Pastor Cal Lord's
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He Did It God’s Way
Matthew 21:1-17 April 5, 2009
It is Palm Sunday 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 church’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, it dawned on me that this was not what people were expecting
Jesus to do. That’s why God gave it to Zechariah and that’s why Matthew emphasizes it here. You
see the people were expecting a warrior. They were expecting the king to make his triumphant
entry leaving no doubt as to who was in charge. But instead, Jesus did it his way, he did it God’s
way.
This has repercussions for us because we want to do it our way. We want to force our opinions,
our thoughts on people because we think it is good for them. But what would happen if we let go of
control and accepted Jesus’ way as our way? 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 are we 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 that when we try to do it God’s way, the world will see the church as a place where love
rules and its members love one another. They will also see the church very differently as it
engages the world. 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 we reject 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.
A second reality of doing it God’s way is that the cross becomes central to our theology. I can
never read the story of that first Palm Sunday, the 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. Jesus knew that the cross
would be a part of his discipleship.
I don’t think you ever forget about the cross. As Billy Graham says, “You can’t get beyond the
cross.” It is the identifying mark of a Christian. Jesus knew that taking up the cross was God’s way
and all of his followers would have to follow suit. That’s why Paul says in Phillipians 2:
Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus: who being in the very nature of God, did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very
form of a servant, being made in the likeness of man…
If it as good enough for Jesus, then we need to be ready to follow suit.
A third thing about doing it God’s way is that in involves cleaning 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 follows God’s plan there will be cleansing. As the priorities of Jesus become the
priorities of his followers, 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. 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, in doing things God’s way, the scriptures will 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 when follow God’s way - 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 we do it God’s way , there will be standing room only.
Well how do we make this happen? Well it begins with each one of us. We need to do things
God's way. We need to listen to our hearts and reach out in love. Then things, amazing things will
begin to happen. Amen.
Matthew 21:1-17 April 5, 2009
It is Palm Sunday 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 church’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, it dawned on me that this was not what people were expecting
Jesus to do. That’s why God gave it to Zechariah and that’s why Matthew emphasizes it here. You
see the people were expecting a warrior. They were expecting the king to make his triumphant
entry leaving no doubt as to who was in charge. But instead, Jesus did it his way, he did it God’s
way.
This has repercussions for us because we want to do it our way. We want to force our opinions,
our thoughts on people because we think it is good for them. But what would happen if we let go of
control and accepted Jesus’ way as our way? 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 are we 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 that when we try to do it God’s way, the world will see the church as a place where love
rules and its members love one another. They will also see the church very differently as it
engages the world. 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 we reject 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.
A second reality of doing it God’s way is that the cross becomes central to our theology. I can
never read the story of that first Palm Sunday, the 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. Jesus knew that the cross
would be a part of his discipleship.
I don’t think you ever forget about the cross. As Billy Graham says, “You can’t get beyond the
cross.” It is the identifying mark of a Christian. Jesus knew that taking up the cross was God’s way
and all of his followers would have to follow suit. That’s why Paul says in Phillipians 2:
Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus: who being in the very nature of God, did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very
form of a servant, being made in the likeness of man…
If it as good enough for Jesus, then we need to be ready to follow suit.
A third thing about doing it God’s way is that in involves cleaning 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 follows God’s plan there will be cleansing. As the priorities of Jesus become the
priorities of his followers, 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. 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, in doing things God’s way, the scriptures will 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 when follow God’s way - 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 we do it God’s way , there will be standing room only.
Well how do we make this happen? Well it begins with each one of us. We need to do things
God's way. We need to listen to our hearts and reach out in love. Then things, amazing things will
begin to happen. Amen.