4-5-20 Sermon Notes – “Two Parades” Luke 19:29-40
This is a “dusted off” message with a few modifications from two years ago with the premise that it is worth reading again.
“Palm Sunday – Two Parades”
We often focus on the procession of Jesus riding on the donkey into Jerusalem when it comes to the traditional Palm Sunday message. However, there were two processions/parades that took place – one coming from the West and the other coming from the East. Although they did not happen at the exact same point in time, they did take place within a week or two of each other. So….let’s take a look at the two parades beginning with the Jesus Parade as we read Luke 19:29-40.
Luke 19:29-40 New International Version (NIV)
29 “As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Message
We celebrate God’s overwhelming and steadfast love on many occasions in our lives and throughout the church year. Many of us have memorized that beautiful passage of Scripture, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him would perish, but have eternal life.”
These first words of this message convey to us the depth of Jesus’ love—for both the Father and for us. Three times previously Jesus predicted his suffering and death. Jesus was well aware of what was in store for him. Still, he set his face toward Jerusalem and he would allow nothing to distract him from his mission and his destiny. One time He told his disciples, “What great love is this that a man would lay down his life for another?” Yes, what great love, indeed!
The theme of love is a constant in the life and ministry of Jesus. Certainly, it is the melody that we hear as he enters Jerusalem and lives out his final week.
A DIFFERENT MESSIAH
Many believe that there were two entrance parades in Jerusalem that Sunday. From the West, Pontius Pilate was entering Jerusalem. He had traveled down from the seat of government at Caesarea. Pilate was coming to Jerusalem because of the celebration of the Passover. He would not observe the feast, but he wanted to be close in case the celebration became a demonstration against the Roman government.
On the Eastside, Jesus enters Jerusalem. Jesus entrance is a parody of Pilate’s entrance. Instead of legions of soldiers, Jesus has a crowd of disciples. Jesus rides in on a donkey and not a stallion. Pilate’s entrance is meant to impress with power. Jesus enters Jerusalem humbly.
Jesus’ entrance is intentional. It is not because Jesus could not find a horse, or marshal two or three hundred people. Jesus demonstrates by his entrance into Jerusalem that he is a different kind of Messiah than the people expect. He is not going to overthrow the Roman government by political power and physical strength. Jesus rules through love and love’s life-transforming power. Jesus is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the suffering servant.
MISUNDERSTANDING
The actions of the crowd clearly showed that they did not catch the message that Jesus was trying to communicate. They think that Jesus is the strong, kick-butt Messiah for whom they have been waiting for so long. “Hosanna” they cry out. “Save us, now!” They are looking for Jesus to exercise his power and cast out the Romans like he has done the demons.
Concluding Remarks and Application
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem while seated on a donkey demonstrated that He was not the Messiah that the people expected. Jesus is a Messiah who comes in love and rules by love
Jesus doesn’t stop the people from their celebration and their cries for action. In fact, he tells the religious officials that if the crowd were to become silent, the stones would cry out. Jesus accepts where the people are. He knows that they aren’t perfect, nor do they fully understand what is happening.
Being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t enable us to immediately “get it.” Following Jesus is a life of learning. The first Christians eventually discovered that Jesus was not going to overthrow the world’s governments. They also came to learn that Jesus wasn’t going to return as quickly as they had first thought. As they walked with Jesus, they began to learn how the Holy Spirit moved and how God ruled in our lives.
We (hopefully) learn the same lessons. There are those times when we want God to wield his power—to immediately heal someone we love, provide for financial relief, reverse our parking ticket, or make sure that our lives are disaster-proof (or make the coronavirus go away). Over and over again we learn that this is usually not how the Holy Spirit moves in our world and in our lives. Little by little, as we walk with Jesus, we learn that God moves and rules differently than the world’s nations and leaders.