Palm Sunday Zech 3:8-10;9:9-11,16;14:9
The Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 21:1 – 17
“HISTORY'S MOST PROVOCATIVE KING!”
It's true! Here in Matthew 21 history's most provocative king is celebrated! I recall how, as a youngster, I was both shocked and delighted – as well fairly bewildered by these Palm Sunday events.
I was shocked not only by Jesus using a whip but by something Jesus says on the way into the city. Reading from the King James version, as we did back then: “Jesus sent two disciples ahead, telling them, 'Go into the village before us and immediately you will find an ass...'” (Matthew 21:2)
(Gasp!) - He swore! I was shocked! I wondered if his mommy washed his mouth out with soap like mine did with me once. I wonder how his disciples reacted: “Language! And uh, Jesus, have you been to Bethphage lately? I can assure you that there's more than one..., you know....!”
But then, later, Jesus says something that delighted my young ears. When the religious adults scolded Jesus for letting the kids in the crowd sing and shout “Hosanna!” to him, Jesus rebukes the adults: “Have you never read, 'From the lips of children, you, Lord, have called forth your praise?”
(Matthew 21:15-16)
Jesus took the side of the noisy kids! As a youngster, I was delighted! I realized that we kids have a special place in Jesus' heart and in his kingdom! How cool is that? It's from that verse, by the way, that phrase sprang to life: “Out of the mouths of babes...!” Google that and you get this...
A cartoon of a boy standing in front of his mom, sitting in a recliner, saying: “Before I tell you what happened, Mom, remember – the Lord will never give you more than you can handle.”
Or...the story is recounted of a kindergarten teacher walking around observing her students at work drawing pictures. As she stopped behind one girl, working away diligently, she asked what the girl was drawing. “I'm drawing God!” came the reply. The teacher frowned: “But no one knows what God looks like, dear.” Without looking up, the girl replied, “They will in a minute.”
Another one tells how one Sunday the pastor stopped short during his sermon, and said, “There seems to be something wrong with the sound system.” A child quickly quipped: “And also with you!”
Out of lips of babes...! Jesus celebrated the exuberance of children! I was delighted! But I was also bewildered! The people that day welcomed Jesus to their city like a conquering king and yet Jesus came riding in on the back of not only a donkey, but of a baby donkey at that! Where was his dashing white steed? What kind of king rides a tiny baby donkey? He would've looked a bit ridiculous!
I couldn't make sense of it. What's going on here? Two things grabbed my attention... One,
Matthew is meticulous in tracking Jesus' movements, the Messiah on the move. This is important not only in helping us envision where Jesus is at in any given moment but because of a larger truth Matthew wants to convey. Jesus is on the move to Jerusalem because Jesus is making his move!
“Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem where the Son of Man....will be crucified.” (Matthew 20:17)
And again: “As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.” (20:29)
-2-
And again: “As they approached Jerusalem they came to Bethpage on the Mount of Olives...” (21:1) “When Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred...” (21:10) “Jesus then entered the temple courts...” (21:12) “(Later) he left and went out of the city to Bethany, to spend the night.” (21:17)
Jesus has planned his return to Jerusalem very carefully. He repeatedly told his disciples that their travels are now taking them there. Notice that it's his idea to borrow a couple of donkeys to ride on. It's the only time in the gospels we're told he does so. Up to now he's always walked, but now he chooses to ride in. He knows that Zechariah has foretold of a messianic figure riding in on the back of a donkey's foal. Jesus' movement is strategeic. He's on the move making his move!
To do so, Jesus is making a provocative statement. He is here publicly claiming to be that long awaited messianic king promised to King David. It's for that very reason that the children and their parents yell out “Hosanna to the Son of David!” , echoeing what the blind meen just healed oustide of Jericho on the way in declared: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matthew 21:9,15;20:30) Up until now, when people he had healed declare him to be the messiah, he has urged them to keep that to themselves, but now, at long last, he is stepping up to the plate, if you will, and claming that title as true and fitting. Matthew pointing to Jesus on the move underscores that Jesus is making his move!
The second thing that grabbed my attention is how Jesus' entry into Jerusalem atop a donkey signals or triggers five realities or responses. # 1, as noted, it signals God's ancient promises coming to life. Old Testament references and prophecies suddenly appear in rapid succession.
Matthew notes that Jesus donkey ride fulfills prophecy and combines a quote from Isaiah, “Say to your Daughter Zion” (Isaiah 62:11), with the one we read from Zechariah, “'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'” (Zech 9:9; Matt 21:5)
Spreading cloaks on the ground was reminiscent of an ancient custom of so honoring the Kings of David's line, such as that of King Jehu, celebrated in 2 Kings 9: “They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, 'Jehu is King!'” (2 Kings 9:13)
Jesus arrival via the route through the Mount of Olives is reminsicent of another prophecy from Zechariah in which the prophet declares: “On that day the Lord's feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem......and the Lord will be king over the whole earth.” (Zechariah 14:4,9)
The chant, “Hosanna...! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9) is a direct quote from (Psalm 118:25-26), Jesus quotes Isaiah 25 and Jeremiah 7 when he rebukes the money changers, affirms his earlier affirmation of children's faith by quoting Psalm 8:2 and overrules a legalistic interpretation of 2 Samuel 5:6-8 when he heals the blind and the lame in the temple.
In doing this Jesus is asserting his messianic authority. #1: He's bringing God's promises to life.
# 2: It reveals a new kingdom on the rise. Jesus, in being welcomed as a king on his humble mount, reveals that his kingdom he's been proclaiming and demonstrating throughout his ministry, has arrived! He started his ministry by saying it is near! Now he declares, it is here! I am that king! We'll explore this more on Friday night, exploring just what kind of king he is, contrary to all expectations.
# 3: his victory ride triggers an adverse reaction. Some seek to silence him and his followers. They still do. By alligning himself with the children singing his hosannas, and declaring him an heir to the eternal throne promised to David, Jesus is aligning himself with the weakest in his society.
-3-
Matthew helps us connect the dots. After telling us that Jesus brazingly healed the lame and the blind in the temple, his adversaries connect that action with the praises of children. “When the chief priests...saw the wonderful things he did, (healing the undesirables), AND the children shouting “Hosanna” in the temple courts, they were indignant.” (Matthew 21:15)
The blind and the lame, like the shouting children, were those who're to be seen and not heard, preferably neither, especially in God's house. Jesus was saying in my kingdom they matter – and their presence and voices are not only to be seen and heard - but acknowledged, affirmed and celebrated.
I'm reading a book that cites the toxic cultures that exist in some churches today. The author cites examples of narcissism & power plays in an environment in which some are more valued than others. When women or former children in those churches come forward as whistle blowers they are discounted and discredited by the larger than life and dominant voices there, who try to silence them thru ploys to shame, ostracize or otherwise totally discredit them by weaving an alternative narrative.
How it must make Jesus weep. It's not only out there in the secular world in which some seek to silence the voices of those crying out for justice, we see it happening even from within. Jesus is all about bringing honor and healing and hope to those whose voice does indeed matter, and so should we.
#4: Jesus' arrival inspires enthusiastic worship. That one's hard to miss. The crowds, especially those on the fringes as noted, erupt in unbridaled praise and thanksgiving! Matthew points out another element in that praise. It's the link between two voices in that crowd, following him, waving palm branches and exalting him specifically as the merciful Son of David.
As Jesus made his way into the city, “Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!'
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder... (Notice again the theme of some trying to silence certain voices.) Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” (Matthew 20:30-31,34)
It seems the loudest voices of praise are those who realize how they've benefited by Jesus' com-passion! I would think that would be evident in our worship as well! Let your voices be heard...!
Finally, # 5: Jesus' provocative actions here and elsewhere raises the question, “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10) That's what the people of Jerusalem were asking. In fact, the context of that question is that of their being stirred up. Matthew's wording suggests that's a vast understatement.
He writes: “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?'” (Matthew 21:10) The Greek verb translaed as 'stirred' is eseisthe. It's the same verb Matthew uses to identify the earthquakes Jesus foretells for the end times, the earthquake that split rocks and caused the temple curtain to tear, and that heralded Jesus' resurrection and rattled the Roman guards.
That's the verb Matthew chose to describe how Jesus entry as a humble king rattled and rocked the city of Jerusalem, prompting people to wonder aloud, Who is this? What's your response?
Is he the promised king that the former blind men and the children identified him as being? Most importantly, is he your king? Does he rule your life? Do you seek to follow his lead and work to bring his kingdom of compassion and mercy to life? Who is this?!
Let the volume of your praise and your compassion for others reveal who he is to you!