4/10/22 - Palm Sunday - Matthew 21:1-13 - Pastor Jason Fritz

My favorite character in the movie Shrek is Donkey. You can’t help but love and cheer for him. He’s affable, likable, self-reflective and the portrait of humility. You may know that during times of war ancient kings rode horses but during times of peace they rode donkeys. Jesus is communicating something with his choice of transportation. This is not a messiah warrior mounted on a massive white stallion, but rather a humble messiah slowly approaching on something common. This is the picture of a humble sin-bearer. Needless to say, this figure was not dominant with the Jews of Jesus’ day. They were looking for a political champion who would free them from Roman rule. Certainly, the religious leaders thought this was all a big joke. It was blasphemy to have a supposed Jewish king suggesting peace. They wanted to kill him for it.
 
It’s been said that sin comes about when the servant puts himself or herself in the place of the king. Salvation comes when the king puts himself in the place of a servant. What kind of a king does that? One that thoughtfully chooses his ride. Christianity is unique because it promotes a salvation through humility.
 
Not everyone in the crowd understood Jesus. Many of the people waving palm branches embraced him for the wrong reasons. They were thinking of the temporal benefits he would provide. They thought he would usher in an age of peace and prosperity. Even his own disciples wanted this. They wanted a political savior and as a result, their faith was shaken when he was crucified. Only afterward did they become emboldened when they experienced his resurrection.
 
The application here is this – if you follow Jesus only for what he can give you in terms of financial prosperity, good health and other temporal benefits then your faith will be shaken and perhaps even destroyed. What happens when trials hit you? What happens when you get sick or when you suffer financial loss? If Jesus exists only for your earthly happiness then you are in trouble. Jesus could have very easily put an end to Rome’s rule and replaced it with Jewish freedom. He had that kind of power. But that was not going to give people freedom from their sins.
 
So why do you follow Jesus? Some say, “I am following Jesus because I want to be a better person.” Ok, that’s fine but Jesus didn’t come to make you a better person. Others say, “I follow Jesus because I want Him to give me a Godly marriage.” That’s a legitimate request that he can supply but that’s not why he came to the earth. Many have said, “I follow Jesus because I have deep emotional hurts from my past, and I want Him to heal me.” Again, he can do that, but that is not his primary purpose in your life.
 
The reason we follow Jesus is because of who He is: God’s Anointed One, the rightful King over every heart and life. He died for your sins, arose from the grave, and is coming back in power and glory to reign over all. Until then, whether you struggle with tribulation, distress, persecution, poverty, health issues, or death itself, you can overwhelmingly conquer if your faith is in Him as your Lord and Savior.