Palm Sunday April 5th, 2020 Pastor Ryan Heiman True heroes run toward the danger to face it head on to stop evil in its tracks. These are words often used to describe law enforcement, first responders, er doctors and our military personnel. While many are running, screaming, panicking and trying to get away, heroes and warriors go against the flow to help, protect, defend and save. We are so thankful for the many men and women in our country that we can call heroes and warriors. Our savior Jesus Christ is a hero, the warrior we need because today he rides forth into battle to the shouts of hosanna.
Matt hew 21:1-11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Immediately you will find a donkey tied there along with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 Tell the daughter of Zion: Look, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. [a] 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their outer clothing on them, and he sat on it. 8 A very large crowd spread their outer clothing on the road. Others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them out on the road. 9 The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed kept shouting, Hosanna [b] to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! [c] Hosanna in the highest! 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, asking, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The Warrior Rides Forth Into Battle Today we see Jesus knowing what was before him, and riding forth into the battle. Throughout Holy Week Jesus shows his omniscience. Really, throughout his ministry he shows his knowledge of God’s plan of salvation and doesn’t back down. He starts Palm Sunday by telling his disciples about this donkey they need to get for his glorious entrance into Jerusalem. This wasn’t an accidental ride, crowd and celebration, it was all according to God’s plan. It makes the rest of the week all the more impactful. On Thursday he’ll explain to them about the details for the Passover celebration. He explains the historical plan of God to send a true sacrificial lamb to forgive sins. He speaks to them about what is going to happen on Good Friday and Easter for that matter on most of the days of the week, even though they didn’t understand his plain words until it was all over. So what about all the people there that Palm Sunday, what did they have in mind for Jesus? Did they see him riding into battle? They did, but it was some other kind of battle they were thinking. They proclaimed him the Son of David. They assumed it was time to become God’s nation again, not one ruled by the pagan romans. For the Israelite historian, they probably were thinking that this would just like old times when they would go through a period of captivity and hardship, but their crying out to the Lord would finally be heard and he would deliver them. He had done this many times before. The prophesies spoke about a deliverer. The Son of David would certainly be a fitting name for such a ruler.
That is why they got their hands on as many palm branches and coats as they could. He should be welcomed properly. This new King, this mighty warrior should have a clean road to enter on, a dry path, a red carpet sort of entrance. There was probably clapping, shouting, singing, and general excitement on that day. Everyone is sounds like was pitching in a hand to welcome Jesus. They had heard about his miracles, his power, his might, his wisdom, yes even his kindness. How could he lose, he could feed thousands, he could heal injuries, he could even bring back to life, how could that warrior leading an army ever lose. Their shouts of Hosanna, Are fascinating since the people probably didn’t quite understand what they were saying. It means save us, or we are saved, it is really a call or proclamation of divine help. It seems that they were praising God for saving them. Which is entirely 100% true, Jesus had come to save them, even if they were thinking earthly and he was coming spiritually. They could remember the words of Isaiah 9:6 the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Is that the same confusion we run into, We are more interested in an earthly warrior than an eternal one. How many of us start to doubt him if we don’t have the earthly blessings we’d like. It in turn, causes us to doubt the spiritual ones too. This will cause some to lose or abandon the faith all together. It seems many people value the earthly victories more than the spiritual ones. When we think of victory celebrations, which ones are the biggest? I’m guessing that we celebrate victories, parties, and holidays with more fanfare than spiritual victories. How big is your baptism party? Which is more important graduation or confirmation? The list could go on and on, how much emphasis we put on the earthly victories, and yes we may give a little credit to God, but what about the spiritual victories that Christ has won for us and wins for us every day. Do earthly worries overshadow eternal victories? We have a mighty warrior who rides forth into battle, we have a hero that faces danger head on to win us eternal life. Our mighty warrior fights the battle we could never win. No matter how hard you try, no matter how good you are, no matter the strength or wisdom you might possess, you will always lose. You’ve seen that already in your life. We try to do good, but we still end up sinning. It is a battle, even with the Spirit’s help we often fail. It is the fight that only Jesus could win. He rides into Jerusalem knowing what the end of the week holds, knowing that many of these people will shout against him, knowing that even on this great day of victory to their shouts of Hosanna that they misunderstand his purpose, but he still goes on, he still celebrates with his people that God has come to save. He knows that battle will be painful, will be hard fought, we even result in his death, but he also knows the victory, the forgiveness of sins, the salvation of the world that he will bring. May this week be spent with a reflective heart that contemplates your warrior, your hero Jesus Christ. There are powerful reminders all throughout this week that he came to save, not from earthly worries, but from sin, death and the devil. He runs toward the danger to fight for you. His suffering and death on the cross means for your eternity. Welcome the warrior, welcome the hero. Place a palm branch in his path, shout hosanna, acclaim him the son of David, because he rides forth into battle to give you the eternal victory in heaven. Amen.