CHRIST CHURCH, March 20 2005, 8am

Palm Sunday

Matthew 21:1-11

This morning we move to the climax of yet another Lenten season, and we do so in the time-honoured way of remembering our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The hymn-writer sets the tone for today:

Ride on, ride on in majesty

Ride on in lowly pomp to die

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was the entry of a King and the entry of the Messiah. It was clearly considered a landmark event by the gospel writers, for it is recorded by all four. Matthew, in the account we just heard begins by telling us as they approached Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Everything Jesus did was planned. He was never formal or starchy- just the opposite! But nothing happened by accident, nothing took him by surprise. As John in his Gospel keeps on reminding us so often, everything was done in accord with his Father’s will. So, surely, his approach from the Mount of Olives was no accident.

  Zechariah, whose prophecy was quoted by Matthew, further tells us that at the End, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. (14:4) It was from there that the Jews would expect their Messiah to come. And on that day which we call ‘Palm Sunday’, Jesus thus approaches Jerusalem, fulfilling that other prophecy which Matthew quotes: Say to the daughter of Zion, “See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (9:9)

Jesus came as a King, recognised as a King, yet not as a king would normally come. Normally, a king, and especially a conquering king, would come on horseback. But no! Jesus comes into Jerusalem on a donkey: a beast not of warfare and victory, but of peace. Jesus came to bring peace to the ‘City of Peace’- for such was the meaning of ‘Jerusalem’. Zechariah in his prophecy quoted by Matthew continues thus: He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea.

Jesus, who could raise the dead, who could still a storm yet comes in peace, and also as a servant. Jesus never seeks conflict- conflict only arises when men and women fail to accept him on his terms and for who he is. How often in recent years we have seen peace initiatives fail in Northern Ireland or in the Middle East, because the terms of peace have been unacceptable to one, or both sides. And so it was to be when Jesus had been in Jerusalem but for a few days.

Yes- the crowd greet their king. If we dig a little into Jewish history, we can understand a little of the crowd’s reaction. In 167BC, the Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes had desecrated the Temple. Pig’s flesh had been offered to Zeus on the altar and the temple cubicles turned into a brothel. In 164BC, the yoke of Antiochus was broken by Judas Maccabeus, and a feast or rededicaton held. The people had shouted “Hosanna”, had waved palm branches and looked for redemption.

So, again, we have a crowd going wild, a crowd going wild waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna”! Now: the word ‘Hosanna’ means ‘save us’

I wonder how much we see of a crowd’s frustration and the beginning of a sense of resentment? The crowd were looking not for a king who would be meek and peaceful, but one who would by military might free them from the yoke of Roman oppression. ‘Save us’ they shout out, ‘save us from Roman rule’.

I would now have us think of the fickleness of that crowd. Let us fast-forward to the grey light of a Friday dawn. To Jesus, arrested, and tried, and brought by Pilate before the crowd who had but days before welcomed their king. Given the chance to ask for freedom for wither Barabbas, a noted robber or for Jesus, they ask for Barabbas to be set free. What then asks Pilate about ‘Jesus who is called Christ (or Messiah)? Crucify him, shout the crowd. In days acclamation had turned to rejection. Was it not because Jesus failed their expectation of him…?

But what does all this say to us? We can all cherish false expectations of Jesus. Who and what do we see in him? What do we think he expects of us? Our answers to those questions will shape our reaction to him. For can’t we acclaim him king one day, and then when he fails our expectations, we reject him- at least deep down within? Oh no, never openly, publicly, but in the secret recesses of our hearts. 

Jesus wept over the city as he saw it laid out before him from the Mount. He wept because it failed to recognise its ‘day of opportunity’ He wanted to gather the people to himself, but they didn’t want this.

Where, on Palm Sunday 2005, do we stand in all this?