Jerusalem has long been at the centre of world history. It’s true today, and it was true nearly 2000 years ago. On one day, Jerusalem was in uproar. It was a day of great rejoicing when huge crowds lined the streets with palm branches to recognise Jesus as their King - the Messiah whose coming had been foretold by prophets for centuries.
The significant events of Palm Sunday are recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12. As Jesus came into Jerusalem his arrival on a donkey caused a great commotion. There was so much shouting and celebration that no one could fail to know something very big was happening. It was a major public event. Matthew 21:10-11 says ‘When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred’ and asked, “Who is this?”’ This is the question everyone needs to answer. Who was and who is Jesus? That there was a historical Jesus is clear. But who he was was the cause of much dispute then, as it is today.
It was evident from the joyful reaction and shouts of the crowds that many accepted him as not just a prophet but as their long-awaited King. Palm Sunday should be a day of celebration for each of us too, for it's a day where we can experience the coming of the King into our lives and circumstances.
Jesus is the humble King (John 12:14-15; Philippians 2:5-8; James 5:6; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 23:12; Mark 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:8)
Jesus is the children’s King (Matthew 21:15-16; Mark 10:13-16; Mark 10:15; Matthew 18:4)
Jesus is the King of all (John 12:13; Luke 2:10; John 3:16; Matthew 11:29)
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Where they had thought the Messiah would be a triumphant military hero liberating them from the oppression of the Roman Empire, Jesus came lowly and riding on a donkey, making time for the lowest of the low (John 12:14-15). This was so offensive to them that it was actually these religious elites who crucified him. Their pride blinded them to seeing the reality of the Messiah before them. Jesus was the King of all, but he humbled Himself in so many ways on earth (Philippians 2:5-8). The Bible has many references to the awfulness of pride and the awesomeness of humility (James 5:6; Proverbs 6). When people turn from their pride, ego and self-justification and humbly call on God, He will always bring great healing and salvation (2 Chronicles 7:14). Jesus was the perfect model of humility: born in the humblest of circumstances; He came as a vulnerable baby; He subjected Himself to all the limitations of a human body; He taught that the least valued, like children and the poor in spirit, would become the greatest in the kingdom of God (Matthew 23:12); teaching His disciples not to be preoccupied with their own position and image but to be ready and willing to serve; and finally to save and serve all humanity, He renounced all His rights and endured the humiliation of crucifixion. Rather than preoccupying himself with earthly positions, privileges and power, he spent his time with the vulnerable, the rejected, the down and outs (Mark 2:16-17). Jesus showed how the Kingdom of God was not what the intellectuals and religious elites were expecting (1 Corinthians 2:8). Jesus gave up everything so that no matter who we are, and no matter what our background, age, ethnicity, social status, bank balance, education, qualifications or circumstances are today, we can experience every blessing, especially the blessing of knowing him. To really know Jesus for ourselves, we need to come humbly to him. To bow before him. To receive him with humility like he modelled here on the earth. Are you willing to do that today?
Jesus made a special point of caring for those despised by society, in particular, children (Matthew 21:15-16). In the events of the first Palm Sunday, the little children really stood out for they saw that this was the real Messiah come to them. And this made the chief priests very angry because they looked down on children. They were upset that Jesus would not put the children in their place. But Jesus has no intention of putting the children down, rather showing how God works in the lives and lips of children (Psalm 8:2). Jesus was saying that the children were clearly recognising what was happening and praising God in response, even though the religious leaders and many adults couldn’t see it (Mark 10:13-16). So what do we learn here about children?
- God loves and cares for children: His kingdom cares for those who adults often despise, abuse or neglect.
- Every child matters to God:
The kingdom of God is where people, including the young and vulnerable, can be safe, innocent and happy. The children recognised God’s love in Jesus. Today God cares for every child and for everyone who may feel like a little child - the vulnerable, ordinary, despised, the least, the smallest - you matter to God.
- Children can know the love of God for themselves: They can have a personal experience of salvation and know the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Many of the greatest preachers in history came to know Jesus at young ages.
- Children show us the way to God: (Mark 10: 15; Matthew 18:4). It’s not that the Lord wants us to be childish. It’s that God wants us to have a child-like faith and trust in who he is. No pretence - just be real. Just as the children simply accepted Him that first Palm Sunday, so he invites you to today.
Jesus was clearly recognised as the King of Israel (John 12:13). Within a week he would be crucified on a Roman cross with the title written above him ‘King of the Jews’. Jesus was a Jew and the Bible says that He was the Messiah that the Jews were looking for. He loved the Jewish people then and He loves them today. But right from His birth the Bible makes clear that Jesus was the king who came for all people (Luke 2:10; John 3:16). Jesus was on his way to shed his blood to save us all from all our sins and free us from the power of evil. To give each one of us real hope and a future.
Here then is a picture of what King Jesus is really like. He came as the humble King who invites us to come humbly into relationship with him. He is the children’s King and He’s the king for all. At first many wondered what to make of Jesus. In the end it came down to two reactions. Those who were against Jesus and tried to get rid of Him: religious elites, Roman rulers and others would not accept Jesus as having any claim to their lives or right to challenge their behaviour and control. They would not change. And so they set in process the events that led to Jesus suffering and being cruelly crucified. But others made the decision to be for Jesus and worship Him. Many understood who Jesus was and gladly worshipped Him. They saw that in Him lay the fulfilment of all their deepest hopes and desires. Despite being crucified, Jesus would not go away for the grave could not hold Him. He came back from the dead and one day He will come to earth to rule and reign for ever.
Until he comes again, there is a choice to make: to receive Christ as King or to reject Him. Today, Palm Sunday, can be a day of complete change and transformation in your life, if you become a follower and worshipper of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:29). So today, do you take the decision to reject Jesus or receive Him?
