Palm Sunday 25 March 2018 Text being read
Palm Sunday | Triumphant Entry Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 19:28-48 John 12:12-19
Triumphal entry
storms Jesus was riding into the middle of the perfect storm
Do you remember the perfect storm
Palm Sunday perfect storm
Storm 1 Rome
Rome needed the middle east oil grain
Storm 1 Rome That was the gale –the 1st element
Storm 2 Israel
exodus
Storm 3 God
God would come on his terms But the prophets, up to and including John the Baptist, had always warned that God’s coming in power and in person would be entirely on his own terms,
storms God Rome Israel Like in the perfect storm
the true Son of God the true High Priest has become King of the world
western imperialism middle-eastern aspirations
little to do with justice or mercy driver for action little to do with justice or mercy
what is God’s intent The truly unknown factor, of course, is what God intends to do in and through it all.
wisdom will triumph over folly justice over selfish brutality pray wisdom will triumph over folly justice over selfish brutality
Matthew 16:24 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Play by the world’s rules Pursue our own aspirations
where is God in all this?
the dream has to die the kingdom isn’t coming the way you wanted
Luke 24:25-26 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
praying humbly for the powerful fresh wind of God
If the Son of God is now King of the world, what will that kingdom look like in this next generation?
Luke 9:23 [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
May God bless us with discomfort — discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts
May God bless us with anger — anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless us with tears — tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless us with foolishness — enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.
Which will I choose? 2 processions 2 kingdoms 2 symbolic journeys into Jerusalem Stallion or donkey? Parade or protest?