Tedd Pullano
Matthew 21:1-11

Your King Is Coming (Palm Sunday 2008)

His fall from grace was swift and painful. He was one of the leaders. The opportunities for him were huge. He was someone in the place of power who had a vision for the future. He was tired of the way things were and had a dream of how he thought things could be better. He thought he was on the same track as some other leaders. Yet, after a couple of bad, very bad decisions, with a kiss he began his fall from grace and power. You all know who I am talking about, right? No, it is not Eliot Spitzer. No it is not Jesus, although that is closer. I am talking about the much maligned, berated, hated and despised young man known as Judas Iscariot. You need to remember, he was a leader in Jesus band of disciples. He held the purse strings. He saw Jesus as a leader, a powerful king who would pull the people out from under the awful reign of the Roman Empire and lift the Jews to prominence once again. Judas had followed Jesus; he had seen and experienced Jesus' power, charisma, his God given wisdom and authority. He revered Jesus and saw him as the way out of pain, oppression, and a dreary existence as a subject to the Roman Empire and Army. He believed Jesus was the King, the Messiah who had been promised to the Jews and who would establish the new Kingdom of God. Judas was banking on it. He had this vision of a powerful new political reign for the Jews -- when they would rule as the Romans did, with Jesus at the helm.

The crowds who followed Jesus were not unlike Judas. They were tired of the oppressive Roman Empire and the soldiers and tax collectors who hurt and threatened, who robbed, stole and intimidated. They were tired of living in fear of death and torture and were looking for a solution, someone to ease their burden and lift them out of this situation. And then along came this guy from Galilee, this guy with power, wisdom, and authority -- someone clearly blessed by God Almighty, Adonai. So these folks, "the crowd" as the gospel writer Matthew calls them, were excited to overflowing as Jesus entered the Holy City, the city of Kings. As he entered Jerusalem that day, the crowds who followed him, in front and behind we are told, were ecstatic. They had been promised a King who would establish a new kingdom and here he was.

And so we have this story we read this morning -- which is a typical coronation story for Jewish kings. Let me explain. In this story we hear the prophecy from the Old Testament book of Zechariah that a king would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey and a colt -- and here we see it realized. You see, Zechariah was prophesying that a person would come, the king of the Jews, a Messiah who would set up the Kingdom of God. By using this reference here Matthew is clearly saying that Jesus is that One.

So the people and Judas were right, right? Jesus is the one who will come and establish this new reign, this new kingdom. Zechariah has called for it; Matthew is affirming it happening right now. Christ is King! The people recognize it as they shout "Hosanna in the in the Highest Heaven!" But Matthew also has the people also shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David". Notice they did not shout Hosanna to the Son of Man, or the Son of God, as we often hear in the gospels. They said "The Son of David". And this is where the glitch begins for Judas and the crowds. Let me ask a history question - who was the son of David? Well he was king as well. His name was Solomon. Solomon too rode into town on a donkey before he was crowned king -- just like Jesus. He came during a time of distress with great hopes placed on his shoulders as well. Solomon was not a king like many before and after him. He was a more peaceful king -- one interested in wisdom and honesty, peace and harmony. It was during his reign that the Kingdom of Israel reached its highest point. Solomon was a different kind of king, trying to bring about a different kind of kingdom. And so, Matthew, by drawing such a strong comparison between Jesus and Solomon, suggests that while Jesus is certainly the One, the Messiah, the King who will establish God's kingdom here, he will not be like other kings. He will be different. His kingdom will be different. Oops.

So what does that mean? This means that Jesus is not going to overthrow the Roman government and establish himself as a political ruler over all. Sorry Judas. Sorry crowds. The kingdom of God will be different than the kingdoms you are used to. You see, the kingdoms you want do not in any way work to solve the world's problems -- the kingdom of God will do exactly that. So, what does Jesus' kingdom look like? In his own words, it looks like this: "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." And this "You have heard it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'" And this "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink. For what will it profit you to gain the whole world but forfeit your life?" "Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant..." Jesus' kingdom, the one God had begun with the calling out of Abraham, was one of the restoration of all people. It means that the new kingdom, the kingdom of God is not about might or power or even authority, but it is about loving your neighbor and loving God. It is about sharing of resources and no more poverty. It is about justice for everyone and no more war and no more oppression. It is about wholeness for everyone. Jesus' kingdom is not about wealth for some and death for others, but about joy and peace and plenty for each person. That is truly the kingdom. And that is what he began and why he was crowned that week in Jerusalem.

But, that is not what the crowd wanted from him. And it is not what Judas wanted from him. So they killed him, quickly, publicly and painfully. Jesus offered them an incredible opportunity to be part of the real kingdom, the only kingdom that will work for everyone, that will bring satisfaction, and they wanted no part of it. Apparently it did not fit their regular routine. Maybe that Kingdom was a real hassle -- too much effort. It meant changing schedules and saying no to certain things. It meant loving those who hurt you and oppressed you. It meant loving those how cut you off on the road or at the marketplace. It meant not taking more than your fair share. It meant living wisely and thoughtfully. It meant changing a little. And it meant joy. That was God's kingdom and marching into Jerusalem with Palms waving, Jesus was beginning it. But the people could not see that -- they wanted something else.

So, talk about a tough week. One day you are riding into town amidst a wave of adulation and shouts of joy. A couple of days later you are hanging from a cross, between two common criminals, slowly suffocating, all the while staring down at the crowds you are trying to save and restore, frustrated in knowing that they could not see past themselves to see the joy of the new kingdom you are trying to establish. They could not see the vision he had, the hopes of love and justice -- the hope for restoration for everyone. They were not able to choose to have him as their king, their leader, their Lord. Judas, the crowd, they wanted something else -- and what they wanted was not the kingdom of God.

So where are you on this Palm Sunday? We are a week away from Easter, the most holy day on the calendar. The day when our freedom was secured for us. The day when grace ruled. So, as we approach that day of incredible celebration and joy, where is your heart really at? Are you part of the crowd who cheers Jesus as you hope he works out your agenda for you, getting you the things you want, only to realize he has his own plan -- a plan which is different than yours? As you examine your hearts, do you hope for a different kind of kingdom than Jesus is building? Are you like Judas and the crowds, ready to turn on Jesus when things don't go the way you want? Or are you on board with the new kingdom? Are you ready to welcome the poor and the outcasts and fight for their rights? Are you ready to say to those who have hurt you, you are forgiven? Are you ready to let Jesus guide your life instead the crowd? Are you ready to love your neighbors, whoever they may be, as yourself? Are you ready to say: "Yes Lord Yes Lord Yes Yes Yes?" like we sang last week?

In a few minutes we will pray the Lord's Prayer. And in that prayer we will say the following: "your kingdom come, your will be done." Do you realize what you are saying when you pray that? Do you realize what you are saying 'Yes Lord' to? You are asking for and giving permission for a revolution. You are praying that the Kingdom of God will come and rule here. You are praying that things will be different here than they currently are -- radically different. Scary different. Amazingly different. That is the talk of a madman -- that is the talk of craziness. Yet, that is the talk of our King. That is that talk of the One, the One who lived and died and overcame death so that restoration could be had and the kingdom could be built.

Let me tell you New Life Presbyterian Church here on the corner of Monroe and Rosedale: your King is coming. He is marching into town, ready to offer you the chance to help build the kingdom; to be a part of the joy of that kingdom. And he is willing to suffer and die to see that it happens. Are you ready? Are you willing? Are you on board? Are you able to sing: "Yes Lord Yes Lord Yes Yes Yes"?