What Will You be Saying When Jesus Comes to Town?
Pastor Glenn Newton April 4, 2004
Text: Luke 19: 28-42
We are a society that seems to be swayed by the softest breeze, have you noticed that? Our politicians anymore don’t seem to make really strong, this is what we need to do kind of decisions, but instead, after reading the latest opinion polls, then they will make a decision always with the option of changing their mind at any time.
We can see this in our culture probably the clearest in our sports world. When the star of our team is making all the plays, doing everything right and leading our teams to wins, what do we do? We cheer, we make up signs that say “You’re the Greatest!” and “So and So for President”, we literally probably would vote for them… we just love them so much right?
Well, really you need to just wait a week or two, there will be a stretch where our team doesn’t play as well, our hero all the sudden is playing like a human, making mistakes, losing some games… and guess what we, the fans our doing???? We are booing with all our gusto, gone our the signs of “We Love You” and “You’re the Greatest!” now those signs have been replaced with, “trade the bum” or “You’re a Loser”. Can you imagine the emotional roller coaster our sports hero’s must learn to live with… it makes what they do 10 times harder knowing how their so called fans will react if they don’t perform up to a unreal expectation.
We really haven’t changed much over time… the people in Jesus day played this same kind of game… they really were looking for a hero to cheer for, they were looking for the promised Messiah… the one who would bring freedom.
In our text today, we see such an example. Jesus, the son of a carpenter, educated in Nazareth, one who gained favor with men, one who was cheered and praised, would soon be mocked, scorned, and cast aside by the same ones who did the cheering.
This morning I want you to think about the Question that I raise in my title….. “What will you be saying When Jesus comes to town? What are you talking about Pastor? What I want to show you today is a people who praise and Worship their Savior when Jesus is doing all the right things, when He is doing all those things they want to see done….. Kind of like our sports hero’s when they score the Touchdowns….. But, there is another side to this story…. By the end of the week… when they see that Jesus is not leading the reforms and the changes that they had hoped for, when the people realized they weren’t getting what they thought they should be getting, guess what happened?
Those same people who were shouting “Hosanna, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”…. Now, they are shouting, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” with just as much passion… We want to shake our heads and say, “how could they do that?”
I want you to remember this statement today, I will bring it up later….. “When we reject Christ in our lives, with our words, with our actions, with our attitudes, when we reject Christ as Lord of our lives, we are shouting with our lives…. “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”
Ask yourself right now…. How does the way I am living today, reflect the message that I am sending to others, and more importantly, to God….. Does my life say, “Jesus is King and Lord of my Life!” or does it say the opposite, Does it reject Christ as lord and say, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him?”
Pastor, I don’t really fit into those two categories, I’m still trying to decide. I say Praise God you are here and you are seeking an answer, but let me tell you what Jesus said about the undecided just so you won’t stay in that camp long…. Matt. 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”
On that Palm Sunday as Jesus approached Jerusalem, there were several things that He was aware of. He knew the conditions surrounding the people, and He knew the condition of the people’s heart.
The Jews found themselves under heavy Roman oppression. There were heavy taxes, restrictions, numerous executions by means of crucifixion, and Jesus knew all about those things. But He knew their heart.
The Jews were in search of someone. They desired a king, a conqueror, someone to set them free. They had seen the mighty works of this man Jesus. They were witness to Him restoring sight to the blind. They saw the evidence of Him healing the lame. They saw Him feed the multitude with a little boy’s lunch, and had leftovers to spare. They heard about Him raising Lazarus from the dead. They listened to Him teach with authority. Surely, with power and authority like that, Jesus was without a doubt the one who would set them free. So, Jesus came to Jerusalem, and the crowds began to cheer.
The timing was right. It was approaching the Passover feast. That was symbolic of the event where the death angel passed over Egypt, and Pharaoh let God’s children go. And now, just maybe now, Jesus would somehow lead them from the restraints and cruel treatment they received from the Roman government.
Jesus knew their heart. He knew their desires.
The Roman soldiers knew something as well. These soldiers knew that it was Passover. They realized that it was traditionally a time that brought about skirmishes and violent reactions. They had not forgotten that several years earlier, Theodus of Jordan had ridden into Jerusalem with a similar greeting. They remembered how he promised to do the miracles of Elijah, and how he led a fairly large revolt. The soldiers remembered how that Theodus, along with over 400 of his followers was slain, and the head of Theodus was hung on the garrison wall. They knew Passover could bring trouble, and so they were ready.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the crowds waved palm branches, a long-standing symbol of Jewish nationalism. They shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” Cheering, praising, exalting…but then something happened. The cheering stopped.
Jesus didn’t gather any troops. He didn’t lead a revolt. He didn’t do what they expected. Instead, He drove the moneychangers out of the temple. He paid tribute to Caesar. He taught that giving out of poverty is worth more than giving out of abundance. He taught that in order to be great, you must be a servant. Jesus did everything the people didn’t want, and so the cheering stopped.
It’s amazing that when things go our way, when God does what we want, when Jesus rises to our cause; it’s easy to cheer. But what about when He doesn’t do these things? What happens when you face oppression? What happens when you experience troubles? Too often, the cheering comes to a stop. Words of praise quickly fade when you face life as it really is.
Sometimes God does give us what we want, but you better believe; He always gives us what we need. It’s just that sometimes we experience a little problem. Often our wants and desires blur our vision to our real needs. The same thing happened to the crowds that lined the Streets to cheer Jesus. There were some things that they didn’t see, but Jesus did. Look again at verses 41-42
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, 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.”
Why did Jesus Weep over the city? Why does Jesus weep this morning over the lost in our world? He loves us so much, He knew that the people were going to be swept away with their enthusiasm, but He knew that they were putting their faith not so much in Him, but really they were putting their hope in what Jesus could do for them… bring them a physical and political freedom.
Jesus knew that the real peace that they needed was spiritual, and friends that hasn’t changed in 2000 years. There are a lot of things that we look at and say, If only I had this, or if only I was in this position… If only I had that job…. If only I had what that person has…. If only… If only.. if only….
Jesus wants you to know that the things that the world has to offer… power, possessions, positions… those kind of things, they are only temporary and they won’t bring you true peace. The only True Peace comes through knowing and serving Him…. Living everyday for Him, allowing Him to be the Lord of your life, in everyway, and in every area.
This morning the truth is we are all shouting something with our lives. What are you shouting?
Another truth is that Jesus is coming back to town, “in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye” the King will be back to reward the faithful and to judge those who have rejected Him…. Listen to the description of Christ return found in Rev.19:11,
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
What a day that will be! He’s Coming Back…. He won’t be riding no donkey… He’s coming back to take what is rightly His…. And He’s bringing the troops… you’ve never seen an army like this….. they won’t need to buy American Technology… They won’t need to worry about Radar and Weapons of Mass Destruction….. Friends, no power on Earth will stand a chance…
Do you know what I’m going to be screaming?
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”
I’m going to be ready for the return of the King… Are you ready? Friend, there won’t be anytime left to change what your life is saying when Jesus returns, there won’t be any time outs, there will be no time left on the clock… only rewards for the faithful, and judgement for those who rejected the King of Kings.
I’m going to repeat what I said earlier, where I asked you a question…. This morning I want you to respond to the question… Today, you can choose who you will cheer.
“When we reject Christ in our lives, with our words, with our actions, with our attitudes, when we reject Christ as Lord of our lives, we are shouting with our lives…. “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”
Ask yourself right now…. How does the way I am living today, reflect the message that I am sending to others, and more importantly, to God….. Does my life say, “Jesus is King and Lord of my Life!” or does it say the opposite, Does it reject Christ as lord and say, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him?”
What a great time of the year to find Jesus, friend, there is no better time than today… Don’t delay the most important decision that you will ever make… you will never regret choosing Christ as your Lord and Savior… it’s the winning team.
