Praise on Parade

March 23, 1997

Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118; Philippians 2:5-11

Can you take a trip this morning? Come with me through both time and space to Jerusalem. It is springtime of the year that Jesus was crucified. It is the first day of the last week of His earthly ministry, although we don't know that yet. In our journey we have been set back in our understanding of Jesus to exactly where his disciples were right then during that last week. We know and love Him, just like Peter, and James and John. But we don't really understand what this week will unfold.

The weather is beautiful, sunny and almost too warm. We are standing alongside a narrow road that winds down the steep hill called the Mount of Olives. It goes down through the ravine called the Kidron Valley, and up to the Eastern Gate of the Temple Mount.

We are sure that Jesus is going to enter Jerusalem during this time of Passover festival, and we are excited about that. Since he has raised Lazarus from the dead the whole world must know that he is Messiah. After Jesus has done so much good it can't be long until the whole world will want to know him like we know him.

There is an excitement in the people around us. There is an anticipation that something really wonderful is going to happen. And then it begins. Around the bend at the top of the hill comes a movement— a swirl of activity— and then we see more clearly. It is Jesus!

Jesus is riding on the back of a donkey that has been draped with holiday cloaks. On impromptu saddle blankets of scarlet and white and gold the Savior is sitting with one knee drawn up, sort of side-saddle. He is looking right and left and as the people see his face they feel deep praise to God welling up within. They cry out words meant for royalty, "God send salvation!" "Hosanna!" "God save the King!"

People who couldn't get their holiday cloaks on the donkey spread them out in the dusty road in front of Jesus. Little children join in. Palm branches are broken from young trees in the fields nearby. The parade doesn't just pass the crowd. As Jesus passes, the people join the march. The road just ahead, alongside, and following behind Jesus is jammed with people. As they come near we are caught up and we are following Jesus as well. What could possibly be more wonderful? Our beloved Teacher is being accepted by everyone! The kingdom he has been proclaiming is here, now! "Hosanna! Can you believe it! Jesus is Lord!" Where is Jesus going? What is he going to do?

As we get nearer to the gates of the city we see the Very Important People coming to meet us. Can it be that they are going to join the parade? But no, they are pushing through the waving palms and the children. We hear them say, "What is going on here? Are You starting a riot? Tell these people to be quiet!"

But our Lord is not apologetic at all. We are thrilled to see him stand up to these dry bones. "If these people stop shouting, "Jesus says, "the very paving stones along the way will cry out!" And the leaders actually slink away. They are really worried. We find out later they said to each other, "The whole world is going after Jesus!"

Our excitement rises. Our anticipation. What great thing is Jesus going to do? Will he go directly to the Temple and there announce that a new way of worship has arrived with Him?

Now we are just across the little valley from the Temple and the city across the way. Jesus stops his little colt, and we look. He is . . . weeping! He is saying something we can't hear just now, but it seems like a strange way to celebrate a parade of praise.

In a moment the parade goes on, down and down and across the brook. The crowd follows their proclaimed Messiah as he gets off the donkey just inside the Eastern Gate and crosses over to the temple court. Now it will happen! Heavenly fireworks!

But Mark tells us that by this time it was late afternoon. And Jesus looked around, and then quietly left the temple area.

The crowd is at least mildly disappointed. They expected some speeches, some declaration. Maybe tomorrow? What is this— this non-climax?

We do not understand any more than Peter and James and John. We love this Man we believe is the Son of God. But we don't understand all that that means. We have faith that this Jesus will set up a kingdom of Peace. But we still do not really know what that means.

Come back to Wollaston for a few minutes while we talk about what we have seen. It is obvious that the people, the very best people, did not understand where Jesus was heading that Sunday so long ago. Jesus had said over and over he would die at the hands of unbelief and evil, but that he would rise again from the dead. Even on the day that Peter affirmed, "Thou art the Christ!" Jesus told him how he would die. But Peter did not understand it then, and he did not understand it during that colorful parade down the hill, either. The very best people did not understand what it meant to follow Jesus.

But I suggest that we do not always understand what it means, either. Oh, we really do believe in Jesus. We know intellectually about the cross. We know Easter is coming. But it is not a simple thing to follow Jesus, because Jesus is on His way to a cross. And Jesus said if we want to come after him we need to deny our selves, embrace our cross— and follow Him.

Peter and James and John tried hard to follow Jesus through that week. They ended up asleep while Jesus prayed, and the Bible says that not just Peter, but "they all forsook Jesus and fled." Our king does not meet our expectations. Our flesh is weak. We want to follow, but there is a failure of spirit. If we put ourselves back in that story with the limitations we had before, I am sure, that every one of us would fall out of the parade before it finally reached Golgotha. Peter said, "I'll die first!" And Peter is a far better man than I am. But Peter's spirit failed.

But do you know what? You are in this story! I am! And Jesus is still saying, "If you want to— you can come after Me! Deny yourself, embrace the cross— follow Me!" The secret is that the same Spirit that was in Jesus, and that enabled Jesus to cry, "Abba! Father!" is now given to all who truly follow Jesus. The secret to following Jesus all the way to the Cross and beyond is that the very Spirit of Jesus Himself is waiting to enable us to follow Him.

"Abba," that term of endearment, is found only three times in the New Testament. In Mark's Gospel Jesus said, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for Thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt" (Mark 14:36).

"Let this mind— this spirit— this Spirit— be in you which was also in Christ Jesus!" The mind of Jesus is obedience. If we want to follow after Jesus, and call God "Father" there is only one way. It is the way of "yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt!" It is the way of Christ's Spirit that leads beyond the Cross to the Life Everlasting.

Both in Romans 8, and Galatians 4, Paul writes that it is the Spirit, the HOLY Spirit, within the believer's heart that cries "Abba! Father!" That intimate drawing near to God is the heart cry of those who want to follow Jesus more than they want their own way. If we want to follow after Jesus there is only one way. If we want to know God as "Father, Abba Father" we must follow Jesus along the way of "Nevertheless!"

Jesus somehow never meets OUR expectations when he comes into our lives. But Jesus is King of Kings! His challenge to us is to follow Him, and if we do, we can begin to meet HIS expectations for us! Where He is, we will be! His JOY will be our joy! And we will begin to understand how we can call His Father our "Father, Abba Father!"

Prayer

490 O to Be Like Thee (and) 491 Not My Will, but Thine