A Different Kind of King
                                                   Luke 19: 28-44

*What do palm branches have to do with Easter?

*Today we celebrate Jesus’ arrival at Jerusalem, where in five days he will be
    crucified.  Why do we call it His “Triumphal Entry”?

*One writer says of “Palm Sunday,”  “All history had pointed toward this
    single, spectacular event…” Why does he say that?

“A Different Kind of King” is today’s title.  Let’s turn to Luke 19:28-44.

Time Magazine did a survey of Gen Xers (people born in the late 1960s and ‘70s). They were asked this simple question:
  
     “If you were stranded on a desert island, and you could have only one
      thing, what one thing would you want?

*10 percent said, “I’d want a TV.”
*15 percent replied, “Some books.”
*21 percent said, “A computer”
*24 percent said “Some music”
*The number one answer was, “I would want my dad and my mom.”

Despite what the media portrays, and on those days when parents wonder if the kids are listening at all, a Newsweek survey reported (quote):  “In a national survey, children named their parents as their number one heroes.”

Every culture has stories about heroes. It’s as if there is an instinct inside us that says,

      “We all know something’s gone wrong with our world, and we need
      someone to come along who’s bigger, stronger, smarter…something…to
      help set things right in a world that’s such a mess.”

In ancient myths, it was Hercules or Thor. Later there are legends about King Arthur and Sir Lancelot and one brief, shining moment with in a kingdom called Camelot.

We consider ourselves more sophisticated, so we have superheroes in movies or comic books: Spiderman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Green Hornet, X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four and sometimes strange action figures like the Power Rangers, or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…

When I was growing up, I loved Tarzan.  My friends and I took to the woods, swung on grape vines and made strange, loud yells. I had a friend who went swimming in the creek on Christmas day to impress his girlfriend, because he imagined that was something his hero would do to impress Jane.

Then it was Superman. I loved Superman because he was strong. You all know the liturgy. He was “faster than a…speeding bullet; more powerful than a…locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.” (That sounds a lot like a youth pastor.)

He was strong.
He was never lonely.
He never needed therapy, even though he wore blue tights and a cape
      underneath his regular clothes!
Bullets bounced off his chest, and when bad guys came after him, he always won.

I wanted to be him.
I wanted his x-ray vision.
I wanted to be able to bend steel in my bare hands.
Most of all, I wanted his chest…

Then there was this weird little guy.  Never mind that he smoked a pipe and eat an unbalanced diet.  I am among those grieving the passing of this superhero, a victim of the recent spinach crisis.

In Jesus’ day, Israel was waiting for a Superman. They called Him “Messiah.” For many centuries, the people of Israel had lived as an oppressed people, under the iron fist of Rome, and they knew this was not what the “kingdom” was supposed to look like. They were powerless to change things.

There were certain Old Testament passages that talked about “One who was to come.” By Jesus’ time, there had been a lot of thought and writing about those passages and about this figure called “Messiah,” meaning, the “Anointed One.”  

In Old Testament times, kings were the primary ones anointed to serve God.  So the Jews associated with practice with a king.

For three years now, Jesus has been criss-crossing Palestine preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and performing amazing miracles that vindicated his Messianic claims!  Many had trusted him as Savior, and King.

On Palm Sunday, he makes a prophetic and historic arrival in Jerusalem. It was not a coincidence that this day—Sunday—was day the people selected their Passover Lambs! 

Palm Sunday is important because it is God’s official presentation of His Lamb to the nation.  Our Lord presented Himself formally to the nation as their king.   That’s why the emphasis upon the borrowing of a donkey for the occasion. Matthew quotes something the Prophet Zachariah said about Messiah.

    “Tell The daughter of Zion
    “Behold, your King is coming to you,
    “Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
    “A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

And as he approaches the city, the people are delirious with anticipation.  Lazarus—recently raised— is there, walking around— singing, “He is the resurrection and the Life…”  The word spreads like wildfire that Jesus has spent the night just two miles away in Bethany, and is on his way into the city to celebrate the Passover.  Throngs of pilgrims rush out to meet him, near the Mount of Olives.

According to the requirements of the Law, the company of ecstatic Passover worshippers is from far reaches of Palestine. If you had panned the crowd, you, too, would have been moved to praise, at who is among them: 

“Aw, there’s Bartimaeus, formerly called “Blind Bartimaeus.”
“There’s a woman whose telling everybody about meeting Him at a well in
     Samaria and how He set her free!
*There is ex-demoniac who terrorized the cemetery, standing, awkwardly on
     the edge of the crowd, looking a lot like Ernest T. Bass!
“There is Jairus, and a centurion, with their children—Both raised to life!

In near-frenzy, the crowd begins to chant in unison,

….“Hosanna,  to the Son of David!”
….“Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord”

Hosanna,” means, “Lord, Save.”

There were Roman soldiers in the vicinity (there always were—especially at Passover), and the Pharisees were as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. This “king” business could—in the snap of a finger—bring the edgy Romans among them swinging swords, as had happened just a couple of years before.

The Message paraphrases verse 39— “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”  If they thought the crowd (made up, Matthew says, of disciples and nationalistic Jews) is out of control now…

Jesus says something that pushes them right over the edge:

   “I tell you that if these should keep silence, the stones would immediately
    cry out.”

“Don’t be dumber than a pile of rocks,” he says. “The physical creation is just waiting for the signal to praise me, the Creator.”

It was a hero’s welcome, a 1st century equivalent of a ticker-tape parade.

There are three heroes in this scene—each teaches a timeless principle.I. The Hero Is The Lord Jesus, The Promised Messiah

For three years he has shunned the lime-light; he has stifled praise, and ordered healed people not to tell anyone!

For three years he has shunned the lime-light; he has stifled praise, and ordered healed people not to tell anyone!But now, he steps boldly into the limelight…

…he demonstrates his omniscience  (V30)
…he shows his authority over the animal and physical creation
…He calls Himself “Lord” in verse 34. 

He summarizes His ministry in one telling phrase, “the time of visitation.”

Let me explain the principle, then state it.

Do you remember Daniel’s prophecy concerning Messiah’s coming in  chapter 9:24:

   “Seventy weeks shall be determined for your people and for your holy
    city to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins…

The term “weeks” literally means “seven.”—(70 X 7) or 490 years. 

Daniel says, in verse 26, that after 69 weeks “then shall Messiah be cut off.”

A NT Scholar, Harold Hoehner, took Daniel’s prophecy of 490 years, and came up with 173,800 days.

Look at this slide: the 69th week (484 years) would expire, as Daniel said, on the day Messiah would be ‘cut off.’ After careful study, Hoehner concludes that that day is Sunday, March 30, AD, 33—Palm Sunday! (Swindoll, p. 120).

Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on the very day prescribed by ancient prophecy!

What’s the Principle?  God’s Timing In Your Life Is Perfect.  When You Are Surrendered To Him, He Is Working Out Each Detail Of Your Life According To His Plan And Purpose.     Jesus said to the church at Philadelphia (speaking of Himself): 
 
    “He who has the key of David, He who opens doors and no one shuts,
     and shuts and no one opens,”Rest in the Lord!

Rest in the Lord!The Second Hero Is The Privileged ManagersJesus told the two disciples what to expect in the village of Bethpage. 

Jesus told the two disciples what to expect in the village of Bethpage. …”You find a young, unbroken donkey tied up.”
…”The owner (“owners”—V33) will say to you, ‘Stop thief” (They will say,
        “Why are you taking the donkey?)
….”You say to them ‘The Lord needs Him.’

That’s precisely what happened!  We don’t know what a young donkey cost.  It must have been valuable in a farming culture.  It was a primary mode of transportation.  It’s assumed that Mary rode a donkey on the long trip to Bethlehem.

No question, that critter was a financial asset; it had significant potential over its lifetime to better the economic standing of its owners. I wonder if their  shared ownership said something about their meager economic status.

Yet, there is no resistance.  They willingly surrendered their valued property to Jesus for His purposes.

The men said simply, “The Lord has need of Him.”  Was that true, really?  Does God need anything?  Jesus made the first donkey…He could have made a herd of them on the road to Jerusalem, and come riding in like a wealthy chieftain.  When you think about it, He could have directed the donkey to untie itself and find Him.

Why this interplay?  Because the owners were privileged to be involved in something far beyond the price of a donkey…They were ministering to God. This was an incredible act of worship! At some level, they were griped with His ownership; and their stewardship.

The NT says, “We are laborers together with God.”

A little boy had a pet turtle that suddenly, inexplicable died; his heart was broken. He cried all day; and mom got nowhere; he was inconsolable. When dad got home, she said, ‘You’ve got to do something. He’s been in the backyard with the turtle crying all day.’

Dad went out back, sure enough, there his boy sat on the ground with his head down, and a lifeless turtle before him in the grass.

“Son,” he said, approaching quietly, “I’m really sorry about your pet.” He just started talking off the top of his head, trying to find something to console his boy with:

    “Son, I’ll tell you what: We can have a funeral; we will celebrate your
     turtle’s going to turtle heaven. We’ll get a shoe box and put him in it; I’ll
     say a few words over him, if you like.  I’ll tell you what: you could invite a
     some of your friends to come. We’ll ask mom to bake a cake; I’ll go to the
     store and get some ice cream, and afterward we’ll have a party in honor
     of your pet. And son, one more thing: When they’re gone home, if you feel
     like it, we’ll go down to the park and ride some of the rides.  Okay?”

Through his tears, the boy replied, “We can have a party?…I can have some friends over? We can have cake and ice cream?”

“That’s right, son, if that’s what you’d like.”

Smiling now, the boy took his father’s hand.  Standing up, they turned to go into the house when—You’ll never believe it—The turtle poked its head out of its shell.

“Well, look son,” dad said, “he’s not dead after all.”  The boy, with panic on his face, began to yell, “Kill him, daddy, kill him.”

I suspect there’s a little of that in all of us:  “I want to have my party.” Our real problem is that we all want to be our own little “messiah.”

The Principle (In Case You Missed It):  We Are Accountable To God For All We Are And Have, And Are Privileged To Participate In His Eternal Work And Purposes.The Third Hero (A Group of Heroes) is The Praising Multitude.

They saw what Pharisees failed to see; they said what the nation’s leaders refused to say.

They what Pharisees failed ; they what the nation’s leaders refused .In recognition of the “Son of David” (The Messiah), they spread clothing and palm branches on the road before him.

Luke says they sang from Psalms 118:26, a Psalm their ancestors had sung 150 years before (141 BC). For a time between the Old and New Testaments, the Syrians occupied Israel, determined to force the nation to become Greek.  Amid this national crisis, a high priest named Matthias, and his five sons lead a rebellion again the oppressors, called “the Maccabean Revolt”; the Maccabees brothers, led by Judas, dubbed “The Hammer,” liberated Israel.  They were lionized as national heroes, as famous as George Washington. 

The symbol of the revolt was a palm branch. For a few years after, Israel minted its own money. They wouldn’t put a human face on it, because that was considered a graven image, a volition of the second commandment.  So, they put the image of a palm branch on their currency; a symbol and celebration of the peace won by the Maccabees.

The Romans knew about this; they made sure Palm branches weren’t sold in Hallmark Stores.
Palm branches had nothing to do with Passover. It expressed the people nationalistic hope and expectation that what the Maccabees had done, Jesus, the King, was now going to do—this time it was the Romans, who would be driven into the sea! Messiah was about to liberate Israel!

Their Palm Sunday expectations dashed, many of those who cried, “Hosanna to the King,” on Sunday, shouted, “Away with Him; crucify Him!” on Friday.

Why? Their unfounded, nationalistic expectations lead them down a path of disappointment and disillusionment.  Jesus would be crucified, and the Romans would occupy Jerusalem for another 450 years!

Recently a group of us enjoyed the inspiring movie, “Facing The Giants” together in this auditorium.  A number of you saw it in the theaters, or on DVD.

I have given Hollyweird credit; it was misplaced.  The kudos goes to Sherwood Baptist Church, in Albany, Ga, that produced the film. 

…There is a clear presentation of the Gospel
…It presses home the importance of a right attitude, perseverance, and
       doing everything to the glory of God.
…We are always suckers for a story of triumphant over adversity.
…There is a message of hope.

For all its positive points, it’s important that believers  be discerning. There is the subtle message: “If you serve Jesus…your prayers will always be answered; your problems will be solved”

If you serve Jesus…

…you will get a new truck
…You’ll get a raise
…childless couples will have children
…you will win the championship.

How does this message jive with a chapter like Hebrews chapter 11, where so many suffered for their faith, and never saw their “problem solved.” Many died for their convictions.

Where does this message leave a person struggling with a long-term disability?  Like my godly friend who has struggled with debilitating lupus for 15 years, despite strong faith and constant prayers for healing?

What does it say to a single person who wants with all their heart to be married?  Yet, God has not answered his or her prayer.

What about the couple struggling year after year with a difficult marriage, without evident progress?

Does it encourage our young people to serve the Lord in an isolated, third-world country, where you get running water two hours a day?

If a principle is biblical, it works in any culture.  How would believers among the Karen and Kareni tribes of Burma respond to the film?

I fear this “God always fixes my problem” message may set people up for disillusionment because it is based on an unrealistic, false expectation. 

What should you expect?

Several years ago, Focus on the Family carried a true story in their magazine that was first published in Reader’s Digest.  One day a father took his two elementary-age children for a ride on the family’s pontoon boat. They were skimming along the water when suddenly the motor stopped.

When dad leaned over the back to inspect the propeller, he noticed something familiar about the red sweater which he recognized to be tangled in the prop. At that moment, his son yelled, “Sherry fell in!”

In horror, the man saw his little girl entwined in the prop; she was submerged just beneath the surface, calmly holding her breathe, staring straight into her father’s eyes.

Dad jumped into the water and tried to pull the motor up, but it was just too heavy.  Time was running out. Desperate, dad filled his lungs with air, ducked below the surface and blew it into his little girl’s mouth and lungs.  As he worked frantically to free her, he repeated it three times.

Finally, with a knife from the boat, the man cut his daughter free and lifted her into the boat.

Although she had survived, her deep cuts and bruises needed medical attention, so they rushed her to the hospital.  When the crisis was over, one of the doctors asked her:  “Why didn’t you panic?”

“Well,” she said.  “We’ve grown up on the river, and my daddy always taught us if you panic you could die.  And besides, I knew my daddy would come and get me.”Friend, in the crisis or in a tight place, your heavenly Father will do one of two things:  he may rescue you. When he does, be careful to praise Him!

Friend, in the crisis or in a tight place, your heavenly Father will do one of two things:  he rescue you. When he does, be careful to praise Him!But he may not cut the cords and set you free!  But in those times when you feel trapped, vulnerable—don’t panic! Ah, he will come again and again, to fill your mind and your heart with air— It’s called GRACE.

It’s when you are helplessly submerged that grace shines brightest in a sin-sick world, who needs so desperately to hear and see the good news.

Palm Sunday was “Lamb Selection Day.”  Have you selected the Lamb, God’s lamb.  He is the Savior, the Messiah. Is He your Savior?  This would be a wonderful moment to invite the Lord Jesus into your life.

What should I do?  Pray to Him as if you were talking to your best friend, acknowledge that you have broken His righteous law, acknowledge that Jesus died for you, and say something like this, “Lord Jesus, forgive me for my sins and come into my life, be my Savior and my Lord.”

He will!  He promised!