Below is the SERMON OUTLINE FOR PALM SUNDAY 2010
Zechariah had quite a job to do. Having returned from exile the Jews were now back in their homeland and once again distracted from the task at hand. They started with such enthusiasm to rebuild the temple; with great intentions they quickly rebuilt the alter but their old friends ‘Apathy’ and ‘Preoccupation’ were never far away…
Zechariah along with Haggai were God’s prophets for the day, serving up a message of hope that also came will a less palatable message of challenge: Return to the work, complete the task God has given and finish the temple; for the Messiah, the King is coming.
The King is coming, and this is no ordinary king. Zechariah prophesied that He will be a Priest/King, a true shepherd, a Saviour who will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver; He will suffer and be crucified. But this king will also return again!
And how will this king come?
Zechariah Chapter 9 verse 9
Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
The Jews heeded the message and finally rebuilt the temple and as for the coming King...?
Fast forward four hundred years and all Jerusalem is buzzing as Passover approaches. In the surrounding suburbs stories about Jesus of Nazareth are everywhere; after all it’s not every day that someone shows up healing the sick, casting out demons and challenging the religious establishment of the day. But there is a new story running the grape vine … it’s breaking news, hot off the press and even in Jerusalem it has everyone talking…Lazarus of Bethany is alive.
The story doesn’t seem like big news unless you read yesterday’s obit’s column. You see yesterday he was dead. Yesterday he was in the cave, the body was wrapped up, the funeral was over and the family, although still weeping, are trying to come to terms with their loss. He was dead four days, a smelly corpse by the time Jesus arrived. A hand signal, a prayer, a shout “Come forth,” and Lazarus is not dead anymore he’s alive!
As this news gathers momentum it is in competition for front page with yet another breaking story: Jesus is coming to Jerusalem! Who is he? Some are saying a prophet, but others are saying he is the one spoken of by the prophets like Zechariah; the Messiah, the saviour, the King. After 400 years of silence, could this be the long awaited Son of David? The King promised? Zechariah’s name means ‘The Lord remembers’ and it’s starting to look like he has...
The evangelist Matthew picks up the story:
Matthew Chapter 21 verse 1 – 11
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “ Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘ Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“ Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Now kings ride horses, or sit on Chariots but here is their king coming on a donkey!
For some it’s a disguise -no point in playing into the hands of the Romans with an obvious display of power. For others He is associating himself with King David who rode a donkey, for others it’s an expression of His humility but as the crowds gather there is no doubt about their expectation:
‘Hosanna’ - a cry taken from a Hebrew word which mean ‘Oh Lord, save us we pray’ becomes a cry of praise and hope as Jesus enters Jerusalem. They lay their coats and palm branches on the floor making a carpet, acknowledging Him as King and when He passes they lift them, run to the front and repeat the same procedure. I suspect Lazarus is among the crown, the king has come, expectations are high.
The wise men called Him King (Matt 2:2); during His public ministry Jesus constantly talk about the kingdom – its nature, dawning, promise and consummation. In some of the parables Jesus sometimes makes Himself out to be the king, how fitting that He receives a King’s welcome into Jerusalem...
_________________________________
What a difference six days makes. Rejected, betrayed and terribly alone He is handed over by some of the very people who welcomed him into the city. At his trial before Pilate the governor asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Yes it is as you say.” Jesus replies.
That one confession sentences him to death, Jesus stands condemned on the charge of treason.
From a triumphant entry Jesus is now the subject of a barrack-room humour. Covered in spit, his flesh torn to pieces, the governor’s soldiers gather round, strip him of his clothes, put a robe on him and mock. Pretending He is a royal figure they make a crown of vine thorns and place it on his head, the long spikes cutting into his fragile skin. Then they put a staff in his right hand pretending it to be a sceptre. The banter is sickening, bowing before him they cry ‘Hail, king of the Jews’ while others strike him over the head with the sceptre. The mocking and laughter keeps going until they tire of their sport. Now they put his clothes back on him and lead him away to be crucified. (Matthew 27:27-31)
‘The King of the Jews’ it said above the cross, but He was more than that. He died on the cross but he also reigned on it! In John 18:36 Jesus said his “Kingdom is not of this world” The one who rides the donkey is literally - Out of this world!
Now we have had many kings in the world and even some claiming to be king of the world. At 22 years of age a young man’s cry became one of the most famous scenes in sporting history: “I'm the king of the world, I am the greatest, I shook up the world, I am the greatest, I'm king of the world, I'm pretty, and I’m so pretty.” Not many have been as arrogant as Muhammad Ali; Jack Dawson screamed it into the air in the movie Titanic but it takes more than a hint of arrogance when you claim that your kingdom is ‘out of this world’!
The Easter message, from His entry on a donkey to the empty tomb bears such significance to each of us because Jesus Kingdom is much greater, more powerful and significant than any kingdom the world has ever known. Some gathering in Jerusalem asked “who is this?” (Matt 21:10) He is the King of Kings and Lord over all and because of this there is a hope, faith, power and love found in Jesus which makes all others superficial in comparison. He is not just a good king but a God-King.
Because Jesus, the God- King died for the sins of the world and rose again you and I don’t have to live the old way anymore! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ We have a new citizenship! When you commit you life to Christ you become a citizen of the Kingdom of God. You have a new relationship as you are adopted into the family of the God - King (Eph 5:1), you become part of a royal family in the Church (Gal 6:10), you have a new purpose (Eph 2:10), a new power (1 Cor 6:19) and a new destiny. Eternity with the King (Rom 6:23)
Zechariah declared that this King on a donkey would bring Salvation. No other king, ruler, teacher of God can provide the salvation that Jesus offers, for He is the King over sin. If every evil word, wicked thought, selfish act I have every committed is placed on the ‘scales of justice’ the weight of such would find me guilty 1,000,000 times over. Any acts of charity or kindness placed on the scales to bring balance would be like putting a flea up against a battleship. I am guilty. But Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, (1 Tim 1:15) ordinary people like you and I. The King took our place and paid the punishment you and I deserved when He died on the cross. He took you sin and my sin, paid it in full so they you and I can be free. Like I said; He didn’t just die on the cross; He reigned on the cross, victorious over sin, death and hell.
This Palm Sunday, as we sing Hosanna remember the God-King.
Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
In Luke’s account of Jesus Triumphal entry we read this:
Chapter 19 v 38 – 40
“‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Today as we celebrate, let’s make sure no rocks sing louder than us! Rejoice greatly, Rejoice!
