Palm Sunday

Zechariah 9:9-10

The Israelites’ heads must have hung toward their feet much of the time.  They must have felt defeated.  Sure, they had returned from exile in the East.  But the temple was still in ruins.  They were really just a remnant of what they once were – now struggling to find identity as a people.  But behold the prophet’s words, “Look up!  Here comes your King!”

Fast-forward five centuries . . .The heads of the people are still hanging toward their feet much of the time.  Still feeling defeated.  Sure, the temple was now rebuilt, and Herod had even done some impressive renovations.  But they still didn’t have real freedom.  They were subject to the Romans, who told them what to do and how to do it.  They longed for the glory that was once Israel’s.  But someone shouted, “Look up!  Here comes your King!”

Fast-forward two millennia . . .Our heads hang toward our feet much of the time.  We often feel defeated.  Sure, we have freedom; we’re not subject to another country’s king.  But we are subject to sin and to its sad effects.  We long for the days of glory.  But today we hear, “Look up!  Here comes your King!”  We look up to see our hero—our Conqueror.  And for the next 7 days, the inspired Holy Week Prophet, Zechariah, helps us look up to see our King on the back of a donkey, on a cross, and coming on the clouds.  And it all starts this Palm Sunday.

Often with heroes we do look up…“in the sky! (you may know the phrase)  It’s a bird!  It’s a plane!  No . . . it’s Superman!”  And the hero emerges.  The Jerusalem Jews didn’t need to strain their eyes to the skies.  Jesus was there, on the back of a donkey, and they were excited.  Here he was, they assumed, their long-promised Messiah.  Here was their conquering hero!  Here he was, their salvation from the Romans, from poverty, from sickness, and from suffering.  Here was Jesus!  Look up and see him.  Then bring the family out!  Spread your coats and palms to welcome him!  Shout loud hosannas to honor him!

When Zechariah told the people to shout, he chose a word that was used as a battle cry.  How hopeful the Jews must have been: their king had finally arrived to wage war on Rome!  This superhero could raise fallen troops

back to life.  He could end the need for supply lines as he multiplied loaves and fish.  And if he could do all that – He could conquer the world!”  Even Zechariah said, “His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”  “Hosanna!” they cried, which means “Save now!”  Conquer the enemy for us!  Conquer the world for us!  And do it today!

But look how he arrives…on a donkey.  Can you picture Superman meandering up to the fight on such an animal?  With donkey noises as the soundtrack?  There was no display of superhuman strength, no lasers shooting from his eyes.  He didn’t drive a golden chariot pulled by white stallions.  He was coming gently, peacefully, and humbly.  “See, your king comes to you, . . . lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  In many ways, the opposite of what one might expect.  Power and glory is what people then, and still today, demand and expect from the Christ.  How strange to see him enter the city in such a way.  

How strange to watch him throughout the week on his walk to of all things: a cross.  The people would see their hope for his herohood be tortured and executed as well.  So much for the Superman who would be broken and extinguished under a Roman fist.  But why?  Why did he who once walked through an angry mob allow himself to be arrested?  Why did he who raised the dead allow himself to die?   

We also often look up to Jesus and wonder: Why?  Why does the omnipotent God allow my body to break down?  Why does he allow my relationships to fall apart, leaving me feeling so lonely?  Why does he let me struggle with my finances that I so often worry about?  Why doesn’t he instantly sweep in and save me from all the suffering and pain?  Why doesn’t my Superman-Savior save me from all my troubles?

Because he’s not that kind of king – he’s better.  He didn’t come to wage war on poverty or disease or unhappiness.  He didn’t come to take away problems or pain or to make this life easy.  He didn’t even come to snap his finger and remove all war and rumors of war in this fallen world.  When you get disappointed in what Jesus doesn’t do for you, are you tempted to reject him as the inhabitants of Jerusalem did?  Does he need to be the kind of Savior you want right now?  Or else what?  You then have no need for him, at least not right at this moment.  Oh, we figure, I can always turn to him later, when I think he’ll then give me what I think I need.  But if we’re so bold (as we so sinfully are) to demand Jesus be what we want right now or we’ll leave him…we should not be surprised if he stops this parade to the cross altogether, walks away, abandons us, and leaves us without a saving hero!  Should he really make every effort to rescue people who aren’t interested in his kind of salvation?  But you know what kind of king he is, the Word of God makes that clear: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!  Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!  See, (today) your king comes to you, righteous and victorious.”

Look up to see your Hero, who never sinned, who always does what is in line with the will of God.  Look up to see your Conqueror, who is victorious, who brings you salvation from your soul’s enemies.  Look up to see your King, who arrived in a glorious Palm Sunday entrance, that would end alone on a cross for you and for me.  Look up to see him at his lowest.  Look up to see him waging war against Satan, against death, against hell.  Look up to see him fighting the ultimate battle for your freedom!  Don’t hang your head in shame.  Look up!  He won and proclaimed peace!  He stayed faithful for every time you forsook him, for every time you went AWOL on God.  His righteous record is now credited to you, making you perfect in God’s sight.  He is the humble, gentle, obedient hero we need.

“Wait a minute,” we might wonder…“if King Jesus proclaimed peace to the nations, why doesn’t the world look more peaceful?  Why do we still have so much strife?  Why do we still hear of conflict, of crashed planes, of scandal, and of countless murder documentaries?  Why are our lives still in turmoil because of broken relationships, broken homes, and broken promises?  Because he’s still not that kind of king.  We need to understand what Zechariah meant when he prophesied, “I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken.  He will proclaim peace to the nations.  His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”  

In 1949, the US Air Force unveiled its newest bomber, the Convair B-36.  Its wingspan was 230 feet (nearly long enough to play a football game).  Beneath those mighty wings were four bomb compartments capable of carrying 86,000 pounds of bombs (ten times more than the World War II B-17 Flying Fortress).  It was given a surprising nickname for an aircraft carrying so much destructive power; it was called the Peacemaker.  Every enemy knew that it was better to make peace, rather than war, with a nation that flew such a plane.

Such weapons are needed because there will always be wars and rumors of war.  Jesus said that would be true until he returns.  So the promise of “peace to the nations . . . from the River to the ends of the earth” must mean something else – something more profound.  Jesus is the real Peacemaker.  His atoning death for us established peace in our relationship with God.  He rode on in majesty to deliver us from guilt and shame, from the fear of death and hell.  And one day, we will have peace from all our problems, from all wars and conflicts, from all suffering and pain, from all frustration and heartache.  A day is coming when he will end wars of every size and type, when he will save us from all the effects of sin and give us perfect, eternal peace. 
So we look up to the skies and eagerly await the day when our King will return, no longer humble and gentle but coming in power, no longer riding a donkey but riding on the clouds.  We look up with confidence that he is coming to bring us perfect, permanent peace.  Dear friends, look up to see your King on a donkey, on a cross, paying with his blood for our peace with God, and one day coming on the clouds, when he will put an end to all conflict.  In the meantime, shout his praises: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!  Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you”!  In the name of Jesus our Savior and King. Amen.