All of Israel was aware of God’s promises and the nation it had become. Instead of rising up or making their path straight, they continued down the road of self-indulgence and reliance. Oh, they were warned plenty, so what did they expect when their time came? God gave them just what He promised, What Did You Expect?
Consider these things as we move through the message. From John 12:9-19
Where are you in your relationship to the cross?
Don’t forget the law of the harvest!
- Have you ever gone somewhere or done something you were really looking forward to that didn’t meet your expectations. Chances are that before your experience there was a longing to be filled. Some itch that needed scratched.
Well, last week’s message was the beginning of the end of darkness. Jesus no longer was focused on meeting new people or playing nice with the religious court. They were by far the biggest obstacle to spiritual maturity.
The Romans were collateral damage. What I mean by that is this, if Israel was to be a nation of priests or shepherds to God’s flock… and they were… the congregation itself was being neglected of spiritual food and the flock itself was being led to a dry and spiritually barren land.
As a result, the nations around them saw rigid rules and self indulging practices. The Israelites already had a target on their back for being God’s chosen people and their actions didn’t help their cause. Remember, the nations are God’s too. It was Israel that was to draw them and bless them. Not so much.
So what we know as Palm Sunday as a joyous event and celebrate it as such, we join in the same revelry the people of the moment celebrated and in some ways already, but not yet. We both know Jesus as Lord but we’re both waiting to see the coronation! Some in the crowd were indifferent, some indignant, but for the people who came to see Jesus – Amen - a longing fulfilled.
Jesus knows what they’re feeling and why, scripture reported such a day. You proclaimed it this morning from Ps. 118, THIS IS the day that the Lord had made – today we are entering into the gates of righteousness, His salvation is here. Hosanna! Save now – blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
This is the day that the Lord has made, Hallelujah! God IS faithful! And we are cared for and blessed. God is Good! What do you expect? Why not celebrate?
Yet the indifferent – indignant – they’re the religious leaders seething with jealousy. Look! The whole world is coming after him! Peacemakers have that way about them. What do you expect? It’s human nature! Jesus, also knew the religious court was aware of what was written by the prophet Zechariah, some 500 years prior.
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
What else would you expect – on one side Joy and celebration to those expecting a coronation. vs judgment and ridicule to those who are being dethroned.
“10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; And His dominion will be from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.
This is good news for all Israel, God will take away the days of war and mediate peace – why not celebrate that? What else would you expect? Unless of course you thought you were God or God meant just you.
11 As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. 13 For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; And I will make you like a warrior’s sword.”
God relays to Zechariah, This is My doing – I am God there is no other – In that we see that God has a problem with those that exalt themselves. If there are prisoners, then there are jailers.
All throughout Israels history God has led them and fed them by hand but their choices have delivered them into the hands of others. In one way Israel exalted themselves by attempting to coerce God to be the God they wanted Him to be. God does not fit into our box.
As a result, Israel, made deals with other nations for protection instead of trusting God, which exalts the very nations that God uses to exact judgment on Israel for their sinful choices. Talk about the hair of the dog???
The crowd was electrified for two reasons; the first, Jesus DID come to the festival after all the talk following Lazarus resurrection. The Jews had put out notice that if Jesus was seen, please report that they would know where he could be apprehended. Actually, they were seeking Lazarus as well.
What a crowd! Imagine those 5000 who sat in amazement as the fishes and the loaves continued be multiplied. That time John reports that Jesus departed to the mountain alone because he knew they were going to take him by force and make Him king. Not this time- the time has come
Imagine those at the sermon on the mount whose situation was counted as blessed because of their struggle, not condemned, Imagine the family and friends of the man born blind, the neighborhood rendered safe after Jesus drove the demons out of the man in the tombs. The people of Sychar restored as Jesus patiently led this ravaged woman into safety by listening and asking questions. The religious court silenced because He spoke with Authority! The friends of the man on the mat that dug a whole in Jesus’ roof to have him restored. Jairus, the synagogue leader, his congregation and family.
And the second reason, Jesus riding into the temple on that donkey was not some great coincidence that occurred. God ordained that day, this day that Jesus now deliberately comes at the Sanhedrin forcing their hand. What do you expect? They do not take his life; he lays it down.
Do you think the cheers heightened as he passed or silenced? Jesus’ gaze is steady, his eyes gleaning the crowd knowing exactly who was blessed and how. This is the Passion of Jesus.
Oh, wait, one more thing - This was also the day of the Lambs. On this day, the week before festival all the lambs were brought to the lamb gate, Josephus reports upwards of 250,000. They had “priests” or rather the breeders of the sheep of the temple fields inspecting for blemishes. Once found, that lamb was rejected and a fee was charged for a replacement offering – a spotless or perfect lamb, raised by the temple shepherds. Sometimes at gross profit margins.
Think about this…
On the same day of the lambs, the Lamb of God, spotless, void of any defect or blemish, was rejected as if He were not. Just as the field priests combed the animals and rejected them for any imperfection so the chief priests did with Jesus. What did you expect? This is more than familiarity that breeds contempt, this is popularity breeds jealousy.
The exchange price was His life and ironically ours.
Today as we wave our palms confessing Jesus as Lord – that is what we’re saying – what does that look like to you? Maybe God ordained this day for you? What do you expect from Jesus? What kind of Lord is He?
One that cares, heals, soothes? One that saves you when you wander too far out on the ice even though there’s a sign that says thin ice? I think that should say no ice!
Is he the Lord that you pray to when you strained for what you wanted instead of being satisfied with what he gives, knowing all you need? Maybe he’s the one you pray to for your golf shot or your receiver to catch that hail Mary…? What about the people praying for the other team?
Is He the one you depend on to do the really right thing, heal my child, deliver them home safely, get a well-deserved raise, or heal your spouse. Was the last time you talked the last time you were in need?
I asked if there was something that disappointed you that you really looked forward to? I have a confession.
You know I’m excited about introducing Jesus to people, because the world needs to know they’re loved. There’s a lot to add about this, we can talk later about what was issued, stolen, and the price to be paid for restitution, but… I’ve been around the proverbial block a few times; life is beautiful and detestable. God is at the center of both.
Well, for me one of those things I couldn’t have been more excited for was the movie “The Passion of the Christ” to come out. For months I sold movie tickets by mouth, shaving my hands in excitement, invited people to meet at church, even offering to buy their ticket. The world needed to know how much God loved them, just as we’re told by the apostle John in chapter 3! SO LOVED!
Then the movie came… 30 of us from the men’s group went to the South Pike Cinemas … Finally!! Within 20 minutes I was crushed, I could barely keep my eyes on the screen. My hand was over my eyebrows, half looking, and not because the movie was bad, but because I was bad. When that brutality was up in front of me on the screen, the sounds, the flagellation, the abandonment, the mocking. Maybe You can read about it with the eyes of a mom watching her son be terrorized and not because of His actions – but mine/ours. That was done for me and you! What do you expect from a Lord who does that for you?
Where are you in your relationship to the cross?
That is the intersection of life – walk or don’t walk. One life ends—another starts.
Don’t forget the law of the harvest! You reap what you sew.
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Unless Jesus empties Himself, we can never become truthfully full. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Augustine
