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Palm Sunday - The Courage, Claim &
Appeal of Jesus Today we come to the beginning of what we call Holy Week. This, for Christians, Christ-followers, is the most special week of the year- hence it is called HOLY week.. It is the week when we walk with Jesus through the events which lead up to his eventual crucifixion,( on good Friday) and then his resurrection ( on Easter Day).. It is during this week, especially, that we see the shadow of the cross being cast over every event that follows. Without this week in history, there would be no church – for Jesus’ followers would have simply died out. Without this week, and Christs death and resurrection- there would be no possibility of personal transformation; no promise of forgiveness for the sins of the past, or hope for strength for the future. So this week is very special in Christian thought and worship as we follow Jesus from the time he enters Jerusalem for the final time, up until the crucified and risen Jesus startles the disciples in the upper room on that first Easter night. In many respects, the events of this Palm Sunday, set the scene for this week which follows. We see the Courage, the Claim and the Appeal of Jesus, and each of these has something to say to us, about our own journey as Christ-followers. 1. Lets look firstly at the Courage of Jesus. Jesus knew full well that He was entering a hostile city. He had been here, many times before, and no matter how enthusiastic the crowds might be, the religious leaders, in particular were offended by his attacks on their hypocrisy and their distortion of God’s truth. Almost any person in a similar situation would consider that discretion was the better part of valour, and if he had to come to Jerusalem would do so under cover of night, or keep prudently to the back streets until he reached his shelter. But Jesus here enters Jerusalem in a way that deliberately sets him in the centre of the stage. All through Jesus’ last days there is a kind of magnificent and yet sublime defiance of the world’s authorities – a deliberate challenge to them to do their worst. Its almost as though Jesus is baiting the religious leaders to come out of the shadows and show up for this cosmic show-down. Jesus had the courage to face his enemies. And they were real people! It would do us well to consider the example of Jesus during this Holy Week as we reflect on where we stand in our life, and in a world which is increasingly anti-Christian. Do we have that same courage and trust in God when we face personal criticism, maybe ridicule, misunderstanding, or even outright opposition or rejection, because we seek to follow the way of Jesus? I need more of that kind of courage? Holy Week reminds us of the Courage of Jesus, and encourages us to trust Him and to know that He will give us grace and strength in times of trial. But it is not only courage if or when when face opposition! For most of us, the courage we require will comemuch sooner than that. It will be courage for living! Courage to face new things; courage to stand firm in the face of compromises; courage perhaps to try something new, to take a calculated “faith-leap” . Courage to face the uncertainties of life with optimism. 2. We see the Claim of Jesus. When Jesus rode in through the towering gates of Jerusalem on a donkey he was making very clear his claim to be the Messiah, the One who was sent by God, the Anointed one( or Christ.) Jesus teachings and miracles were intend to raise in people’s minds the question – “Who is He?” , but now his Triumphal entry into Jerusalem was to leave no doubt in peoples minds. If Jesus had been willing to accept simply the designation of Prophet, then there was a good probability that he need not have died! But the clear claim of Jesus is that he IS King, and Lord, and anything else would be a lie to his own Person and character. Jesus claimed to be King – and He acknowledged that honour given to him by the crowds – But he seeks also the highest place in our lives today. The challenge Jesus gave to the crowds is a challenge to us, also. Does He reign his kingly rule in us? Do I place everything in my life before Him? - or am I at the centre of the universe. Do I want the world to revolve around me – or is His will my greatest delight? Do I want others to notice me, honour me, please me and inflate my ego – or do I want, more than anything else, to please Him; to give all I have in His Service; to live according to His purpose for my life? The claim of Jesus to be King in our lives is a call to forget self ; to have the same attitude which Jesus had – which, although He was and is King - was to take the form and nature of a servant and walk the path of service. It doesn’t always happen that way – but that’s the direction in which you and I are called to move. So on Palm Sunday we see the courage of Christ and the claim of Christ – and they speak to our lives. But we also see 3/ -- the Attraction of Christ. The throne of the universe rightly belongs to Jesus, but it was not the kingship of that throne that he claimed on Palm Sunday – it was the throne of our hearts. It was not so much the allegiance of subjects that Jesus was asking, but the appeal of friendship. He was with the people, on their level. They shouted their Hosanna’s and greeting to the One whom they hoped would set their nation free from the ruling power. But Jesus wasn’t wanting political support but their personal devotion. Despite 2000 years, Jesus still has a magnetic attraction. We are here today, I hope, because there is something special in the person of Jesus which we find nowhere else. The courage, the claim , and the attraction of Christ stand in stark contrast to the blackness of the events of this week. The king of peace comes into our midst today in this worship Service, and is with us in this week, - not to destroy but to love; not to condemn but to help; not in the might of arms, but in the strength of love. |
