Matthew 21:1-11 Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke
Palm Sunday Sunday, April 2, 2023 “Look, Your King Comes to You”
For better or for worse, today national politicians are celebrities. You know their names. You see their speeches. You can find clips and soundbites from their work on the news or on internet video sites. They are interviewed, and they are both adored by some and ridiculed by others. I got a glimpse of this celebrity not too long ago as I was standing at our congregation’s booth at the Tucson Festival of Books. A sizeable crowd slowly made its way past our location, and someone pointed out to me that at the center of that crowd was Senator Bernie Sanders. I heard his name repeated a few more times as people wanted to know where he would be speaking so that they could come and listen. He was a celebrity there. Palm Sunday was a celebrity sort of event for Jesus. A huge crowd. Loud cheering and praises. Palm branches and coats. Jesus rode on a donkey as the crowd went ahead of him and followed behind. He was a celebrity. That’s where the comparison between Jesus and today’s politicians really breaks down. Matthew’s Gospel makes it clear that Jesus is a king, but he is such a unique king and such a special king. Any king would be unique and special to us today. That’s not the system under which we have been governed. But we have seen time and time again that no matter how much we may like or dislike our elected officials, they all clearly fall short of the ideal standards, the things that we would most want from our leaders. But that is not the case with Jesus our king. The Gospel writer Matthew, by God’s guidance connected the events of Palm Sunday with the prophecy we heard from Zechariah. And so today we join with the Palm Sunday crowd and capture a glimpse of the celebrity in the middle. God himself directs our attention to him by saying, “Look, your king comes to you.” And see what an amazing king he is. Before he rides the donkey into Jerusalem, he needs to have the donkey. From the Mount of Olives Jesus sends two disciples to go and retrieve it for him. In fact, he sends them to find two donkeys, a colt and its mother. He gives these disciples instructions about what they are to say if anyone questions them. And they go and carry out his instructions. Do you see already what an amazing king this is? Jesus gives his disciples instructions about exactly what they will find and what they are to do. He knows where his selected ride is to be found, this donkey, and he knows what words will solve any issues that present themselves. And everything goes exactly according to plan. I suppose there are many descriptive words we could use for this sort of king. He is wise. He is confident. He is trustworthy. All those words and more are suitable descriptions, but I guess the word that most readily suggests itself to me is “powerful.” He has the power to know what will happen. He has the power to see to it that every command and instruction he gives not only can be carried out but will be done as he desires. This isn’t a president doing his best. This is no merely earthly leader. This is God himself, with all power. There is literally nothing that is too much for him to do or to accomplish. That is the one who rides into Jerusalem to appropriate shouts of joy. And that’s not all. Not only is our king a powerful king, but he is also a humble king. That is obvious all over this account, just as it is obvious throughout Jesus’ life. In fact, the humble attitude of Jesus is a defining quality. Zechariah’s prophecy discussed it. He rides a lowly colt. But his humble attitude was apparent well before. True God, the Creator of the universe, yet he humbles himself to be born as a servant. He humbled himself by clothing his glory not just in flesh and blood, but in lowly flesh and blood. He was a celebrity on a handful of occasions such as the one we are considering, but he was frequently opposed, persecuted, and attacked for most of his ministry. Paul described his attitude this way, “he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).