2008 Palm Sunday Sermon – “A Tale
of Two Crowds”
John 12:12-19
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – March 16, 2008
Prayer Introduction: A group of four-year-olds were gathered in a Sunday school class. Their enthusiastic teacher looked at the class and asked: “Does anyone know what today is?” A little four-year-old girl held up her finger and said, “Yes, today is Palm Sunday.” The teacher exclaimed, “Yes, wonderful! Now does anyone know what next Sunday is?” The same little girl held up her finger and said, “Yes, next Sunday is Easter Sunday.” Once again the teacher said, “That's fantastic! Now, does anyone know what makes next Sunday Easter?” The same little girl responded and said, “Yes, next Sunday is Easter because Jesus rose from the grave.” But before the teacher could congratulate her, she continued, “But if he sees his shadow, he has to go back in for six weeks.”
This morning we look at the true meaning of Palm Sunday, in anticipation of the true meaning of all the events that lead up to, and follow, Easter Sunday…We pray now for the preacher in the pulpit. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!
I. Two Perspectives
First, I would have you see the Two Perspectives of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Many critics and skeptics think the Bible contradicts itself when the same event is portrayed in different ways. God’s Word never contradicts itself; rather, the differing accounts give a bigger picture of an event.
The account of Palm Sunday – the Triumphal Entry – from the perspective of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) is as one who accompanied Jesus. The account from the perspective of John’s Gospel is as one who was in Jerusalem and heard Jesus was coming.
In the Synoptic Gospels, we read about what was happening among the disciples in the days and moments preceding the Triumphal Entry. Two disciples (James and John) asking for special privileged status from Jesus. The disciples hearing Jesus predict his death and resurrection – but not understanding.
But John’s Gospel relates the account of Jesus raising of Lazarus from the dead. John’s Gospel tells us a “great crowd” was gathered for the Feast. It was the Passover Feast. It was Holy Week in the Holy City of the Holy Land. And here we find out that people in Jerusalem have heard Jesus is coming – and so is Lazarus – and they are excited to see them with their own eyes.
The Synoptic Gospels tell us that the people laid their cloaks and branches on the road. It is only in John’s Gospel that we are told the crowd “took palm branches.” If not for John’s Gospel we wouldn’t call this Palm Sunday; we might call it Lay Your Cloak on the Road Sunday.
In the Book of Revelation, one of John’s visions is seeing “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were holding palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9).
The waving of palm branches, the laying of cloaks and branches on the road; these are all signs of victory and honoring a king.
After all, what are they shouting, “Hosanna! (which means Lord, Save Us – or the Lord saves) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!”
On Palm Sunday, a 5-year-old girl, sat on her mother’s lap and listened to the pastor's sermon. He described Jesus’ approach to Jerusalem and how the crowds cried, “Hosanna!” At that, the girl perked up and began to sing, “Oh, Hosanna, now don't you cry for me!”
What the people are
actually shouting is the words of Psalm 118:25-26. These words were very well
known to the Israelite community. During the Feast of Tabernacles,
Shouting out the words of Psalm 118 was in recognition that Jesus was the anticipated Messiah. It was not just a celebration song. Like today we sing, “We are the champions” (Queen) for every winner of every sporting event.
People anticipated the day they might actually see the Messiah and some day sing out – “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” That day had finally come.
It begs the question, are we really celebrating that this day has come?
II. Two Champions
And so not only would I have you see the Two Perspectives, I would also have you see the Two Champions. Are we anticipating, with the same excitement the coming of the kingdom of God? We pray, in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come” – but is it really our deepest heart’s passion for the kingdom to come? Do we understand what that means?
John Calvin says
of this: “Daily we pray that His kingdom may come, but hardly one in a hundred
with seriousness. We are justly deprived of that blessing of God which it is too
much trouble for us to ask” (Calvin’s Commentary on
Do we find more excitement in a Nextel Cup for our favorite NASCAR driver, or a possible Stanley Cup for the Penguins, or another Lombardi Trophy for the Steelers, or a BCS Championship for the Nittany Lions? Does the thought of these things bring greater joy to our heart, then the truth that the King has come and brought victory – and is coming again to bring final victory!
Do we not realize what this means for us? It means that the God of the universe has come to us. It means that God is fighting for us – and is winning for us. It means that we don’t have to face the wrath and curse of God for all of eternity in hell; instead, we will live in eternal glory with the Lord.
Jonathan Edwards wrote – "There, even in heaven, dwells the God from whom every stream of holy love, yea, every drop that is, or ever was, proceeds. There dwells God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, united as one, in infinitely dear and incomprehensible and mutual and eternal love. There dwells God the Father, who is the father of mercies, and so the father of love, who so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son to die for it. There dwells Christ, the Lamb of God, the prince of peace and of love, who so loved the world that he shed his blood and poured out his soul unto death for men. . . . And there dwells the Holy Spirit -- the Spirit of divine love, in whom the very essence of God, as it were, flows out and is breathed forth in love and by whose immediate influence all holy love is shed abroad in the hearts of all the saints on earth and in heaven. There, in heaven, this infinite fountain of love -- this eternal Three in One -- is set open without any obstacle to hinder access to it, as it flows forever. There this glorious God is manifested and shines forth in full glory, in beams of love. And there this glorious fountain forever flows forth in streams, yea, in rivers of love and delight, and these rivers swell, as it were, to an ocean of love, in which the souls of the ransomed may bathe with the sweetest enjoyment, and their hearts, as it were, be deluged with love!" (Charity and its Fruits, pages 327-328).
Is that not cause for great celebration?! Is that not cause for greater celebration than the championship of a sports team – that we’re not even on? We celebrate their victory and at some point you have to pause and think, “What am I celebrating for? I didn’t win. I’m not getting a trophy. I’m not getting a championship ring. I’m not getting a salary bonus, or a multi-million dollar salary increase. This team’s championship doesn’t benefit me in any way. I’m happy, but…
But in Jesus Christ I have a victory. I have won. I am a champion. In Christ I have victory over sin and death. I’m not only getting a bonus – I’m getting an eternal inheritance. I am a co-heir with Christ. I am a child of God. Christ’s victory as King, means a victory for me!
“Where O death
is your victory? Where O death is your sting? Thanks be to God! He give us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55,57; cf.
III. Two Crowds
And so, not only would I have you see the Two Perspectives and the Two Champions, I would have you see the Two Crowds.
Many of the same crowd that was crying “Hosanna” would five days later be crying out “Crucify Him.” How can this happen? How can the same people proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, call for his crucifixion just 5 days later?! Because lots of people simply follow the crowd – and do whatever the crowd is doing.
Have you ever noticed how a crowd can turn on a person so quickly? How many people, who loved the governor of New York last week, despise him this week? How many people who love a coach one week (after a win), despise him the next week (after a loss)? How many people say a certain person is a friend at one point, then turn on him moments later, because that’s what everyone is doing?
In some cases the crowd turns on a person, because you find out something they have done (as with the NY governor). In some cases the crowd turns, because someone gets the crowd to turn. In which case it has nothing to do with the person you turn on – you don’t really care about that person; you don’t know the person.
The crowd didn’t know Jesus; so they didn’t really care about Jesus. The crowd simply went whatever way the crowd went.
Many people speak highly about “the good ‘ol days” when everyone went to church and stores were closed on Sundays. But here we are, one generation later, and a minority of people go to church and virtually everything is open on Sundays. How could things turn so quickly? Because many in the crowd of the good ol’ days didn’t know Jesus, they just followed the crowd. They went to church on Sunday, because that is what the crowd did. And now that the crowd is going somewhere else, so are they.
This is not to say that everyone who goes to church today is a true Christian, because there are still crowd followers. This is also not to say that everyone who doesn’t go to church isn’t a true Christian; they may just not understand.
John’s Gospel tells us that the disciples did not understand what was happening when it was happening. “Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” But oh how wonderful to understand!
Only after Easter Sunday did they understand Palm Sunday. They understood that the words of the prophet Zechariah applied to Jesus – “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
And so each of us must ask ourselves, “Do I understand? Do I understand what it means for Jesus to be king?” The Shorter Catechism says, “Christ executes the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies” (WSC #26).
Is Christ your King? Is he ruling and defending you. Stop trying to save yourself. Stop listening to Oprah, Dr. Phil and Joel Osteen – who tell you to believe in yourself and to live your best life now. Instead, listen to Jesus who says, “Believe in me. Let me live in you.”
Invite Jesus to live in you through the power of the Holy Spirit. Invite the Spirit to dwell in your spiritual heart.
Now here is the key – don’t just do this generically – do it specifically. Confess particular sins, particularly. Take them to the foot of the cross not only for forgiveness, but ask for victory over those sins. Experience the victory of Christ over your sin, by letting him help you repent from it.
Bear in mind the victory that Jesus promises – victory over sin; not a change in your situation, but a change in you. He doesn’t promise to take away your illness, or give you a new job, or a pay raise, or better clothes.
He promises to give you victory over anxiety, despair, and fear. He promises that you can love your enemies, do unto others as you would have them do unto you (even if they don’t do it back), be a good steward of all that he has given you.
What action step do you need to take? Have you never asked Jesus Christ to be your King, then do it now. Have you never invited the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart, then do it now.
Is there a particular sin you need to take to the cross, then do it now. Have you not asked the Lord to reveal the heart change he wants to make based on your situation, then do it now.
Cry out, Hosanna! Lord save me.
MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!