The Majesty of Our King

Palm Sunday Sermon 1988

March 27, 1988

Luke 19:29-48

Revelation 19:11-21; 22:10-13

Introduction: The Passover was an exciting and happy time for the people of Jesus' day. The High Holy days had moments of great solemnity and sheer awe as the priests made sacrifice to God for the atonement of sin. But if there were moments of awe, there were hours and days of sheer fellowship and travel and fun.

The worshipers came to Jerusalem from wherever they were if it was at all possible. They walked. As they walked they talked. And as they came near, they sang. They sang the 'songs of ascent'. Psalm 122 is one of them. It begins: "I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord!'

Abraham walked up the hill of Zion (Genesis 22) with Isaac his son to give him to the Lord. David (2 Samuel 24) climbed that hill, and bought a threshing floor and built an altar to the Lord to stay the plague in Israel. Solomon had built his glorious Temple there, and it was, and is, a holy place to many.

Pilgrims somehow felt at one with all who had gone before them as they came to worship. It is an indescribable feeling to join the generations coming to the Holy City to meet with God.

This may have seemed like just another festive Passover season to the crowds that were gathering in the Holy City that first Palm Sunday. But this was different from all others, before or since. Jesus knew that this was THE PASSOVER of all the ages that was to take place. He was fully aware that all the prophecies of all the scriptures would focus on a cross in just five short days. And this is the context of all the joy and cheering that spontaneously broke out and marked Our Lord's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. And what seems strange is, that Jesus permitted it all to happen!

I. WHAT DID JESUS ACTUALLY DO THAT PALM SUNDAY?

  1. Jesus accepted the imperfect, incomplete praise of His disciples.

    When the Pharisees complained He told them: "If the people are silent today, the rocks themselves will cry out!" God was passing by on His way to triumph! He is our champion! We should praise Him— imperfectly until we learn better. He is worthy of our praise!

  2. Jesus stopped the procession and wept over the city (verse 41.)

    From where he stopped the scene before Him was sheer beauty. Shining white buildings, and the gleaming golden beauty of Herod's Temple. But Jesus saw it with a different vision. He was weeping, not because He was going to suffer and die— He was weeping NOT for Himself— but for the lost.

    Many times I have marveled at the sheer beauty of the cities. Boston is breathtakingly beautiful as you drive over the Mystic River from the north, and see the lights— or across Quincy Bay as you see the skyline. What an exciting city! But how do you suppose Jesus sees it? Can we ever see BOTH the beauty AND the darkness and the need? Do you suppose Jesus weeps over Boston?

  3. Jesus also reaffirmed His authority by casting out those who were making merchandise of the Temple (verses 45-48.)

    Maybe we would see and apply this scripture by visualizing Jesus coming into our church building here and upsetting things that are not according to His will. But the Temple was NOT like a local house of worship. The Temple was the place of Shekinah, of the Presence, where the sacrifice was made. The best analogy of the Temple that Jesus cleansed that day is the holy of holies in your heart and mind! And, in the collective holy of holies that is the Church of Jesus Christ!

    We must have God's glory, His Presence— when we come together— whatever the cost!

II. ANY PALM SUNDAY MESSAGE IS AN UNFINISHED MESSAGE

  1. JESUS IS STILL ENCOURAGING OUR PRAISE, even though it is still incomplete and partial.

    We THINK we have a handle on the truth— and we DO have the advantage of two thousand years' worth of perspective. By now Tony Campolo's sermon "It's Friday— but Sunday's coming!" is famous..and rightly so! But even knowing now what we know, and being invited to be a part of Christ's ministry, we are reminded that the story is unfinished! And at the same time,

  2. JESUS IS STILL WEEPING OVER THE LOST! It is not wrong to say that Christians must praise and be joyful— and at the same time we must enter into our Lord's compassion, and share in His suffering. The battle is not yet over!
  3. JESUS WANTS TO CLEANSE YOUR HOLY PLACE, and He wants to cleanse mine! It is important that the temple of our hearts, the place where God's glory can dwell, be cleansed. And when pure hearts come together in worship, THERE is the Church! THEN God's kingdom is carried forward!

III. AND ONE DAY THIS PALM SUNDAY MESSAGE WILL BE COMPLETED

One day the whole world will see THE MAJESTY OF JESUS! The Palm Sunday's Triumphal March was followed in five short days by another kind of procession, still led by our King. He was led forth to die!

But it is important to remember that Jesus was NO martyr! In Luke 24 we read that even as He was going to Calvary Jesus said to the people that were crying out and weeping: "Don't weep for Me! Weep for yourselves! Weep for Jerusalem! Weep for those upon whom judgment shall fall!" For Jesus was and is the Lamb of God. The Lamb before Whom the powerful of this earth will flee to the rocks and mountains because of His wrath! The same!

(Revelation 6:16 Cry to the mountains, 'Fall on us! And hide us from the wrath of the Lamb!')

But there is yet to be still another processional! The story is not finished on Palm Sunday, nor Good Friday— nor even Easter— nor even Pentecost! This same Jesus, who entered Jerusalem on a gentle donkey to the shouts of children waving palm branches is coming again in a different sort of majesty!

Hear the words from the closing chapters of the Bible:

(Rev. 19:11-16;22:10-13) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called. Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And (the angel) saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I AM Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

As we walk with Jesus this Holy Week, as we take Communion with Him Thursday evening, and as we remember Calvary— in it all Jesus is King! And even beyond Easter and Pentecost— remember-one day all this Universe will know and acknowledge the majesty of our KING!

Let us pray:

One day every knee shall bow! Today help OUR tongues to confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father! Let our hearts share in His compassion! May our lives carry forth His mission!

Amen!

120 Ride On! Ride On in Majesty