, at the hill called the Mount of Olives. He sent two of his disciples saying to them. So I want to show you a couple of pictures because my wife Sam and I went to had a chance to go to Israel in 2007. So if the crowd that's traveling to Jerusalem and Jesus is in, In This Crowd or there with Jesus, I liken it to Spring break in Florida. We lived 13 years in Jacksonville, Florida, and we made lots of trips to Michigan and back because my wife is from Grand Rapids. And I remember one year when we will return you to our home in Florida, during spring break time. And there was a traffic jam to get into the State of Florida from Atlanta, going south. You could almost walk, cars. And most of the license plates were Michigan, license plates, and I think they all knew each other. So, this is a little bit like that. Kind of a moment. They're coming down the river valley and they make their turn west at this city. Jericho Jericho is Lush like it is because there are Springs there. Otherwise, this would be desert land. There's the river. Of course, it's bringing water. But Jericho looks like it looks because of Springs that are there and they turned East and they had a 25 mile walk. Jerusalem through this, this Barren Wilderness. This picture was taken from a bus and even in a bus, it's a hot long ride. You can imagine walking this 25 miles the last the last bit to get to the city and you keep seeing that Horizon and you know that when you get to the last Hill and you crushed the top of the hill, you're going to be able to see Jerusalem open up in front of you. And here's what happened today, when you crushed that Hill. Today on the other side of the mountain by olives, there are many cemeteries. So there's a cemetery right at the front of the camera. But there is the city of Jerusalem opening in front of you, even if they weren't with Jesus and even if this wasn't the day, when Jesus was presenting himself for who he really is, they would have been excited. Anyhow, because you can just imagine if there's big difficult journey through that Wilderness. And now you come over the hill and there's the destination that you're striving for Jerusalem, lays in front of you and you go down the hill of all of us. There's a it's really more like a ravine or a crevice. There's a valley in between called the Kidron Valley and then you come up the other side into the city of Jerusalem.

Jesus said, go to the Village ahead of you. And as you enter it, you will find a Colt tied there which no one has ever ridden, untie it, and bring it here. If anyone asks you, why you on tying. It, say may, the Lord needs it. Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them and as it weren't trying to call its owners, ask them. Why are you on tine? The Colt? The Lord needs it. They said,

there's some question about Whether there's a miracle in volunteer, did Jesus know, because he's the son of God, that that called would be there. And that, if they said those words, someone would just let them have the cold and go, or did Jesus prearranged this, because he knew he would be coming. And the author of the book of Luke doesn't seem to really care very much, whether we know the answer to that question or not. He has something and he's really Interested in us hearing and that's the word Lord. The Lord needs it. So this is the day, when Jesus is presenting himself. This is the moment. This is the context when Jesus stops trying to delay the confrontation. And he's now going to present himself for who he is. And Jesus is evoking the all of the Old Testament, Ariel material about God's Messiah. So here's one piece from Zechariah 13:9 Rejoice. Greatly daughter is going to die and Shout daughter Jerusalem. See your king comes to you righteousness and Victorious. Lowly and riding on a donkey on the cult on a Colt, the full of a donkey. If the emperor of Rome were coming to town, he would be riding a warhorse. But the Old Testament says, when God's King comes to town, he's going to be riding this humble animal. The, the fall of a donkey is, is, is your screen kind of going off? And I'm like, my screen is that I'm looking at here, good. Good, then I'll try to just ignore all this weird stuff that's happening in front of me. Okay? They brought the cult to Jesus through their cloaks on the cold and put Jesus on it. And as you went along, people spread their cloaks on the road, so they closed itself is a kingly Mount as the Old Testament has presented it. And now these cloaks are a recognition of Jesus kingship. Here's an Old Testament Story. One of the prophets has just a noted. Jihu as the next king of Israel. Until first king s. King says they quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bear steps. Then they blew the trumpet. And shouted, Jesus is King of the Disciples of Jesus, take their cloaks and they put at least one of them on the cult of the donkey. So that Jesus can sit on a cloak and another place their cloaks on the road in front of Jesus. So that this cold can ride, not just on the dirty street, but but on their cloaks, it's it's a kingly. Kind of a move. When he came near the place, where the road goes down to the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began. Joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the Miracles they had seen. So when you look at a mountain top from the distance when it's on the horizon on, it looks like the top of the mountain is a nice Edge, but when you actually get to the top at least when you get to the top of the Mount of Olives, it's it's much more rounded. So I'm picturing that these Villages Bethpage and Bethany were on the other side. If you're in the village of Bethpage, you're you're near the crest but you probably can't see over the crest do this. This parade starts before the Crest Inn in the village Works its way up to the crest. Now comes over the crest and when it comes over the crest people, start to praise God in loud, voices for what they've seen and what have they seen? They've seen the Miracles that Jesus has performed. Babe, heard the authoritative words that have come out of his mouth. They've watched how demons take orders from Jesus and do exactly what he says. They know, at least that he's special and there's this somehow working through the crowd. This recognition, that he's God's Messiah. So they quote the Old Testament. Psalm 118 blessed, is he who comes in the name of the Lord. So modern 18 was understood to be about this. Kingly figure who's going to come. And Luke has the crowd saying peace in heaven and glory in the highest. So there are four gospels that tell the story of Jesus. Matthew Mark, Luke John every one of those tells the Palm Sunday story. Matthew Mark and John include the word Hosanna. We started with that's also a quote from so modern 18. Luke doesn't include that. They're these gospel writers are telling the story in for sizing what's important to them. So what Luke wanted us to know what she said on that day, were these words peace in heaven and glory in the highest. And if you ask, why would Luke emphasize those words? You remember that at the beginning of the Jesus story in Luke. He tells me he's the one who tells us about the angels and the shepherd's number that story at Christmas and what did Angel say? Glory in the highest glory to God in the highest and peace on Earth to all men on whom his favor rests. That's how Luke started the story. Now, as Jesus comes into Jerusalem. Luke is emphasizing that. At least some people in the crowd were shouting those words.

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. This is the Happy Tart of the Palm. Sunday story, Jesus presenting himself as king and the crowd, that's been traveling with him getting excited and proclaiming his kingship along with the disciples. And now here's a little hint at how the rest of the week is going to go.

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, teacher rebuke your disciples. I tell you he replied if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. Interesting contrast because these untrained people that crowd the disciples, they're not like pastors. They're not like Seminary graduates. They're not the biblical Scholars of the day. There. Are there regular folks. There are the Pharisees who are the educated ones, the more past early ones. Call Jesus by much humbler name teacher. And they're offended teacher. Keep your disciples under control, listen to this stuff that they're saying. This is offensive. And Jesus says, dude. If they don't say something, the Rocks themselves are going to cry out. And even hear Jesus is evoking, the Old Testament material that these people certainly these Pharisees would have known in the book of habakkuk habakkuk. The Prophet is pointing out that people are ignoring God. And habakkuk says that, if you continue to ignore God, the stones of your walls are going to cry out the name of God in the beams of your houses or going to crowd the name of God. So that you would have understood that Jesus is saying this is one of those moments you can if you want to, but if you do these rocks, on the ground will cry out his name. So Palm Sunday, happy summer. I'll bet there's one piece yet that I talked about and that we haven't gotten to yet and that's Jesus Christ. As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, if you even you had only known on this day, what would bring you peace, but now it's hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build, an embankment against you is talking to the city, right? He's come over. He's coming down the hill. So, my impression is so, you know, there's the party moment and everybody's caught up into it, but now Jesus is riding down that hill and he's looking at that City and he's talking to it. The days are going to come with your enemies will build an embankment against you and it's Circle, you and hem you in on every side. They will Dash you the city to the ground, you and the children. I think the children just refers to the people of this city, but including children, you and the children within your walls, they will not leave one stone on another because you did not recognize the time of Gods coming to you. Jesus is riding down the hill. With all of this celebration, into the city of Jerusalem, understanding, what's going to happen in the city of Jerusalem and part of what he's recognizing is God. is going to allow Jerusalem to undergo suffering because They've rejected him and so he's going to withdraw his hand and about 35 years after this in a d70, the Romans besieged Jerusalem. One control of Jerusalem, destroyed the city of Jerusalem. So Jesus is looking at that, and it's not a vengeful thing. He's not like I'm angry at you. And so I'm going to do this to you. Jesus is weeping yellow. Remember that he's weeping. and the cause of this is going to be You are not recognizing the time of God's coming to you. He knows. I'm coming as who I am and you are going to reject me and I'm weeping because of what's going to flow out of that rejection. That's the Palm Sunday story, happy and somber next to each other. And that's the way I think we should hear the Palm Sunday story. So what happens next Thursday night? Jesus Is In The Garden of Gethsemane and he prays that famous prayer o my father. If it's possible. Let this cup pass from me yet. Not my will but your will be done. And then on Thursday night, he's arrested on Friday. He's tried in front of the governmental authorities Herod. And pilate pilot knows that he's innocent but pilot wants the crowd to Honor him on a pilot, that is so he chooses popularity over Justice and Friday during the day. Jesus was crucified Friday night before the Sabbath of Ashley begins at sundown on Friday night. Jesus has been buried. That's how this week goes. Of course. There's the next Sunday. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's just stay in the week. I have a question. Oh, that's Palm Sunday. My question is, whose fault, is it? What happened to Jesus?

Was it? The Jewish leaders? Absolutely, they They were unable to wrap their minds around the possibility that God was doing this. They did not recognize God when he sent his own son to them. They should have known. They didn't know. Was it the government? Absolutely. The job of a governor is to uphold, Justice pilot had a chance to uphold Justice and he chose popularity over the provision of Justice to one of his citizens. So yeah, it was the governmental authorities was it the crowd was it? Was it the regular people who wear their absolutely. It seems that there were some people shouting Hosanna on Sunday and crucify him on Friday. How could people be that? Fickle? People are that fickle? So yeah, it was the Jewish leaders yet was a governmental authorities yet. Was the people, there's one more Christians across, all of the centuries between now, and then have often also concluded. It was me.

What do they mean? When they say that it was me, I was involved. I think they mean, at least here's what I think. I've been a leader who wanted to try to hang on to power. I've been that person. I've been a person who chose the popular thing over the harder, right thing. I'm not proud to say it, but there have been those moments in my life. I've been the person who gets sucked into what the the crowd is doing. And I'm old enough now to look back and regret it to realize that there were all these voices. And I went along with all the voices. It seems like, you know, so many people are saying it must be true and it wasn't true and I know that there have been times when I did, what was not what God was doing, because I was following other things. And in addition to that, this whole world is broken and rebellious. And and I participate in that Brokenness and Rebellion. And when Jesus died. I needed him to die for me. So there's a sense in which we? Yeah, they did it, but Jesus, we needed Jesus to die for us two. So Christians have said whose fault was it in?

Yeah, Jesus is on that cross because of me.

So if that's what Palm Sunday is. What do we do? I make it stop right there, and we would just all kind of slink out of church today, and it would be true, but not very Life Giving. I don't think that's where God wants us to end up. So, here's where I think God wants us to end up. This is one of the many places where the Bible says this kind of thing. This is Titus 3:4 through 7, but when the kindness and love of God, our savior appeared, he saved us. Not because of righteousness. We had done but because of his Mercy. if you think,

God loves me because he looked ahead into future history, and he saw that I was going to choose him, because I'm a person who generally makes good choices. If that's the way you understand. God saving you you you're wrong. You. That's not how the Bible describes it. Here's how the Bible describes it.

Not because of righteousness, you've done, but because of the kindness and love of God, our savior because of the mercy of God, that's why God has reached out to you, to save you. Jesus did not have a grudge or Vengeance against even the people that crucified him. He said from the cross, father, forgive them for. They do not know what they're doing. And people in Jerusalem, who had shouted crucified, who later. Ask Jesus to forgive them, received his forgiveness, when the kindness and love of God, our savior. He saved us, not because of righteousness teams we had done, but because of his Mercy he saved us. Through forgiving, through the washing of rebirth and Renewal by the Holy Spirit. Whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ. Our Savior, God, the Father Is Our Savior, Jesus. The son is our savior. So that having been justified by his grace. Justified means declared righteous your outrageous, but because of the washing of rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is able to declare you righteous having been justified by his grace undeserved favor. We might become Ayers. When you receive Jesus not because of righteousness you have done that because of his Mercy you become and heir to everything that God has. It's it's now for you. Having the hope of eternal life.

That's where Palm Sunday leaves you. Happy summer. Creating the way for you to be able to hear when the kindness and love of God, our savior appeared. He saved you, not because of righteousness, anges, you have done, but because of his Mercy, he saved you through the washing of rebirth and Renewal by the Holy Spirit. Comey poured out on you. He gave you justifying, he made you an air. He gives you the hope of Lights. Drive to questions and then I'll stop talking. Let me look at the club.

And I was afraid of what I was going to see, just there, when I looked at the clock and I'm, I'm quite pleased actually.

My two questions have you recognized Jesus as Lord? I chose the word because the words in the text. What was the problem? They did not recognize the time of God's coming. So you have a time. God's been presenting himself to you. If it wasn't before. Today, certainly now got to talking to you this morning about Jesus as Lord, and he wants you to recognize him when he's moving. Have you recognized Jesus, as Lord, as he's been moving in and around your life. And then I didn't know a better way to say it. So I settled for this. How is your attitude of gratitude? Because what else can we do? When we look at? When the kindness and love of God, our savior. He saved us. Not because of righteousness, we had done, but because of his Mercy,

So good. Is nothing happening in your life. That keeps you away from that beautiful thing and it's about Jesus on Palm Sunday. Proclaiming who he is and then weeping. Because what he knows is going to happen, and he doesn't for me and you.

What do you think about that? How do you feel about that? What questions does that raise for you?

We are hearing you saying that when your kindness and when your love Arrived at the right moment. You saved us.

We live in a war-torn world. We look at ourselves and we see the broken places. We?

We have our own attitudes toward other people, that we try to keep in check and we have other people's attitudes that we see being displayed that have their own challenges, too. When your kindness and when your love appeared, you saved us Lord. Not because we impressed you. But because of your mercy.

Everybody in this room.

Is. Given this Mercy. Nobody in this room.

Performed up to the mercy, everybody in this room.

Received it. As a gift of your kindness and your love.

If you would like to, if you haven't and you would like this morning to say, Jesus, I'm in with you. Let's just take a moment and do that. Lord Jesus. You say this prayer with me. Lord Jesus? When your kindness in your love appeared, you saved me in your mercy, and I recognize you today and I receive you.

I think that's all you. You need to say if you if you think it and you mean it Jesus is responding already. Maybe you're sensing him inside of you already.

And Lord when we think about it today, we just have to walk out of here. Thankful. Absolutely thankful.

Hosanna. Save us, Lord.

Thank you. Lord, Jesus. In your name. We pray. Amen.