Jesus Rules by Serving 10-04-2022

 

10th April 2022 (Palm/Passion Sunday)

Title: Jesus Rules by Serving
(Scripture Readings: Luke 19:28–40 & Philippians 2:5–11)

By Heeyoung Lim

Lent has been a long journey. Now the long shadow of the cross and the footsteps of Jesus find us waiting at the gates of Jerusalem. Today is Palm Sunday, and the Passion Week will begin. Our journey is still not complete, and there is a deeper journey still to make. The greatest story is still to be told. Come let us gather at the gates of the triumphal entry praising Jesus.

Today’s gospel reading recalls a triumphal entry into Jerusalem followed by suffering and death. But Jesus is not a passive victim. He acts with trust and obedience. Jesus speaks truth to those who wield violence and death and extends grace to sinners. He reveals self-sacrificial love even on the cross.

Jesus has told them, “His identity and salvation will be revealed as the form of betrayal, death, and resurrection.” (Luke 9). He enters Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey as in Zechariah 9:9; “Your king comes to you…humble and riding on a donkey” It was the messianic promise from the Old Testament. In Luke 19, the king sent two of his disciples on a mission: “Find a donkey that has never been ridden before and bring it to me. If you face questions, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So, the disciples brought the donkey to Jesus, threw their robes on it as a saddle, and set Jesus on it.

In Korea, a Christian musician has described the donkey that carried Jesus on Palm Sunday in one of his songs. The lyrics go as follows; “Lord, I want to be that happy donkey. Untie me, O Lord, who is bound to worldly greed, to many sins and to my own self. Untie me, O Lord, and let me serve You. Let me live carrying You on my back, so that the world sees You rather than me. Lord, I want to be that happy donkey.” Do you want to be a happy donkey serving the Lord?

The gospel tells us that people spread their cloaks on the road and crowds of disciples shout triumphantly because of the deeds of power they have witnessed along their journey with Jesus. The disciples also spread their robes on the street, signifying a royal procession. The

crowd of disciples, indicating a group beyond the Twelve, joined the procession, praising God for all the miraculous signs Jesus had given.

Those who followed Jesus into Jerusalem were living under the destructive power of the Roman empire. They praised Jesus with joy despite of all its risks and uncertainty because their hope is not in the temporary power of Rome, but rather in the endless, eternal power of God revealed in the life of Jesus. They praised Jesus as king, citing Psalm 118:26. Finally, Jesus’ glory was openly recognized. He came as God’s chosen king and showed that the hopes of Israel are being fulfilled. However, the crowds and the disciples were not ready for Jesus’ cross.

Luke 19:38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Jesus is the eternal king, the promised Messiah, who comes in the name of the Lord. They praised Jesus, but the religious leaders came to crucify Jesus, not to praise Him. They asked Jesus to silence the disciples. Jesus quoted Habakkuk 2:11 and replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” If human voices were silent, nature would shout its praise. This is the moment for Jesus to receive praise. The king has come to save us. May we praise the Lord together in our daily life rather than just Sundays.

In accordance with today’s text, Jesus is the expected messianic king who came to bring peace. God has sent the messianic king to bring peace that only heaven can establish and that cannot be denied on earth. The multitude’s praise and joy suddenly turn to great sorrow when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, because even though the multitude sings of peace and glory in heaven, it fails to recognize the price of true peace. Jesus is their peace and the peace of the world, not any peace, but the peace that only He can give, and that peace cannot be found apart from the journey of cross.

May we confess Jesus as king of our life and of the universe. God’s holiness and justice made the cross an absolute necessity. Events at the crucifixion happened as they did so “the scripture might be fulfilled” (v. 24). No fewer than twenty Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled within twenty-four hours at the time of our Lord’s death. Jesus fulfills what the prophets have said, and His acts and the events in his life fulfill what he has said.

Kings serve by ruling, but Jesus rules by serving, even to the point of suffering and death. In Mark 10:45, speaking of Christ, declares: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The example of Jesus’ humility and service is well expressed in Philippians 2.

Jesus is the supreme example of humility, love, and selflessness. When believers are united with Christ, they can have the same attitude of humility as Christ. Paul expresses the same thought in Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Today’s text invites us to share this humble, selfless mindset of Christ in our lives.

Jesus was willing to leave his high position in heaven temporarily and to give himself over to serving our needs. Although he set aside the rights and privileges of being God to save people, he remained God. (6) Jesus made himself nothing or emptied himself. (7) Jesus chose not to use some of his divine attributes during the time he was on earth. For God to become a man was humbling enough, but he was willing to go even further. Christ could have come to earth in his true position as King of the universe, but He took the role of a servant. The Creator chose to serve His creatures, and the King chose to serve His people. Our King Jesus rules by serving.

He humbled himself to the extent of being willing to die like a common criminal on a cross. As we have known that crucifixion was the most degrading kind of execution that could be inflicted on people in those days. People who died on the cross paid the penalty for their crimes, but Jesus died not for what he had done. He was sinless but died for others. He died to pay the penalty for the sins of the world.

Following Jesus’ humility and obedience, God the Father exalted him to his rightful position of honour and glory. Through the miracle of resurrection from the dead, God gave new honour to the obedient, humble Son. God bestowed upon Jesus the name that is above every name. The exalted Christ, seated at God’s right hand, was called “Lord.” He became the object of worship for the church. We call Him our Master, and the church confesses the humble and obedient Son as their Lord. Now we are waiting for Passion Week and Easter in faith and hope.

Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death. May we have the same attitude that Jesus did, who humbled himself and became a

servant to others. May we spread joy by spreading God’s love to someone today. God calls us to love and serve others humbly. Sacrificial love is the result of God working in us. May we thank God for Christ’s model of humility and seek to repair the strained relationships in our life with humble attitudes and acts of love.

On Palm/Passion Sunday, as we approach Holy Week, may we remember who we are and to focus on having the mind of Christ, whom we worship and adore, the one who gives us our vocation – calling us as Christ’s church and sending us out in Christ’s name to serve others.

“The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)