Sermon Nuggets Tues July 29, 2008
Theme- Triumphal Entry
Verses- John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"
The Significance of Palms.
Each Spring we celebration Palm Sunday as the beginning of Holy Week. We are reminded of this passage where many in the crowed carried palm branches and waved them and laid them on the road before Jesus as He was entering into Jerusalem.
The palm tree has a strong tall straight trunk with a crown of branches on the top that stuck out like a crown on the head of a great king of trees. Although the tree was used for poles, food, leaves for thatched roofs and making containers, people also waved the palm branches. This was part of a custom of celebration. We do the same thing, only we call them pomp-pomps. Most cheerleaders at athletic events will attract attention and excitement in their yells, and shaking of the pomp pomps. It is part of the expressing of enthusiasm. When the Twins won their world series one of the ways the people showed support and excitement was the waving of the homer hanky.
Palm branches were used in the Old Testament for rejoicing. Lev.23: 41 " On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God for 7 days." This was a celebration known at the time as the Feast of the tabernacles. Related of course to when God chose to dwell in their midst in the tabernacle. When a tent housed the presence of God and was referred to as the Holy of Holies.
Interestingly, at this time many of the Jews were staying in booths and tents preparing for the Passover commemorating the time when Moses led them out of Egypt. They recognized God was in their midst and they celebrated. Now, again there was God in their midst. There was prophetic Old Testament celebration of the presence and provision of God for His people.
The crowds saw Jesus provide food with the feeding of the 5,000. They saw a king who would heal the sick and raise the dead. They wanted a new King that would rule many years as long as he would give them what they wanted.
Other people are always setting up their own expectations for the Lord, but Jesus refuses to live up to the misguided expectations. He will not allow us to make him over, set the agenda, or determine the terms of our relationship together. He is the one who tells us, not we him.
Crowds don't change much throughout the centuries however. They were as fickle as any other crowd. They can rally to the polls to elect a official, then rally to want to kick him out of office, depending on the mood of the day. It happens to just about every president. It happens for some good and bad reasons. Crowd appeal is very shallow. Let us all be careful to get caught up in what seems to be group pressure for whatever the reason.
One day Jesus can be hailed as the Savior and the next 5 days be shouted at and spit upon and crucified.
We have a glimpse of another celebration that we find in Rev. 7:9 "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice. Salvation belongs to our God."
Palms branches were significant of celebration of victory, and religious expression that God was with them. Indeed he was and He is.
Pastor Dale
