Fellowship Presbyterian Church Rev. John P.

Hartman The Jesus You Thought You Knew# 6 Authentic Leader Psalm 11:19-29; Mark 11:1-11

April 1, 2012

I. INTRODUCTION Have you ever had one of those days when everything went right? > Maybe it was when you did that important PowerPoint presentation in front of the big client that went better then expected. > Or maybe, it was a weekend at home with your children and everyone had a great time eating dinner together. > Or, maybe it was an afternoon when you made it through all the green lights on your way home from work? > Or,mMaybe it was out on the golf course, when it all came together for you: Driving, long irons, short irons, putting everything went right that day! Well Palm Sunday is the day when everything went right. Jesus finally gets the big welcome that he should have been getting all along in his ministry. This is the day that Jesus swept into the city of Jerusalem, to a heros welcome as an Authentic Leader. And yet, instead of shying away from the trappings of his Messiah-ship as he often did, Jesus revels in being the Messiah on Palm Sunday. And so, I invite you to join me as we take a look at our Palm Sunday test this morning from the gospel of Mark 11:1-11. When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, Why are you doing this? just say this, The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately. 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, What are you doing, untying the colt? 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Prayer: Gracious and loving God, as Jesus Christ you rode into the heart of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, we invite you this day to ride into the city of Greensboro. Ride into our homes, into our families, into our neighborhoods, and into our businesses, -- and take your place in each of our hearts. Reign this day as Authentic Leader, and as Lord of our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. PALM SUNDAY It shouldnt come as any real surprise that all four gospels record this event of Palm Sunday in the city of Jerusalem. What was the occasion which Jesus chose for coming into the city? It was the Passover. It was the time when the children of Israel were celebrating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Only now, they were crying out for a new Deliverer. This time they were looking for deliverance from Caesar instead of from Pharaoh. And by coming into that city on that occasion, Jesus was telling the world, I am the One! I am the Messiah! And the people were so excited, and got so caught up in that moment, that they went way beyond rolling out the red carpet treatment. Now the prophet Zechariah had said years before that the Messiah would come into Jerusalem riding on, of all animals, a donkey. The Bible says, Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey. A donkey, for THE Messianic king! And so, the people took off their clothing, the equivalent of your jackets and ties and they let Jesus donkey walk all over their Sunday best. Other people cut off branches from trees and put those in the streets and they literally worshipped the ground he walked on. Tim Tebow never saw this kind of following and adulation. The people in Jerusalem were yelling, Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Now most of us think of Hosanna as a sort of Hebrew word for Hip-Hip Hooray! -- but it means much more than that. A. Hosanna is a one-word prayer that means, Save us now! It is the word used in Psalm 118:25, when the Psalmist says simply, O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. The people are not so much shouting praise and adoration, -- but it is more an appeal of desperation to Jesus: Hosanna! Hosanna! Messiah is here! Now is the time! Save us now! And yet, Hosanna is bigger than just Palm Sunday, because Palm Sunday is not simply the Sunday before Easter or the kick-off to Holy Week. It wasnt just to save those people that Jesus rode into Jerusalem, -- it was to save you and me. It was for US he came to rescue as he rode into Jerusalem on that day. B. My friends, we need a Savior, because out in the world today there are plenty of things to feel overwhelmed about. Even within our families, its easy to feel overwhelmed. II.

** The Presbyterian pastor and author Charlie Shedd, well-known for his many books and seminars on the topics of marriage and family said one time, Before [my wife] Martha and I had kids, I used to travel the country giving a lecture I called The Ten Commandments for Raising Perfect Kids. After our first was born, I changed the title to Ten Hints for Parents. After their second child, the talk became A Few Tentative Suggestions for Fellow Strugglers. Finally, Shedd says, After our third child, I dropped the topic altogether. For many of us, life can feel out of control. Its very easy to get eaten up by our anxieties. And so on this Palm Sunday, we need to join with those people in crying out, Hosanna! Hosanna! Lord, save us now! Whats interesting to me is that for all these people knew, Jesus was an earthly king seeking a worldly crown who was coming into town to make mince-meat out of the Romans. After all, thats what the people really wanted. They were looking for a leader like Moses, with the charisma of David, the wealth of Solomon, and the biceps of Samson, all wrapped up in one, titanic figure. But you know, all it would have taken was a second look to see that this was a strange looking king. Why strange? What sort of a king rides on a donkey? What sort of king rides in on a rent-a-mule? Why not the best chariot with the best horses? Why not make your grand entrance in style and comfort? After all, hes the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Back then, after a great military victory, the conquering hero would lead the parade, followed by his troops, who were often followed by the captives with the plunders gained in the battle. And then there would be this wonderful celebration, as the hero rode on a great white stallion, wearing his shiny armor, and brandishing a sword. It was a long-remembered spectacle. Well, the white stallion was the stretch limo of the first century. But now here comes Jesus riding into town on a donkey. To put it in todays terms, it would be like the President of the United States riding into Greensboro in a beat up old Ford Pinto station wagon, with no air conditioning, and the tail pipe dragging on the ground. Think about it, the highest king rode in on the lowliest animal. If you think about it, Jesus entrance through the gates of Jerusalem was a clear case of substance over style. Hes the Messiah. Hes the King. And yet as the King, he lowers himself still. But now let me ask you, can you envision a king who would stoop so low, that he would have to actually borrow a donkey? It is bad enough you have ride in on a donkey, -- but Jesus also needs to borrow a donkey.

And he is so concerned that someone is going to think that the donkey is being stolen that he tells his disciples in verse 3, Just say, The Lord needs it. And we kind of gloss right over that? If you will allow me, I would like to take just a little bit of liberty with this verse this morning. C. What would it mean for us it we were to hear instead of, The Lord needs it, but more importantly, The Lord needs YOU? Now I know that Jesus doesnt really need us, because the Lord doesnt lack for anything, but he invites us to be full participants in sharing his love, living out his mission, and building his kingdom. So let me ask you a question, What is your commitment level to the Savior and to this Church? Maybe some of you have come here with a mind-set that you want it all done for you, and if it doesnt happen, you can pass the blame on to me or any other leader who doesnt feed you, teach you, keep your children, take care of you, or give you what you are looking for. Are you someone here today who has spent way too long as a spectator at Fellowship Presbyterian Church? You have watched from the bleachers and criticized others, but you havent stepped into the action of servanthood. What would it be like to jump to our feet when Jesus says, I need you? I need you to walk with me day by day. I need you to walk with me into worship, and the nursery, into fellowship, and to Vacation Bible School this summer. I need you to walk with me into mission and service! I need you to be agents for my kingdom! *** In the movie, JFK, Kevin Costner plays Jim Garrison, a prosecutor committed to exposing the truth, and bringing to justice the people responsible for the assassination of President Kennedy. In his summation to the jury he tells them, Tennyson wrote, Authority forgets a dying king. This was never more true than for John F. Kennedy, whose murder was probably one of the most terrible moments in the history of our country. You the people, sitting in the jury represent the hope of humanity. In discharging your duty, do not forget your dying king! Nothing as long as you live will ever be more important. Its up to you. My friends, do not forget your dying king! Hear and respond to the words of Jesus when he says, The Lord needs you? III. CONCLUSION Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem and into the week he knew would be his last. What seems like a gorgeous Palm Sunday morning when everything is right with the world, -- is really the calm before the storm. Jesus is riding right into the jaws of death. He knows what this ride is going to cost him. You know, you can learn a lot about somebody by watching the way they die, because this was a king for whom the way to death was the way to victory. This is probably the most important week on the Christian calendar in the formation and development of our life of faith. Jesus conquers sin, death and the grave. Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!