Pastor Cal Lord's
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If Jesus Were King
Matthew 21:1-17 March 20, 2005
It is Palm Sunday again and it is so exciting to hear the old story again. I love the image of Jesus riding into
the city on the donkey to a throng of adoring fans. I love the idea that the “whole world” seemed to come
out after him. I can’t wait to get my palm branch and start waving it at the end of the service today.
But I want to ask you a question: Is this Palm Sunday going to be any different than last Palm Sunday?
Will you be changed, transformed, recommitted after we leave here today? I certainly hope we will be. For
if we are not in someway moved to act differently, then we will be no better than those who waved the
branches on that first Palm Sunday.
I heard a story about a boy in a neighboring hurch’s Sunday school. He had been taught by his teacher for a
number of years. She had a way of telling stories and she always ended by saying, "and the moral of the
story is . . ."
Eventually this Sunday school teacher retired and a new teacher began. After a few weeks at the start of a
service the minister asked the boy how he liked his new Sunday school teacher. To which he replied, "she is
great, but she doesn’t have any morals."
Today, on Palm Sunday, I want to take this familiar story and give it a new twist. I want to focus on just a
small part of this very special story. Actually, I want to look at one phrase, the phrase is found in verse 5.
It is part of a quote from the book of Zechariah (9:9)
"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "
As I read and re-read that phrase, a question formed in my mind. "What would the Church be like if Jesus
was the king of it?"
I know we say that Jesus is Lord of the church. We have been called as pastors, chosen as deacons,
trustees, chairs of different committees, and we say to one another that Jesus is in charge. But don’t we on
occasion pull rank and push for things that we want? Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most of us
are really faithful to the calling we have received. We are doing some really good things. But let’s be honest:
We all gripe when something changes and we didn’t have our say.
So my question is this: If Jesus was fully in charge, if we let og of control and accepted Jesus as the king of
the church, and let him make all the decisions, what would the church look like and what would we all be
doing? I want to share with you four things that I believe would be readily apparent.
First off, our obedience to his call would be obvious.
Jesus said to two of his disciples "go to the village ahead of you" and they went. No questions asked. No
committees formed to investigate the possibilities. They might have asked "why" but they didn’t. They
might have queried the choice of an animal but they didn’t. They had learned the lesson from spending three
years following Jesus that when he says "go", you go.
Here’s a question. Why is the church so often disobedient to Jesus? Is it because we have a hard time
sacrificing our agenda, our passions, our dreams that don’t quite come in line with what Jesus would have
us to do?
Some people would argue that there is a lot of confusion about Jesus and what he commanded. We get
caught up in arguments over abortion, issues of human sexuality, political involvement, ethical behavior,
and social justice. Everyone tries to put their words into Jesus’ mouth. We all try find supporting texts in
scripture to back up our points.
But the truth is that Jesus didn’t command many things while he was on earth. He taught a lot, but didn’t
command a lot. The commands are the important things. Listen to these:
In John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another.
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.
I think a church that has Jesus as its king is one that reflects God’s love and is obedient to his command to
love one another. Too often the church is known for what it is against. As Baptists, we are often lumped in
with the fundamentalists that tell the world that everyone is going to hell but them.
It is almost as if they rejected the message that John delivered about Christ coming not to condemn the
world, but to forgive the world and reconcile it to God. We have to be careful to heed Jesus’ words and to
reflect what he did, which was to have compassion on his neighbors, and welcome the sinner.
I know that I get conflicted pretty easily when I see someone that is doing something wrong. I get pretty
judgmental and want to say something… But until I get to know someone and show them my unconditional
love, they’ll never listen to me. Jesus understood that. And he commands the church to be that kind of
place. A place where love is given unconditionally… a place where people can hear the word of God and
accept the offer of grace and before proving anything to anyone.
Christ calls us together and sends us out to teach and preach and make disciples. And that is only going to
happen if we are obedient and begin by loving one another.
A second reality of a church where Jesus was king would be the centrality of the cross. I can never read the
story of that first Palm Sunday, the so called triumphal entry, without knowing in my heart where this was
to lead. Jesus was riding on towards the cross. "ride on ride on in majesty, in lowly pomp ride on to die".
The cross casts its shadow over the events of that first Palm Sunday. I can’t help believing that if Jesus
were king of the Church, the cross would be at the center of all that is preached and experienced.
Alistar Magrath in his book "the enigma of the cross" he talks about a continuing crisis of confidence in the
church as to the relevance of the gospel to the modern world. He says, "its time for Christianity to break
free from the social and cultural prison in which it has been for so long a secret prisoner and return to the
source of our faith - the cross of Jesus Christ."
In contemporary spirituality there is a term people use. People talk about “moving on.” In one sense it
means progressing in your pilgrimage, growing and maturing but in another sense I see it as meaning for
some people, "things are becoming more like I want them to be."
I don’t think you ever move on from the cross. As Billy Graham says, “You can’t get beyond the cross.” It
is the identifying mark of a Christian.
A third thing you would see in the church if Jesus was king, would be cleansing and healing. Notice that the
cleansing of the temple follows the triumphal entry. Jesus who arrived in humility and meekness now is
portrayed as full of righteous anger. With a heart to see the temple as a place of worship rather than a
business park he turns over tables and drives out those who degrade this holy sight.
When Jesus is king of the Church there will be cleansing. As the priorities of Jesus become the priorities of
the Church some will be challenged and found wanting. But take care! I am not talking about kicking out
sinners. We are not the ones to do that, it’s Jesus. Remember the parable of the wheat and the tares - they
grow side by side until Jesus comes again and separates.
I am talking about cleaning up our practices.
Robert Warren in his book “being human - being church” gives a warning about two things in the life of the
church. Firstly he talks about the danger of the church constantly working in what he calls "inherited
mode". “We always do things that way therefore it must be the right way”. But equally he is scathing about
those who believe they are moving into new things - God given directions, whereas all they are actually
doing is going into over-activist mode where they are constantly busy and in fact have not changed anything
at all.
I heard someone once describe this by saying; "Its like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic." No matter
what you do the boat is still sinking.
Prayer will need to be at the center of everything we do and not brought along as an after thought. Jesus
said, "My house will be called a house of prayer" and that is where we must start. - That is where we hear
the voice of Jesus our king and in listening we can let him lead and guide us.
Finally, if Jesus was king, the scriptures would be fulfilled.
There is a real sense in historical terms that Jesus riding into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of the prophesy of
Zechariah but as you read through the scriptures you will find many promises of great blessing, promises
of God pouring out his Spirit for the sake of mission. There are promises of what will happen when the
people of God work together as a community and live out God’s love for those outside the Church.
When Jesus is king of the Church - then the blessings of God will flow. You notice after the purifying of
the temple, there is that lovely verse in verse 14, Jesus has gotten rid of all the business people… and the
blind and lame came, and he healed them.
You look around this community you will see many sick people and the church should be a place where
sick people, spiritually, emotionally scared people can come into the community and find love & warmth &
welcome & acceptance & the healing, wholeness and salvation that only comes from the Lord.
Too often we wonder why the pews are not packed. Maybe it is because we are in charge and not Jesus. I
will tell you that when Jesus is king of the church , there will be standing room only.
Well how do we make this happen? Well it begins with each one of us.
I was reading a biography of George Whitfield a saint who ushered in the revival in the 18th century.
Reading around the state of society in those days you find this anointed man of God changing the face of
the world, which had reached the greatest depths of depravity. Promiscuity, drunkeness, dishonesty were
the standards of the day - yet this one man who was later joined by the Wesley’s who started the
Methodist movement, was so stirred up for the cause of Christ that he was able to turn things around.
You and I are the church. We used to sing a little song in Sunday School, “I am the church, You are the
church, we are the church together!” We are not talking metaphorically. We are talking literally.
Think what would happen here in Norwich if you and I made Jesus the king of our lives and began serving
him in all we did. What would happen if we looked at every situation we were in as an opportunity to
witness and serve Christ? What a change this community would see. But it begins with you and me.
"See, your king comes to you" - will you have him?
Matthew 21:1-17 March 20, 2005
It is Palm Sunday again and it is so exciting to hear the old story again. I love the image of Jesus riding into
the city on the donkey to a throng of adoring fans. I love the idea that the “whole world” seemed to come
out after him. I can’t wait to get my palm branch and start waving it at the end of the service today.
But I want to ask you a question: Is this Palm Sunday going to be any different than last Palm Sunday?
Will you be changed, transformed, recommitted after we leave here today? I certainly hope we will be. For
if we are not in someway moved to act differently, then we will be no better than those who waved the
branches on that first Palm Sunday.
I heard a story about a boy in a neighboring hurch’s Sunday school. He had been taught by his teacher for a
number of years. She had a way of telling stories and she always ended by saying, "and the moral of the
story is . . ."
Eventually this Sunday school teacher retired and a new teacher began. After a few weeks at the start of a
service the minister asked the boy how he liked his new Sunday school teacher. To which he replied, "she is
great, but she doesn’t have any morals."
Today, on Palm Sunday, I want to take this familiar story and give it a new twist. I want to focus on just a
small part of this very special story. Actually, I want to look at one phrase, the phrase is found in verse 5.
It is part of a quote from the book of Zechariah (9:9)
"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "
As I read and re-read that phrase, a question formed in my mind. "What would the Church be like if Jesus
was the king of it?"
I know we say that Jesus is Lord of the church. We have been called as pastors, chosen as deacons,
trustees, chairs of different committees, and we say to one another that Jesus is in charge. But don’t we on
occasion pull rank and push for things that we want? Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most of us
are really faithful to the calling we have received. We are doing some really good things. But let’s be honest:
We all gripe when something changes and we didn’t have our say.
So my question is this: If Jesus was fully in charge, if we let og of control and accepted Jesus as the king of
the church, and let him make all the decisions, what would the church look like and what would we all be
doing? I want to share with you four things that I believe would be readily apparent.
First off, our obedience to his call would be obvious.
Jesus said to two of his disciples "go to the village ahead of you" and they went. No questions asked. No
committees formed to investigate the possibilities. They might have asked "why" but they didn’t. They
might have queried the choice of an animal but they didn’t. They had learned the lesson from spending three
years following Jesus that when he says "go", you go.
Here’s a question. Why is the church so often disobedient to Jesus? Is it because we have a hard time
sacrificing our agenda, our passions, our dreams that don’t quite come in line with what Jesus would have
us to do?
Some people would argue that there is a lot of confusion about Jesus and what he commanded. We get
caught up in arguments over abortion, issues of human sexuality, political involvement, ethical behavior,
and social justice. Everyone tries to put their words into Jesus’ mouth. We all try find supporting texts in
scripture to back up our points.
But the truth is that Jesus didn’t command many things while he was on earth. He taught a lot, but didn’t
command a lot. The commands are the important things. Listen to these:
In John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another.
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.
I think a church that has Jesus as its king is one that reflects God’s love and is obedient to his command to
love one another. Too often the church is known for what it is against. As Baptists, we are often lumped in
with the fundamentalists that tell the world that everyone is going to hell but them.
It is almost as if they rejected the message that John delivered about Christ coming not to condemn the
world, but to forgive the world and reconcile it to God. We have to be careful to heed Jesus’ words and to
reflect what he did, which was to have compassion on his neighbors, and welcome the sinner.
I know that I get conflicted pretty easily when I see someone that is doing something wrong. I get pretty
judgmental and want to say something… But until I get to know someone and show them my unconditional
love, they’ll never listen to me. Jesus understood that. And he commands the church to be that kind of
place. A place where love is given unconditionally… a place where people can hear the word of God and
accept the offer of grace and before proving anything to anyone.
Christ calls us together and sends us out to teach and preach and make disciples. And that is only going to
happen if we are obedient and begin by loving one another.
A second reality of a church where Jesus was king would be the centrality of the cross. I can never read the
story of that first Palm Sunday, the so called triumphal entry, without knowing in my heart where this was
to lead. Jesus was riding on towards the cross. "ride on ride on in majesty, in lowly pomp ride on to die".
The cross casts its shadow over the events of that first Palm Sunday. I can’t help believing that if Jesus
were king of the Church, the cross would be at the center of all that is preached and experienced.
Alistar Magrath in his book "the enigma of the cross" he talks about a continuing crisis of confidence in the
church as to the relevance of the gospel to the modern world. He says, "its time for Christianity to break
free from the social and cultural prison in which it has been for so long a secret prisoner and return to the
source of our faith - the cross of Jesus Christ."
In contemporary spirituality there is a term people use. People talk about “moving on.” In one sense it
means progressing in your pilgrimage, growing and maturing but in another sense I see it as meaning for
some people, "things are becoming more like I want them to be."
I don’t think you ever move on from the cross. As Billy Graham says, “You can’t get beyond the cross.” It
is the identifying mark of a Christian.
A third thing you would see in the church if Jesus was king, would be cleansing and healing. Notice that the
cleansing of the temple follows the triumphal entry. Jesus who arrived in humility and meekness now is
portrayed as full of righteous anger. With a heart to see the temple as a place of worship rather than a
business park he turns over tables and drives out those who degrade this holy sight.
When Jesus is king of the Church there will be cleansing. As the priorities of Jesus become the priorities of
the Church some will be challenged and found wanting. But take care! I am not talking about kicking out
sinners. We are not the ones to do that, it’s Jesus. Remember the parable of the wheat and the tares - they
grow side by side until Jesus comes again and separates.
I am talking about cleaning up our practices.
Robert Warren in his book “being human - being church” gives a warning about two things in the life of the
church. Firstly he talks about the danger of the church constantly working in what he calls "inherited
mode". “We always do things that way therefore it must be the right way”. But equally he is scathing about
those who believe they are moving into new things - God given directions, whereas all they are actually
doing is going into over-activist mode where they are constantly busy and in fact have not changed anything
at all.
I heard someone once describe this by saying; "Its like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic." No matter
what you do the boat is still sinking.
Prayer will need to be at the center of everything we do and not brought along as an after thought. Jesus
said, "My house will be called a house of prayer" and that is where we must start. - That is where we hear
the voice of Jesus our king and in listening we can let him lead and guide us.
Finally, if Jesus was king, the scriptures would be fulfilled.
There is a real sense in historical terms that Jesus riding into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of the prophesy of
Zechariah but as you read through the scriptures you will find many promises of great blessing, promises
of God pouring out his Spirit for the sake of mission. There are promises of what will happen when the
people of God work together as a community and live out God’s love for those outside the Church.
When Jesus is king of the Church - then the blessings of God will flow. You notice after the purifying of
the temple, there is that lovely verse in verse 14, Jesus has gotten rid of all the business people… and the
blind and lame came, and he healed them.
You look around this community you will see many sick people and the church should be a place where
sick people, spiritually, emotionally scared people can come into the community and find love & warmth &
welcome & acceptance & the healing, wholeness and salvation that only comes from the Lord.
Too often we wonder why the pews are not packed. Maybe it is because we are in charge and not Jesus. I
will tell you that when Jesus is king of the church , there will be standing room only.
Well how do we make this happen? Well it begins with each one of us.
I was reading a biography of George Whitfield a saint who ushered in the revival in the 18th century.
Reading around the state of society in those days you find this anointed man of God changing the face of
the world, which had reached the greatest depths of depravity. Promiscuity, drunkeness, dishonesty were
the standards of the day - yet this one man who was later joined by the Wesley’s who started the
Methodist movement, was so stirred up for the cause of Christ that he was able to turn things around.
You and I are the church. We used to sing a little song in Sunday School, “I am the church, You are the
church, we are the church together!” We are not talking metaphorically. We are talking literally.
Think what would happen here in Norwich if you and I made Jesus the king of our lives and began serving
him in all we did. What would happen if we looked at every situation we were in as an opportunity to
witness and serve Christ? What a change this community would see. But it begins with you and me.
"See, your king comes to you" - will you have him?