Message - Today marks the start of Holy Week. Many Christians transition from "Hosanna" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" to next Sunday's declaration of "Christ has risen! He has risen indeed," often missing the essence of the week. It's like eating an Oreo cookie without savoring the middle. If we do this, we overlook Jesus cleansing the temple of those who exploit the poor in God's name, emphasizing, "My house will be a house of prayer." Jesus did not say that the church should be a house of preaching or even music, but rather a house built on a relationship with God in prayer. How is your prayer life? Really, how is it? If we just rush to next Sunday, we miss Jesus' betrayal by Judas, Peter's denial of Jesus, and significant portions of Jesus’ teaching. We overlook the Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the communion service, and his act of humility in washing his disciples' feet. Most importantly, we overlook the significance of the cross. Missing the cross means missing the essence of Christianity. When the world killed the king of kings, and we recognize our voices in the crowd that simply wants the status quo. We want a messiah but on our terms. Don’t rush through this week. On Friday, we will hold a solemn service, focused on contemplating the sacrifice made for each of us. During the service, we will reflect on Jesus' last words on the cross. This week earns its title of "Holy" for a reason; it holds profound importance for every Christian. As Jesus makes his final journey to Jerusalem, often termed the Triumphal Entry, there is a palpable energy. Last year, during baseball championships, I was on a train among passionate fans of the Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffalos. You could feel the energy and excitement as both teams vied for the championship in their fans. Jerusalem would have been similar or even more energetic. Jesus, having recently raised Lazarus from the dead, now approaches Jerusalem amidst heightened anticipation of what this young rabbi was going to do. It is interesting Christian’s call this Palm Sunday or The Triumphal Entry. The triumphal entry comes from Roman culture when a general would achieve a great victory they would be paraded in Roman and proclaimed a god. (small g). Jesus has not achieved his greatest victory yet (that happens on Friday) but Jesus never needed a parade to proclaim he was one with the Father. He simply was. I and the father are one and because of that and what he did on the cross we have won. While on their way, Jesus instructs two disciples to find a young donkey in an upcoming village. We know that the donkey had never been ridden but was to be brought to Jesus. Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” We know that this donkey was about 3 years old, as it is unsafe to ride a donkey before the age of three. Just imagine, as Jesus began his earthly ministry, this donkey was born in preparation for this day. God provides. When Jesus needed to pay the temple tax, he sent Peter fishing, and from the mouth of a fish, he pulled out two coins. (Remember, Jesus was paying the temple tax, and the temple was his father’s house.) It's like going to my mother and father-in-law's house for a meal and then getting a bill for the meal when I leave. This donkey, which had never been ridden before, was to be brought to Jesus. They were told not to seek permission but to simply respond if asked why they were taking the donkey that did not belong to them by saying, "The Lord needs it." This is kingly language, and Jesus is fully embracing his identity as Lord. A king or lord in those times could walk up to anyone and take their property by simply saying, “The Lord needs it.” the person would give it to them. But usually, those servants of the king looked like servants of the king, not like fishermen. I discussed getting palm branches with Ted for today's celebration. He looked for a bunch of palm branches at stores but had a challenging time finding them. (Thanks, Ted.) I visited Ted's house a few weeks ago and actually saw a palm tree in Ted’s neighborhood. I told Ted we need those palm branches, so Ted climbed over his neighbor's fence and cut them down. He did just as I told him. I said if asked by the owner what he was doing, I told him to say, “Mark needs them.” This is a picture of Ted after the conversation with the owner of the palm tree. Just to be honest, only half of that story was true. But what is 100% true is that God provides. About the donkey. Most new items are worth more than used items. Go to Second Street store and you can get almost brand-new clothing for 50% to 70% off. Not with a donkey or horse. At an auction, a broken horse that can be ridden is far more valuable than a horse that has not been broken. Jesus rides this donkey for a day and returns it more valuable than when he got it. There's a spiritual truth here: when we offer something to God—our time, talents, or resources—God will return those gifts imbued with greater value. Jesus needed this specific donkey, but by and large, God does not need anything. He doesn’t need me. He does not need you. God is self-sufficient. But God finds joy in being in being in relationship with us and being with us. He desires nothing more than to walk with us in the cool of the evening just like he walked with Adam and Eve so long ago. It is not true to say, “God needs me”; instead, “God wants you.” He wants you so much that he was willing to purchase your sins back with his blood (Isaiah 53:5): “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.” Let me show you a video of how we should respond when we are called! The parallel between Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and King David's procession with the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6 is striking. David's exuberant worship, though criticized as undignified, reveals the depth of his joy in God's presence. Don't let anyone steal your joy; the world has enough challenges. Jesus reminds us not to worry about tomorrow's troubles, for today has enough of its own. That is why it is so important to embrace moments of joy. Jesus sends the disciples on a mission, instructing them to untie a never-ridden donkey with the simple declaration, "The Lord needs it." We are all tied to something. Some things are healthy and good to be tied to. When I am tied to something good like my relationship with God, my care for my family, my faithfulness to my call, I tie a double knot so that nothing will slip. But when I am tied to things of this world pride, image, extra I ask God to give me the strength to untie these things and give them to God. Do you know? Have you not heard? That we were given the authority and the power and privilege as believers and followers of Christ to not only bind but to loosen (Matthew 16:19), not only on earth but also in heaven. As long as they are in accordance to the will of God. When you praise God fully, you will face resistance. King David faced criticism from his wife Michal for his exuberant worship, echoing the Pharisees' attempts to silence Jesus' followers on Palm Sunday. Jesus rebukes their efforts to silence their worship, suggesting that even if he tells them to be silent, it will not do any good because creation itself will erupt in spontaneous praise. Jesus says the rocks will start praising God if the people are silent. I do not think the stones, inanimate objects, will speak. Maybe I am wrong. I wouldn’t believe a donkey could talk, but one did in the Old Testament (Nub 22). I think the stones that Jesus is talking about are the tombs that line the path to Jerusalem. Each tomb had a verse or scripture on it. Jesus is saying that these tombs speak of who he is. Not only the words on the tombs speak of God’s faithfulness that is now being fulfilled in Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, but if worse comes to worse, the faithful who have fallen asleep will rise and testify to who Jesus is. Because the dead know! That is one reason why on Friday when the curtain of the temple that separates the holy from the ordinary was ripped, not by man’s hands which would be from bottom to top, but God ripped it from top to bottom. And the dead walked the streets (Matthew 27:52). If we forget our duty and joy to celebrate the Lord, the dead will not. As the people in raptured joy celebrate Jesus, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. The donkey knew what his job was and did it with the Lord sitting on his back, but the City of David, the people of God, forgot their purpose, which was to be ready to welcome their king, and they turned on Jesus in just three days. Because of that, Jesus saw the consequences of their disobedience and longed to gather them in like a mother hen gathers up her chicks to protect them, but the people made their choice. They wanted Barabbas. Hopefully, when Jesus comes again, we will not. Let me say it again the Lord does not need me. But he wants me. Let’s pray.
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