03.20.2016 Palm Sunday - How to be at Peace with God and Others

03.20.2016 from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

SermonAudioLet me give you a little bit of background – I want to look at the Palm Sunday story in the context of Luke – it all fits together – it ties nicely.
I was reading through Matthew – about the talents – one given 1, another 5, one 10 – and I went looking for a similar story and came across Luke 19 – and really, the Palm Sunday story starts here in Luke 19:11 – and when it works together so nicely, I love it:
Luke 19: 11 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
Jesus is going to Jerusalem, and the followers must be thinking that He will reveal the kingdom of God to them there – and Jesus realizes they have a misguided view of the Kingdom of God. They are excited, but about the wrong thing. Jesus will clear up what being engaged in the kingdom of God is all about.
Their belief was that Jesus would enter into Jerusalem as a political and military leader. This is what they were expecting – the Son of David – a king, general, and leader of armies.
They thought they were getting a king and a general. They are believing now, as Jesus is heading into Jerusalem, that Jesus is going to raise up an army and reestablish the nation. But the kingdom of God does not operate under the same principles of the world. The Kingdom of God subverts the ways of the world – and it ought to do the same for us today.
The way of the world – whatever power there is – are wholly different than God’s power and authority.
Luke 19: 12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13 And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten [f]minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this [g]until I come back.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent [h]a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.
Because this is an historic day in the Christian church – and for hundreds of years, people have been telling this story.
In 40 BC, Herod the Great – the one the Magi came to – who wanted to kill the new king and slaughtered the infants in Bethlehem – He was not a descendant of Jacob – he was a descendant of Esau – Jacob’s brother – so he was not a Jew, but became Jewish in order to gain power. He went to Caesar, and Caesar gave him the rule over this land of Palestine. History tells us he was consumed in 4 BC.
His oldest son decided he would be king. He was not liked by the people – Marc Antony said of him – it would be better to be Herod’s pig than his son –
Oldest son goes to Rome – and the Jewish leaders sent a delegation of 50 after him – telling Caesar that they don’t want him to be king – and he makes Herod’s son a governor, not a king. He is not happy.
So Jesus is taking a familiar story to the people and using it as an illustration of what the kingdom of God looks like.
A mina is a working day’s wage. A talent is 60 times more valuable than minas – so there is a huge difference in the amount of money being spent between the two stories (Matthew and Luke) – Matthew is in reference to the second coming, but Luke is in reference to Palm Sunday.
16 The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18 The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
The king praises their faithfulness, not their production.
20 Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He *said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24 Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26 I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 27 But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”
So we have three being reported – two did business – as the master commanded – and the last does not do business – instead, he has disobeyed the command – he was unfaithful to do what he was asked to do. So let’s put ourselves in their shoes.
You are a servant – here is a mina – do business with it!
Wouldn’t it be great if our boss came and gave us money to do business with?
Think of that delegation – the community views this leader as an enemy – and would you try to do business with this person’s money? It helps us understand the loyalty of the first two – it was not about making extra money – but about loyalty and faithfulness in a difficult situation – and it helps us understand the third guy – I don’t want to represent this guy! The focus of this story is not on profit, but on faithfulness to an unseen master in a hostile environment.
This loyalty can be costly – but what Jesus is going to do – he is going to let his disciples know that loyalty to Him will be costly – what He is about to do will cost everything –and what He wants the followers to understand – to really be faithful – it will cost you.
Triumphal Entry
28 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
This is all connected. He is still going to Jerusalem. In the first section – he told them a parable – and in going to Jerusalem, He is going to act out a parable. This was very purposefully calculated. Every detail …
29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the [n]mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’”
What very specific instructions!
32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its [o]owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord has need of it.”
They obviously knew who the Lord was and that He needed it.
35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. 37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting:
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
It is the beginning of Passover week. Every year, there was trouble – so every year – Pilate would ride into the city in this procession of a general – and he would ride in on a horse and the armies with him – and he would spend Passover week in Jerusalem to keep the peace. Like police in riot gear….
Pilate would come in from the west – and what Jesus is doing – is the exact same thing – but coming in from the east – and His procession is totally different. Jesus comes in from the Mount of Olives – and in Zechariah 14 – when the Messiah comes in from the Mount of Olives, he will destroy the enemies of God and free His people.
Jesus is coming in to accomplish a much greater victory – and instead of riding in on a war-horse, he comes in humility.
The people respond with Psalm 118 – the king coming in and destroying the enemies.
It was happening! The people were excited! But Jesus was doing something completely different – coming in to die on the cross – and no destruction of the enemies – no freeing of the people – but they are all missing it.
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
The Pharisees knew what was going on! They knew the verses – and they were saying – this has got to stop – you look nothing like the expected Messiah! But Jesus is showing that real power is seen in humility, service, love, and forgiveness. Nothing can stop it! It is the same today. The power of God lies in his ability to humble Himself and not use His great power to conquer others.
41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you [s]when your enemies will throw up a [t]barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
Here they are – thinking He is going to win – and He weeps over the city for His love for this stubborn and rebellious people – He weeps for them –
And He asks - “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.”
To close – some practicality – do we know the things that make for peace today?
Do we understand what really makes for peace in a way God can bring about?
First – peace with God – do we live and have peace with God? It is not a birthright – it has nothing to do with our religious background – your family does not assure peace with God. Peace with God cannot be earned, deserved, or inherited. It can only be received because it is accomplished by God. And the only way to receive it is by putting faith and trust in God. When we receive it – He asks us to be loyal and faithful to Him in our world, regardless of how hostile this world is. Like the nobleman that went away to receive His kingship – we are to be openly loyal and faithful – not afraid to make it known that we are His representatives.
Second – peace with people – they needed to learn how to live in peace in their environment. It is key – to be like Jesus – as a person of peace – because of humility and service and forgiveness. Our ability to have peace with others will be determined by our humility and forgiveness.
The inability to forgive causes relational conflict in our lives. It may be from a long time ago – but it affects things today.
A couple other things – to have peace, we need to be deferential – to learn to defer – to give preference to one another in honor. This does not mean we are a doormat – but we set aside our personal wants, concerns and opinions – and that is what controls how we treat people and what we do, act, and say – a desire for others’ well-being. Sometimes, it is doing the best thing, not what we want. To give preference is to only do what is best for someone else. If, in a marriage, both have that attitude – with humility – you will have peace. If you want to destroy peace – be proud! Proud people don’t get along.
Third – being forbearing – let your forbearing spirit be made known to all – accessible – people can feel comfortable coming to you because of the spirit you have and how you act and what you demonstrate to others. Forbearing has a lot to do with putting up with others. God, in this story, calls us to be these people
Last – learn to love your enemies – Jesus says it over and over again. Pray for those who persecute you – do good to them!
Jesus knows what is about to happen – and He lives in such a way what it means to love one’s enemies. It does not necessarily mean terrorists – but so often, it is someone we work with – and yes, they are not like a physical army coming against us – but someone we deal with who feels like an enemy – love and pray and bless them! All the writers say it in their letters! It stuck with them – and God calls us to the same. Even criminals love one another! That is easy – but what makes you distinct and different – you love those who do not love you and hate you. Let’s pray…