KingdomPower_PalmSundaySermonandMonologue

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Palm Sunday Material

Theme:
"Kingdom Power"

William MacLean

Jesu Einzug in Jerusalem Art Print

Palm Sunday - Sermon Outline

I LOVE A PARADE!

Luke 19:28-42

I love a parade! Truth to tell, just about everyone loves a parade! Why, it seems almost un-American not to love a parade! Throughout the centuries special occasions have been celebrated with parades. On Memorial Day and the Fourth of July we cheer the marchers and salute the flags as they pass by on parade.

On Palm Sunday we look to Luke's Gospel for the account of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem . Actually, the happening is prophesied in Isaiah and Zechariah and is recounted in Matthew, Mark and John's Gospels. Jesus, the Son of God, was riding on a donkey. The timing of this event, in a sense, was politically correct because visitors arriving for the Feast of the Passover had increased the usual crowd. The followers of Jesus were mobbed with the Pharisees and curious bystanders.

1. PROCESSION OF PRAISE

The scriptures indicate that the followers of Jesus led the cheers of praise. The curious bystanders, caught up in the spirit of the occasion, likely joined in the chorus. "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!"

Those who were schooled in the scriptures had been expecting the Messiah for many years. It was their expectation that He would rout the Roman rule. They had long lived for this jubilant moment. Surely this must be Him for whom they had been waiting. He already had ministered in the surrounding countryside. There were those who had been healed of their illness. Others had been fed. Still others had been restored to wholeness from one kind of infirmity or another. Some literally had received new life. Others had been spiritually healed. According to Matthew 21:10, "When Jesus entered Jerusalem , the whole city was stirred."

And so, the parade proceeded from the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem . The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke relate that the people spread their cloaks on the road. Matthew and Mark indicate that they also spread palm branches on the road. In John's account we read, "They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!'" Nowhere in the Gospel accounts does it say that they waved the palm fronds in praise and adoration. No matter; they probably did. Wouldn't you? Historians tell us that the waving and spreading of the palm branches were a part of a traditional reception for royalty. The branches served a dual purpose. They were used for worship and also for the practical purpose of enhancing the parade route.

2. PROSPECT OF PROPHECY

In that great crowd were those who were jubilant over the anticipated fulfillment of prophecy. The Passover pilgrims looked for Jesus to overthrow the Roman invaders and establish a new government. They would then fulfill the prophecy to become "a light to the nations."

The story is told of a congregation largely composed of hearing-impaired members. The only way they could understand the scripture reading and receive the sermon was to follow the motions of a signer who translated English into the American Sign Language. During the reading for Palm Sunday the deaf congregation burst into laughter when the translator mistakenly signed, "Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a reindeer."

There was confusion among the parade spectators as well. Many of the same crowds, just a few days later, were shouting, "Crucify Him!" They failed to see that Jesus had come chiefly not to change people's circumstances, but to change the people themselves. Some of the religious leaders did not share the ardor of the crowd. When they asked Jesus to quiet the people, He replied, "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40 ).

Ironically, at the height of His popularity, as He approached Jerusalem , "he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes.'" Their hearts were not yet receptive to His teaching. It was His purpose to show them the way to abundant life, but His teaching was not understood. They apparently had forgotten that their forbearers were a "light to the nations." They just didn't get it when, just prior to His triumphal entry, Jesus told them a parable, "because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once" (Luke 19:11). Do you suppose He was suggesting to them that He knew what they were thinking when He quoted the king's subjects who said, "We don't want this man to be our king?"

And so He wept, because He could foresee the dreadful judgment, which was to come to Jerusalem and its inhabitants. In time to come, hundreds of thousands would die and thousands more would be taken captive in the destruction of the temple and the city.

3. PORTENT OF PEACE

Earlier in His earthly ministry, Jesus said to His disciples, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division" (Luke 12:51 ). Constant conflict would continue between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of evil. A short time later, ". . . having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is within you'" (Luke 17:20). Although the time may never come when there is peace throughout the world, those who have been "justified through faith . . . have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

As Jesus approached Jerusalem He knew that He faced ridicule and death so that God's plan of salvation might be fulfilled. Nevertheless, He "steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem ." He might have turned away from Jerusalem . Jesus could have returned to the carpenter's shop. He might have opted for a teaching tenure at the temple. But then He would not have been the Savior of the world!

And so, He marched on to Jerusalem fully aware that He faced rejection, suffering and death on a cross. But He knew in His heart that it was the will of the Father and that His death was merely a prelude to His victorious resurrection!

On this Palm Sunday, we join the parade with jubilant hearts. Although we know that Jesus marched toward a cross and a tomb, we also know that He came back from the dead in Kingdom power!

Palm Sunday - Dramatic Monologue

JINGLES

By Rebecca Phillips

Lights up on young man, looking through a stack of photos. He is a bright personality, very warm and excited. He takes one photograph and stares at it for a while. To audience:

I love this one. Jingles smiling real big at the camera - oh, and this one - he's winking at me. I know you won't believe it. It's hard for me to believe myself - but it happened. Jingles was in a parade. In fact, Jingles was the parade.

I had just eaten lunch with Mel - it was falafel Friday - and I got this strange sensation in my tummy. Kinda like a tickle - you know - when you feel like a moth is whirling around on your insides? Anyway, it got more and more whirly - so I told Mel. He said it was the goat cheese. But I know the goat cheese feeling - and this wasn't it.

And then it happened.

A voice that sounded like thunder - but as soft as a river's current - boomed a whisper in my ear. He told me to take Jingles in to the center of the village - and leave him there. He also said that two men are going to come for him. At first, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my colt for two strangers - I've never ridden him - or allowed anyone to even pet him. And now strangers?

But I gotta tell you - I've always had this feeling - like the moth swirling feeling - that Jingles was meant for something great.

So, I told Mel. Of course, Mel thought I was suffering from a major bout of indigestion - but I had to do it. I ran home, got Jingles - gave him a good scrubbing - brushed him - and off we went. The thunder river voice didn't tell me where to tie him, so I tied him to an olive tree right smack in the middle of the village, gave him a little pat on his head, and then, Mel and I sat at a distance and waited.

About an hour later, two strangers walked right up to Jingles - untied him - and started to walk away. A few people asked them why they were taking Jingles, and they said that Jesus had told them to.

Jesus. When they said his name, that thunder river voice and moth swirly feeling jumped inside of me. I had heard about Jesus - a man in the next village that had been blind since birth said Jesus made him see again - and I even heard that Jesus raised a dead man that had been stuck in the tomb for three days. Mel said he hobbled out in his grave clothes. I always wanted to see Jesus - maybe even meet him - and now this? Jingles was going to be Jesus' colt?!

You are not going to believe this either, but within minutes - and I mean minutes - the streets were crowded with people waving palm branches and shouting hosannas! Even Mel ran to the road, shouting something about the coming kingdom. I made my way through the crowd - and on the ground were all sorts of colorful cloaks, charting out the most glorious path I've ever seen.

And there he was - Jingles - his back draped with the colors of a rainbow - and Jesus. The crowds went crazy - (shouting, waving his arm as though waving a palm branch) "Hosanna! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

As they passed me, Jingles winked and smiled. He did! I have proof - right here - (holds up his stack of photos)

But the best part was Jesus. He looked right at me. Into me. And He smiled. And when He opened His mouth - yep, you guessed it - that thunder river voice tumbled out and grabbed me. I think I saw God.

Mel told me he heard that Jingles went to Jerusalem with Jesus. Imagine that . . . Jingles in Jerusalem . . .

I love a parade.

Lights.