“Jesus, Rule over Me”

Mathew 21:1-11

The legend says that on the Monday after Palm Sunday the donkey used by Jesus walked through the same street as the day before. It looked forward to see the crowd again. It looked forward to meet the joyous noisy parade. It looked forward to walk one more time on the soft clothes, carpets and palm branches placed on the rough road. Where were all those people?

“Listen you all. Here I am the same donkey. I am the one Jesus requested and used. I am the one the disciples came and took from my owner. I am the one who carried Jesus on its back…. Where are you all? How come no one pays any attention to me this morning?”

The story says that this donkey went to its mother in tears and its mother reminded it a very important lesson: “Son, you were the one who were chosen to be in that parade, but remember that people were not cheering you, but the one who was riding on you, the King, Jesus the Messiah.”

It is Palm Sunday. It is a victorious Sunday. It is the Sunday of trumpets and drums, the parade and the crowd, the joy and the shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (9)

These are the words of Zachariah the prophet. The expression “Son of David” is not used for any person but the Messiah. These words are words of salvation. Does this mean people saw Jesus as the Messiah? What can we learn from the participants of this parade?

- Obviously not everyone understood what was going on. In verse 8, we read that there was a large crowd who spread their cloaks, put their best on the road and shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David.” But also we read in verse 10 that the whole city asked “Who is this?” I am not sure everyone understood what was going on.

Even today not everyone understands and knows Jesus. We read that 80% of the US population says they believe in Jesus, but only 40% attends church services. I am not sure of those 40% how many seriously dig in the Bible, try to learn more about Jesus and live Christlike lives. It is like the university student who gets an A+ in his ethics course by cheating in the final examination.

Last Saturday morning when I was visiting Glendale California, a young man rang the bell of the house we were staying at. I looked at him. I knew that he was a Jehovah’s Witness. In his hand he held a book like a Bible and a flyer inviting to their services. I opened the door and politely told him I am a pastor and I don’t agree with their teaching. He left unhappy. I felt bad that such a young man doesn’t know Jesus, or he thinks that he knows Jesus.

-When we consider the religious leaders of the day, we think that they know Jesus. On the contrary, they don’t know Jesus and they don’t want anyone to know Jesus. We read, “But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.” “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”(15-16)

They wanted everyone to be silent. It reminds me of today when people tell us to keep silent about Jesus. We want us to be silent about declaring our faith. People may be offended by our declaration. I believe we should be wise in knowing when and how to declare Jesus in the market, in our schools and in our businesses; yet we need to be BOLD in not being silent where our declaration should be heard.

Jesus said, "But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:33) NKJV

We will continue in English.