March 16, 2008   Palm/Passion Sunday

Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minnesota

Pastor Gary E. Benson

 

“Parade of Expectations”

If there are but a few Sundays that you feel confident in what to expect when coming to worship, isn’t one of them today, Palm/Passion Sunday? 

• As soon as I am mindful of this Sunday I immediately think, “Yep, we start on a high note, and the tone of the service seems to go downhill from there.”  (Not the quality of the service, the tone!!)
• Such is our traditional expectation, but the significance of today’s worship isn’t in a specific expectation / or a specific tone regarding the service, but rather the “truth of God’s Word” throughout our worship.

 

Speaking of words and expectations, can you tell me where these words come from?

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly.  AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES."    (Nike)

 

For those lining the streets of Jerusalem, for many, their life was a litany of no’s, of dead ends, and little hope. 

• Life was not a grand plan for peace and prosperity, rather unrest and hopelessness. No hope, no peace, no future!
• Continually, the mindset was “Can we ever expect a king, a ruler who will lift us up, bring justice, hope, and a future wherein we are not simply conquered and victimized, but affirmed and celebrated?”
• Can we expect this Jesus, riding on the back of a donkey, to be our king?

• History had shown many had ridden into the hot and dusty town before only to be a disappointment once the dust settled.  Was Jesus different?

• Was this Jesus the one who raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, spoke of “living water?” Was he the YES amidst the NO’S?
•  What could we really expect of him? Could we expect a king – who saves, delivers, and heals?  Yes? No?

 

Even today, we may not, and certainly don’t, live in political “oppression,” yet few, if any, escape the personal sense of being oppressed, put down, inadequate at one time or another.

• Haven’t we all, at one time or another, prayed for deliverance, hope, a sense of “yes,” amidst all of the world’s victimization, rejections, and  “no’s.”
• Relationships / health / First Greek test!  No, No, No!

 

Truth be told, when our goals and dreams, enthusiasm, expectations, collide with a reality of hurt, heartache, isn’t that when our Parade of Expectation finds a bend in the road?

• Jobs/ schools/ health ………. Often our dreams and our reality are worlds apart.
• Reality along the parade route in Jerusalem demonstrated that “enthusiasm and hope” was about as long lived as the palm leaves, which had been cut from the tree and placed on the road as Jesus entered the city.  Yes, quickly became no.
• Soon, and very soon, the cheers were fading out. The “yes” of affirmation was giving way to the horrific cries of “Crucify Him.”  No, no, no!
• As soon as Jesus didn’t appear to be the King of the Crowds expectations (fulfilling hopes and dreams), the mood, the allegiance, the voices changed. 

 

Today, however, is not simply about yes/no, highs and lows, moods and tones. Again, it is about “truth.”

• Therein is the good news that in light of and in spite of highs and lows, the “no’s” the darkness, God in Christ Jesus said, “yes,” to be the servant “even obedient unto death, death on a cross!”   

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Our Parade of Expectations continues. Life moves forward, moods swing, culture and paradigms shift. But this day remember the message of God’s truth and it is this: Thanks be to God in Jesus Christ, our God doesn’t say, “No, you are not good enough, strong enough, talented enough.” Rather, because of his journey (parade of expectations),

·        From yes to no;

·        Hosannas to Crucify;

·        From cross to tomb;

·        Because of His journey, we will hear a resounding YES – expect no less!!