Mark 11:1-11.  It’s all about Jesus coming to do what had to be done.     29/3/15

11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

⁴ They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵ some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶ They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷ When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹ Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

¹⁰ “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

This morning we are reminded of Jesus’ coming into Jerusalem for the final time, before he is crucified on a cross. Jesus is coming to town to be enthroned as king. So here the crowd comes out to meet him and to welcome him with enthusiasm. Here is what they have been waiting for, for many, many centuries. The promised Messiah has come. “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Yes here is coming the promised king: the one that the Lord said he would send at the right time. Here comes the one through whom the Lord would establish his kingdom forever. So yes, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!

But hang on; something is not quite adding up here. This great king is here on what? A donkey! No even more than that, a flighty, probably unbroken colt, the foal of a donkey, that would have been difficult to ride. How crazy is that! Where is the mighty warrior on his fiery, battle hardened, but grand looking stallion? Where is this grand, imposing figure and king who can drive out the enemy and establish a great and lasting kingdom? Where is his great army?

Yet here is Jesus coming to do what had to be done, despite how contrary it seems. So today and in this coming week we need God’s help to come to grips with what is so important here and why it is all so odd. And see that what he has come to do is at the heart of what the Christian faith is all about.

When we think about overcoming evil and all that is wrong, we think of power and might. Yet what do we find as we look around at how we overcome evil in our world. We throw a few more bombs around; we bully and pressure; we coerce and cajole. We have one grand imposing leader and the underlings try to cut him down to size. In the end all our efforts at using power and greatness to overcome evil is to no avail.

We overcome one evil power, only to have another, even more brutal, take its place. One sickness overcome is replaced by another. We go from one broken relationship, to only take more troubles into the next. And the list goes on. To try to defeat evil with power does not work.

Sinful humanity is not able to find a balance or favourable point, because the selfish ego will want to get its own way. We only have to look at the Garden of Eden to see this. They had everything good; they lacked nothing, but they wanted to do the one thing they were told not to. Sadly now, every one of us is infected with this same terrible sin. So we will never be able to live in peace and harmony without evil getting in the way.

Sinful humanity is not overcome by power and might without every single one of us being destroyed completely. So God almighty himself comes to do something about it in the only way possible. He has a plan, a way that we can be saved: every one of us. But of course, sadly most people do not want to accept God’s way.

However, here on Palm Sunday we begin to see God plan being played out. Here God’s very own Son comes into town to overcome evil and bring life and salvation to all who are willing to trust him and what he is about to do. But he comes humble and riding on a donkey.

Yes Jesus has been doing many miracles, healing, driving our demons, feeding 5,000 people with only one little boy’s lunch, and even including raising Lazarus from the dead. So he was one who was clearly seen to have to come from God himself; and the miracles surely indicate that he is able to do great things for the people.  There is no doubt that this one comes in the name of the Lord. And his kingdom then should surely be great.

So many people are looking eagerly to this Jesus and his coming to town. They rush to meet him and welcome him with palm branches cloaks. Despite what looks to the contrary, this one on the donkey still may be able to be the Messiah, even though it doesn’t look right. It doesn’t fit what they had in mind, but we’ll wait and see.

They and we have not long to wait. Within days it all comes to a head. Within days he ascends to his throne. Within days he overcomes evil’s power over us. Within days the kingdom of our father David is established, just as had been promised. Hosanna in the highest heaven.

So we now stand ready to celebrate this great and glorious event. We too are confronted with a Saviour who is far from spectacular: a Saviour who speaks of repentance and sin: a Saviour who associates with the sinners and those who have been sinned against: a Saviour who’s central means of saving us is the cross. We are following a Saviour who does not fit the mould of what we would like him to be.

We also sit in the midst of a Christian Church that is far from great and powerful and spectacular. A church that continually struggles with numbers and calls for something different and spectacular: something that ‘works’. A church that is no longer popular in the eyes of the world. A Church that is called on to take up its cross and follow this saviour in the way of the cross. We are part of a faith that is not comfortable for our world around us, and even for most within.

We are a part of a God and community that is humble and plain; with a message of sin and grace, of death and life, of love and forgiveness, and of a cross and salvation. We are a part of that which is right in the midst of a messed up world with all of its troubles, tragedies and death.

Yet it is right there that this great God offers to all a hope, life and certainty that is for real. Because Jesus coming and death actually deal with sin and the consequence of evil there is a sure hope. Because he took the punishment that we deserve on himself, sin and the accusations of the devil hold no weight anymore. We are acceptable to God, because our sin has been paid for. Forgiveness is extended to us.

Now of course our human pride and arrogance cannot handle this, therefore many have turned their backs on Jesus and this message of forgiveness and life. We want to live our own lives rather than be dependent on the free gift of another to give us that which is important. We want the easy and spectacular way of life that promises much, even if it doesn’t deliver.

Yet to all who believe in the one who comes in the name of the Lord, there is the certainty of forgiveness of sin and the assurance of life and salvation. To you and me he says I died for you on the cross so that you can have salvation and life. All he calls us to do is to trust him and what he has done for us and it is all there for us.

Even here in our lead up to Easter, in the midst of all of our weaknesses, struggles and temptations he reminds us and calls us to look to him and his humility and cross. Look there and hear his words, It is finished. He there on the cross completed his work of saving us. Then he rose again three days later, so that we can be absolutely sure that this humble king and his death on the cross are for real. Here the Lord is come and has overcome evil for us.

Sin, death and the devil has been overcome by this one who came humble and riding on a donkey. Life and salvation has been won for us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. And in his resurrection we are assured that all of this is for us and our good.

This is the Lord who comes to us. This is the king that we rejoice over, today and always.

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish