Prayer:
Who is this? ask the people of Jerusalem as Jesus rides in on a colt of a donkey to much fanfare and adulation. The people of the city were stirred…something special was going on here.
Those who had been praising Jesus with Hosanna’s and lining the road with cloaks and palm branches respond to the question with his correct name…this is Jesus they say. They know his name but even though they had been shouting out the words from psalm 118 – Hosanna to the Son of David, indicating that they thought he might be the Messiah, it seems they didn’t really know him, and after saying his name is Jesus, they describe him merely as a prophet from Nazareth.
If we were asked who is this man who rode into Jerusalem and a few days later died on a cross, and then rose from the dead, would we be able to describe who he is by more than just knowing his name? Many people know of Jesus’ name, but so many do not know who he really is. To some he is a person of fiction, to some he was an historical figure who lived a good life, was a good teacher and example. Some, like the people of that day say he was a prophet. Who do you say Jesus is?
Jesus was so much more than a prophet; he came to fulfil prophecies. This was not the first time he had been to Jerusalem. His first trip to Jerusalem was as a baby to be presented in the temple. Luke’s gospel tells us that there were two people who greeted Jesus that day who knew who he was.
Do you remember Simeon and Anna? Simeon had been waiting to see the Lord’s Messiah, we read in Luke chapter 2. He takes Jesus in his arms and praising God says,
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
How prophetic were Simeon’s words? He knew that Jesus was the promised Messiah, bringing salvation and he knew that Mary’s soul would be pierced…indicating even then of Jesus early death. And then the prophetess Anna comes up and declares to all around that this child was related to the redemption of Jerusalem.
And now some 30 years on Jesus arrives in Jerusalem again, this time there are no prophets declaring who he is, however Jesus himself is acting out a scene from the prophet Zechariah. Jesus was declaring himself to be the Messiah.
It looks like he choreographed his own entrance. Did he somehow go ahead himself secretly to arrange to have the donkey and colt just in the right place for his disciples to find? I don’t think so! But somehow it was all in place, with the sovereign hand of his heavenly Father arranging all things and Jesus listening and being obedient to his Father’s will, so that as Jesus rode into Jerusalem he was indeed fulfilling the words from Zechariah 9.
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
The people in the procession were rejoicing…but they didn’t quite get who Jesus was. He might have fulfilled the prophecy, but he didn’t fulfil the people’s desires. They wanted a victorious King, many were looking for a Messiah, a saviour to overthrow the Romans. But this was not Jesus’ mission. They should have realized that when they saw him on a colt of a donkey and not on a white stallion! They were disappointed.
Others wanted Jesus to continue to be a miracle worker, they had perhaps seen him heal people, drive out demons and feed thousands, some had perhaps heard of his raising of Lazarus from the dead. But while those things pointed to his Messiahship…in that he could save people from all sorts of things…that was not why he had come either. Those people were disappointed too.
Then we come to the people from the city – who were stirred when Jesus arrived. This Jesus came and disturbed the peace. He challenged the Pharisees and teachers of the law…if we read on in Mathew the next thing Jesus does is go into the temple and turn over the tables of the money changers. This Jesus threatened the status quo. He upset their systems. He disturbed their conscience.
This Jesus was not going to be the kind of King and Messiah the people wanted and so not long after hailing him as the Son of David, they were shouting crucify him!
This Jesus was the suffering servant… he was the one that fulfilled the words from the prophet Isaiah as well as Zechariah. In Isaiah 53 we read…
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Jesus came to earth from heaven to suffer, to be pierced for our transgressions, to take on our punishment that we might have peace with God.
He was Messiah King, but he was not fully recognized as such by the people that day, and sadly he is not recognized as such by so many today either.
The Jews recognized their need for a military saviour, or for one who could heal them of their afflictions or their hunger. They called Hosanna…which means ‘save us’, but they didn’t recognize their need for a messiah who could heal them from their sin and reconcile them to God. But that is precisely what this Jesus came to do and the only way to do that was to die in their place. To die in our place. He came to do away with the detailed sacrificial system to atone for sins. He came to be the one and only perfect sacrifice.
He rode into Jerusalem to die for the people of Israel. To be a light for the Gentiles. To be the salvation for all as Simeon had prophesied, back when Jesus was just 8 days old.
He did it willingly and humbly. Riding on the colt of a donkey, he did not ride in to conquer on a stallion. Although riding on an animal on which no one had yet sat on was a symbol of being a King in the Old Testament. Jesus was the righteous victorious one. They certainly didn’t understand that as they nailed him to a cross and ironically hailed him as King of the Jews.
So, who is this Jesus? He is the Son of David as they rightly praised him, but he is also the Son of God.
Do you know this Jesus? Do you recognize him as your Lord and Saviour, your Messiah? The one who humbled himself and died, but who God then raised and exalted to the highest place. Do you bow before him, exalting him, acknowledging him as Lord? Do you long to know him more and more…
I think I grew up considering Palm Sunday as the happy Sunday before Good Friday and I couldn’t understand why the lectionary – the book of weekly readings we often use in the Anglican Church – would have the passion reading set and sometimes called Passion rather than Palm Sunday. I changed the readings this morning, so we heard the triumphal entry. But I understand more now why the passion may be read on Palm Sunday and I guess that is why our pieces of palm are in the shape of a cross.
This procession is tinged with sadness for it is Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem where he is going to suffer and die, and it is triumphal because in his death he defeats death and sin once and for all and then God raises him triumphantly.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem the people did appear to acknowledge him as Lord, bowing before him, spreading their cloaks and palms on the road. And yet they hadn’t fully recognized him in their hearts, they didn’t give themselves to follow him as their Lord. Even Jesus’ disciples were to abandon him in the coming days.
So many today have abandoned the faith or have never acknowledged Jesus as Lord. Many would mock those of us who do follow him, for they fail to see Jesus
for who he is or maybe they haven’t even heard of this Jesus. So, we have a massive task ahead of us, for one day every knee will bow before him and we don’t want it to be too late for them to call out Hosanna –Lord save us.
In our Lenten studies, The Way of the Cross, the verse highlighted at the end of each video, has been Make a straight path in the wilderness. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus first coming. We are to prepare the way for his return.
When people of this city ask us who is this man that we have a long weekend for this coming week, are we ready to answer them? They probably won’t ask as they enjoy their hot cross buns and Easter eggs…so are we ready to tell them anyway?
If you know Jesus for real, if you have experienced his amazing grace, will you share with others that Jesus is your Lord and Saviour – the one God sent to die for us because he loves us and wants us to have eternal life…can you tell the people of this city that this Jesus loves them. Can you tell them that there is nothing better than knowing Jesus…because that is true in your life?
Looking at the results from our National Church Life Survey I have been greatly encouraged with the level of growth in faith in our congregation and that faith is very important to you all here – that is wonderful. But the results also highlighted the fact that most of us find it difficult to share our faith. Many said they were willing to invite someone to Church, but only a few had. Do you think you could take a flyer about our Easter services and ask a neighbour, a friend or family member to come and celebrate Easter?
I pray that you all do know Jesus and I ask you to join me in praying for opportunities and boldness to tell others in our city – our community of Taroona and Sandy Bay who Jesus is, invite them to come and worship him, acknowledging him as their Lord and Saviour.
Let’s pray: Lord, I pray you will firstly stir our hearts to see you afresh with a desire to know you more and more. We pray that you will stir others hearts in our community, our family members, neighbours and friends that they will come to seek you this Easter. We pray for revival in this city Lord. Fill us with your spirit and use us to spread the good news of your love and saving grace for all. In Jesus name, the name that is above every name, we pray. Amen