Mar 25 2018 Palm Sunday - Divine Power Works through Social Weakness

Matthew 21:1 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately. " 4 This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
To set the stage for us – the City of Jerusalem – at the time, probably had about 70,000 people living in it. But at Passover time, people from all over Israel would pour into Jerusalem – and the population would swell to about 250000. Imagine Summit County adding 1.5 million people for a week. Imagine your commute. Imagine trying to get a restaurant! Er, imagine trying to get food. That gives a picture. And when Jesus enters the city, there are all these people streaming into the city. The air is filled with excitement.
Plus, there is this sense of nationalism and patriotism – like the 4th of July for us. Jesus comes in very purposefully – with a donkey and the palms – and it is reminiscent of something that happened about 200 years earlier – the Maccabean Revolt – Simon and Judas Maccabees – revolted to kick the Roman army out of Jerusalem. They won the battle – and they came into the city as conquering kings – riding on war horses – and went into the temple and cleansed the temple.
So when Jesus does this – the people there had been taught the story – and they will remember what had happened, and would have certain expectations – but instead of riding in as a conquering warrior on a war horse – He came riding in on a donkey. A king would do this if he were coming to proclaim peace.
The king is coming – humble – (reference to Zechariah – where it also says he will cut off the chariot and bow of war from Israel – and he will speak peace to the Gentiles). The Maccabean revolt was to get rid of the Romans, Jesus comes and offers peace to the oppressors of Israel.
Luke does not quote Zechariah – but he emphasizes verse 10 of Zechariah – Jesus turns – from this hill, looking down on the city – “O Jerusalem, if only you knew the things that make for peace.” He brings up verse 10, but they did not know the things that make for peace.
Matthew is emphasizing Jesus’ humility by riding in on a donkey.
Hosanna! Save! And Save NOW!
As the people were listening to this, they would have had a faint understanding of what was taking place. Son of David – means either king or Messiah to them – and even the disciples could only grasp it in part. It was whetting a whistle for them.
We are going to look at humility – and the humility of Jesus – is connected to Wisdom.
Proverbs often connects wisdom to humility. It is different in the world. Intelligence (what some call wisdom) tends to produce pride. But the Bible tells us that you cannot gain wisdom unless you are willing to be humble.
In wisdom, we tend to move to pride, and Jesus wants us to move to humility. True wisdom only comes with humility.

1 Cor. 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
We will look at the wisdom of the cross on Friday night and on Easter.
As we went through Proverbs, we looked at the Wise woman and the Foolish woman. And Paul takes this and twists it. This verse almost seems to be switched from Proverbs. From the world’s perspective, God’s wisdom appears to be foolish. For the people of their time, the cross was a thing of shame. The foolishness is not the type we find in Proverbs – this is foolishness in the world’s eyes. For Christians to engage their neighbors back then – the message of the cross would have been seen as foolishness and weakness. You would be looked on as if you were crazy. But God has chosen to demonstrate his power and wisdom through the foolishness of the cross.
1 Cor. 1: 26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
We look at v. 26-27 – This passage is difficult to understand from our context. From our perspective, and we think it may not relate, and it is a little hard for us to grasp – for us, living in the western world – we enjoy a position of privilege as Christians – we have enjoyed a position of position and power for several centuries now. This is odd and unusual in history. The reality: plenty of Christians are of the upper class. Not few. Many. For so long, for us, a Christian was NOT to be a marginalized and foolish thing – but it meant being in the ‘in’ crowd. This is changing. Some would say this has already changed. When it does change, here is what is most important: don’t be afraid of that! We cannot fear. Our tendency is to be afraid. Today, fear is the tool of those who have power. Just watch the news – if THEY do this or that, pass this legislative bill, or whatever – they tell you: Be AFRAID!
We, as Christians, cannot give in to that fear.
Paul told us – “in no way alarmed by your opponents.” When you hear stuff on the news about what might happen – it is okay if it all happens – it always has and it always will – in no way alarmed by it.
In Corinth, most in the church were common, poor, and the majority would have been slaves. Most would have been common – most would have been poor – and the majority would have been slaves in the church. A very few would have been noble. But by professing faith in Christ and the cross, they were lowering their status and place in society, inherently.
All New Testament Christians inherited a social weakness when they came to Christ – a lower status in society. They knew when they came to Christ that they were stepping down.
What this teaches us: Divine power can and will work through social weakness.
Through the loss of influence and power in the world is where divine power works. This loss allows for the release of God’s power for His kingdom (not this kingdom)! So we should never be afraid of that. For us – in your school or neighborhood – when you refuse to play the games of power and are kept out the loop and made insignificant – an outsider, without influence. When that happens, you occupy a position where divine power is available to you and can be released to you. It actually puts you in an advantageous position when your social standing is lowered because of Christ.
God’s power operates through and in our weaknesses. That doesn’t necessarily mean He strengthens our weakness. Often, our weaknesses remain weak.
Examples:
Social status – when your status is lowered, God’s power works through you – but your social status stays low.
Physical limitations – a sickness or disability – God’s power can work through that. God can release His power through that weakness. He may heal you – but often He does not. Sometimes the limitation is removed – often, it is not. But God’s power can work through it. God doesn’t care about the strength of the horse – God doesn’t need any of that stuff. He is not impressed by our strength or intelligence.
Financial status. Oftentimes, you stay there, but God can release His power.
Christian conversion and spiritual transformation change us on the inside, and that allows us to manage some degree of integrity. That is a good thing. We begin to live with a measure of integrity because of our relationship with Christ. We gain wisdom (skill for living) and there are benefits to being a Christian: Having healthy relationships and being emotionally healthy – and that is a good thing – but God’s power in us – even though it gives all those benefits (where we can have God’s power for His kingdom) – but it does not mean that we will gain social status in the world. It does not, will not, cannot, make us successful in engaging in the power status struggles in this world.
If we try to use God’s power to make us gain in the world, then we are acting unchristian. That is not Christian to do that. Jesus said the rulers of this world lord it over you. It is to be different with you. It is different from gaining in God’s kingdom. God doesn’t give His power so we can get ahead of other people – but rather to serve them. He became poor that we through His poverty might become rich. Follow Jesus’ example. Spiritual riches are always first.
In the early church, it was rare for people to advance in the world because of their faith – today, it has become common. There are those who promote using financial stewardship principles, skills from the Bible to gain wealth. That is okay. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking the wisdom from God and becoming successful.
An example: Billy Graham recently passed away. He took his faith, character, and wisdom and became influential in our world. He led so many to Christ.
The problem is this – when Christians gain worldly benefits from their faith and formation but use it as the world would – that is where problems originate.
But things go wrong when people use the benefits for personal gain. Billy Graham used his influence to help Nixon get elected. And then all the stuff happened with Richard Nixon. He told how he regretted that and knew it wasn’t right. He repented of that and became an advisor to all the presidents.
We know of great Christian businessmen who use Christian principles to grow very large businesses. And that is not a problem – unless they treat their employees worse than atheist businessmen – that is awful. After the first service, people told me they knew of businessmen just like that.
Pastors – Ministry leaders – can build great churches – and much money flows through there – and there is nothing wrong with that - and these men will have control of that money. There is nothing wrong with that until they use the money to live an extravagant lifestyle. Even worse, they use the power and authority to manipulate people. Jesus said he would have none of that.
War – some use their power for war. Jesus would have none of that – that is why He came in riding a donkey.
In God’s kingdom – here is the key: to be rich, to have status, to be powerful – is okay. Nothing wrong with that – it is just what happens, BUT, it is just not advantageous for the kingdom. It is okay. If your lot is you build a big business – great! It is just not advantageous for the kingdom. In our minds, we think, I understand that, but in our hearts, we think, nah…
I’ll confess for me – once a decade or so (actually, I think this regularly) – I think – if I had more money – that would be advantageous. I think most of us think that. There is nothing wrong with getting a raise. We think that would give us an advantage. Do we think because of that that we are at an advantageous position in God’s kingdom? Really? When you find that verse – let me know.
Can God use that? Of course.
We also think – if I had more position and power in the church, that would be advantageous! Then we could do things my way.
In the kingdom of God, they are not advantageous – rather, a responsibility and a burden.
We may gain – as a result of our power – but in God’s kingdom, God’s power is released in our disadvantages.
That is where God operates – in our weaknesses. Let’s pray.
1 Tim. 6: 17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
1 Cor. 4:7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.