The Champion

Palm Sunday April 7, 1995

Zechariah 9:9 Behold your king is coming ...

Has there ever been a time in your life when you were afraid? Have you ever had something looming out ahead you didn't know quite how to face? I have.

Looking back it may not now seem as life-threatening as I thought it was then. But it stands for all the other times, even to this very moment, when I know I can't go on by myself, that I need Someone's help.

I dreaded going to school. School itself was fine— it was just getting there and getting home again— you see, I lived on Magnolia Avenue, and I had to watch out for the Hayford Street Gang.

Most of the time I walked to school with the Magnolia Avenue kids. As long as three or four of us were together we felt safe. But it could be seriously damaging to your health if you got caught all alone by the Hayford Street Gang.

And then one night it happened! I had to stay after school and the rest of the Magnolia Avenue kids for some reason or another couldn't wait. I had to walk home alone. I started down Kalamazoo Street with the sincere hope I wouldn't- - but I did! I had only gone about a block from the Allen Street School when I looked about another block down the street and there— there I saw—The Hayford Street Gang! I knew I was going to get beat up.

My mind began racing— in one split second I thought—" I'll run down this driveway and over the fence— no, I'm not sure what's in that back yard— I'll turn around and run back to the school— no, maybe its locked now— O God! What will I do? " Just then I saw HIM— a big kid from the Junior High School walking down Kalamazoo Street in the same direction as I was walking, catching up with me.

I smiled at him:"Hey, Can I walk along with you? See those kids up there? They're after me!" He said, "Sure— I don't care!"

So I fell into step with him, just as if he was my big brother or something. I really didn't know him at all, but I kept smiling at him and talking as we came nearer and nearer to— the Hayford Street Gang! And when we came right to where they were they parted— just like the Red Sea— and WE walked through and on past— one block, two blocks— clear to my corner where I turned for home. And I said, "Thanks!" and ran down Magnolia Avenue where I was safe.

That day that big Junior High kid was my CHAMPION!

How many times since then I have faced situations where I was going to get beat up! There have been threats far more serious than the Hayford Street gang.

I. WHY THE PARADE ? BECAUSE THE CHAMPION WAS NOT AFRAID

There must have been an excitement— and a sense of the rightness of the moment— and yet it was humble— not at all militaristic.

The disciples did not know the real significance of it then. It was not until later when Jesus had been glorified that the real significance stood out. When we look at the over-view it is really remarkable.

     John 12:16 These things the disciples did not understand at      the time; but when Jesus was glorified, then the remembered      that these things were written (Zechariah 9:9) and that they      had done them (Psalm 118:26.)

The Champion was declaring confidently who he was. He was not about to be taken by surprise, not to be simply a martyr for a cause. He was forcefully declaring that he is king and had the right to be declared the same and worshiped.

Jesus moved into the Temple courtyard and overturned the tables of the money-grubbers there.

II. WHY THE PARADE? THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER KIND OF PARADE BEFORE THE WEEK WAS OVER - A DIFFERENT SORT OF CROWN - - BUT THE SAME CHAMPION

Sometimes a champion can be a champion and it doesn't cost anything. The Big Kid that got me through my trouble when I was facing the Hayford Street Gang didn't even know he was a champion.

But sometimes it costs everything to be a true champion. I shrink back from talking about Christ's suffering; I am so afraid of intruding on holy ground. We see and hear so much of violence- - I'm not sure we understand the price Jesus paid for our salvation; I'm not sure we can speak about his passion without making "an event" out of it instead of standing in awe in the realization that Jesus became SIN for ME— Jesus who knew no sin- - in order that I might in HIM become righteous and able to become ONE with Him and share HIS life.

The Via Dolorosa - it had to be in the Champion's mind that Sunday morning as he wept over the city— wept not for himself, but for the tragedy of the result of his rejection.

III. WHY THE PARADE? THIS IS THE ROUTE OF THE KING OF PEACE

When Jesus ascended into heaven it was from this very same Mount of Olives which was the route of the parade on Palm Sunday. As he came from Bethany to the Eastern Gate of Zion the parade actually began with the descent from the top of the hill.

Tradition has it that the early church so strongly believed that Jesus literally would come this same route again that when the city was conquered centuries ago by the Muslims one of the rulers had the Eastern Gate walled shut so that if he, Jesus, did come back he couldn't enter the city.

Conclusion:

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