Palm Sunday - Zech 9.9-10, Luke 19.28 - 44.

The King who comes in Peace

 

The Big Day

 

Life has a number of big days or significant days. Some of you will remember your first day at school. I can't remember too much about it apart from feeling proud that I could tie up my laces. Having an older brother had assisted me in this.

 

Of course before this was the day of our birth, I can't remember too much about that, but birthdays can be days of celebration.

 

Within that reaching the age of 18, formerly 21, or after that time when another 0 is added after the first number that day is often remembered. Of course if two 0's are added that is even more significant and Mike Derry's Aunt Cath was 100 years old this week.

 

Life has other highlights, getting married, I hope if you are married that is a day you can remember, graduating,etc.

 

For reflection was is the most significant event that has happened so far in your life?

 

This has been a very significant week with the fall of Baghdad, and tremendous scenes of liberation on Tuesday the 09 April 2003. This slide shows a woman hitting the statue of President Saddam Hussein

 

 

Today being Palm Sunday is a significant day in the life of Jesus. Each of you this morning should have been offered a palm cross. This day we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on an ass. We remember the carnival atmosphere, the spontaneous praise march that developed as Jesus the King rode into Jerusalem. This was Jesus going public about his Messiahship, about the fact that he was the King and he was riding into Jerusalem as an act of declaration.

 

The significance of this act must not be underestimated. 

 

Doing what the Bible Says Zech 9.9-10

Why is the Bible so important? It is important because for us the Bible is God's Word (2 Tim 3.16) it is God communicating to humanity through Human beings in their writings. It's a book which like Jesus is fully human , yet fully divine.

 

At the heart of our mission statement (which is available for all to see) is to have a heart for God and his purposes. Part of that statement, flows out of Jesu's words to his disciples when he commanded them to teach future disciples to do everything he told them. (Mat 28.20).

 

It is true that we have to have knowledge to be able to do something, if we don't know about it is is hard to do. Jesus is concerned with action and not simply knowledge. Please do not misunderstand me; God's grace means that God love us whether we act or whether we do not. Yet if you love Jesus you will want to act.

 

I want to ask you this week, which for many will be very busy, to make time to read the account of Easter in one of the gospels. For me I'm with Luke.

 

Maybe you don't like reading - watch the Jesus Video. I am showing this video at sandalwood and people have found it very moving. The life of Jesus acted out in front of you.

 

When it comes to knowing God's will, we often do know what God wants for us. If we find we have become cold to God's word ask god to reawaken that love for it.

 

Jesus on that First Palm Sunday - did what the Bible said; admittedly he only had the Old Testament, but he did what Zech 9.9 said he should do. Jesus knew he was the Messiah and he knew that he was to fulfil those words which were written hundreds of years prior to this event. So he arranged for the ass to be made available and he rode into Jerusalem upon it.

 

Jesus knew God's word he apllied it to his own life and acted upon it. He then journeyed into Jerusalem.

 

What are you aware the scriptures are saying to you? Next Sunday it is Easter, in the evening we have two baptisms Brian reeves and Vicki Graham. The bible commands us to turn to God and to get baptised. If you have never ever asked Jesus to come into your life as your King, then today can be the day. God wants you to experience his forgiveness and to have His Holy Spirit filling your life. If you have known God speaking to you about baptism, then act upon that. Next Sunday there are two others who are going to become Church Members. If you know this is your spiritual home, then what about becoming a church member with its privileges and responsibilities. It begins with knowing Jesus as your King and it then allowing Jesus to exercise his kingship within the Church.

 

Doing what makes for Peace

I am confidant that if we were to have a discussion about whether Christians should ver go to war there would be a variety of viewpoints. Likewise I wonder what you now think about the war in Iraq. Certainly before it happened many were against it. Do you still consider it to be wrong?

 

Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount when speaking about what brings true happiness and blessing said blessed are the peacemakers Mat 5.9.

 

We can understand this peace in a number of ways. Bringing a person to a place of peace or wholeness with God. The OT word for peace is Shalom which means wholeness. To that end as the Bible makes clear if we are God's people we have a job to do, which is to share the good news of Jesus. This week there is a very practical application, which will just take around 1 hour of your time. We have 3500 copies of the USBC News and if 35 people would agree to delivering this then we are making our own community aware of what is happening here at Easter and sharing some of the things that God has done and can do.

 

Yet this peace needs to extend into human relationships. Jesus rode into Jerusalem not on a horse, which would have conveyed the rode of a military Messiah, one who would get rid of their enemies the Romans. Rather he rides into Jerusalem on an ass, which was a sign of Jesus coming in peace. He delights in the peoples praise and acclamation, His recognition as King in the light of all that he had already done.

 

Jesus placed upon the animal as some act of coronation, Jesus given peoples coats to sit upon as a saddle. There was no blast of a trumpet, arrows flying in the air, soldiers clad in armour. This King - Jesus comes in peace to bring peace.

 

Tonight we reflect upon the rejection of Jesus and how he wept as jesus knew what was to happen to this city.

 

Tragically we have seen in Iraq liberty give way to looting. Things can change so quickly. Things were going to change in Jerusalem and next week in our services we shall explore these themes.

 

But what of peace within our community? At a public meeting with our MP Michael Wills last Friday there was a lot of concern, anger, fear, frustration that within Meadowcroft there is a gang probably of about 10 young people who are causing trouble. We need to pray and give thought how we can bring peace into our community.

 

Jesus is the One who can bring Transformation. For we know that although the events of Palm Sunday were to turn sour as far as the people of Jerusalem were concerned Jesus as the Prince of Peace was to demonstrate his Kingship in a way that was to astound the whole city.

 

Jesus came as the Peacemaker and as we go into this week, go in God's peace; because if you know Jesus as your King, then the King of Peace will go with you.