Doubting Thomas | A Sermon on John 20:24-29

Introduction
I was at a wedding this weekend, and two of the bridesmaids were twins—sisters I’ve known since they were in kindergarten. When they were kids, I could not tell them apart.  

I felt bad about it.  I felt like, as their pastor, I should be able to tell them apart.  Sometimes they would come for Holy Communion and I felt so bad I couldn't call them by name.  Sometimes I would try to play it off say Lauren and Lilly and serve them both together, but I'm sure I wasn't fooling anybody.  Other times I would just come clean and say “which one are you?”  They were always gracious.  I guess they were used to it.  

Now they’re 22, and it’s completely different.  I can tell exactly who’s who.  They still look similar, but there are subtle differences. 

I tell you all this because today, we’re going to read about a time the resurrected Christ appeared to His Disciples and the story involves a twin named Thomas.

Thomas’ name actually means ‘twin.’  It’s not certain that Thomas was a twin.  But his Aramaic name, Thomas, literally means twin.  And John also gives His Greek name, Didymus, which also means twin.  The most natural explanation is that he really did have a twin, even though the Bible never tells us who it was.  But I have a suspicion there are some of Thomas’ twins reading this right now--in the sense we share his doubting attitude from today’s Scripture. 

John 20:24-29
²⁴ One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),^[a] was not with the others when Jesus came. ²⁵ They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

²⁶ Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

²⁸ “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

“...Unless I See It”

All the other Disciples had seen Jesus (at the same time). And they told Thomas. Still, Thomas said “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

Now think about that. The Disciples were quite close. They'd spent at least 3 years living together as a tight-knit group—a band of brothers. They trusted each other. And they all witnessed the resurrected Jesus. But when they told Thomas they'd seen Jesus, Thomas said, “I won’t believe it unless I see it.”

Granted, their story was incredible, but still.  If 10 people I trusted with my life all told me something, I would at least consider it. But Thomas was a skeptic who wouldn't believe until he saw it with his own eyes and touched it with his own hands. 

There's a saying we use that seems to be obvious:  seeing is believing.  Of course that's true, right?  We think so, until we experience our eyes fooling us.

Can You Trust Your Eyes?
We want to trust our eyes. We think we can. But they're not infallible.  But you know who is?  Jesus.

One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5 says,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”  This verse reminds us that we should trust in the Lord more than our own understanding.  I have learned this with my wife. 

Men, have you ever opened the refrigerator and can’t find something? I do that all the time.  And I call out something like "Honey, where's the ketchup?"  And my wife will say, "It's right there in the door!"  And I will look in the door and for the life of me can't see it.  And I will say "It's not there!"  And my wife will sigh and walk to the fridge and reach in the door right in front of my face and grab the ketchup.  There's something about men that when the light of the refrigerator comes on, the power of our eyesight decreases exponentially.  We can see a deer in the woods 200 yards away, but we cannot see the ketchup in the fridge 12 inches away.

And our minds don't always work well either.  We know about cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer's where our mental function is degraded.  But it's not just these disorders that affect us.  Our thinking is often greatly affected by my emotions.  In the winter, when it is so dark outside, I get a mild case of the SADs (Seasonal Arrhythmic Disorder).  I get grumpy and my wife will remind, "Oh, you'll be fine.  It's just dark and cold outside and you don't like it and your grumpy.  Spring is coming and you'll feel better soon.

Also, if I really want something, my thinking is often affected by my broken sense of desire.  And yes, I am smart and well-educated.  But that also means, I can be really good at rationalizing my own actions (even when I’m wrong).  

So, we can’t completely trust our own eyes or our own thinking.  But we can trust the Lord.  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

Wesleyan Quadrilateral
In Methodist circles, we like to think of four main ways we know God’s Truth.  First and foremost, the foundation of everything, is Scripture.  We base everything we teach and do and believe on God's unchanging Word.  This is God's Truth and it does not changing with the fickle opinions of society.  Scripture is a firm foundation of timeless truh to build our life upon.  It is the primary way we know God and how He wants us to live.

Next, we have tradition.  These are the teachings, practices, and wisdom passed down through the Church over time. We are not the first Christians to wrestle with questions of faith—believers for centuries have studied Scripture, prayed, and sought to follow Christ. Tradition reminds us we are part of something bigger than ourselves. It helps guide us so we’re not trying to figure everything out alone or reinvent the faith.  But tradition must also align with Scripture.  And if we find tradition is contrary to Scripture, we should change it.

Third, we have reason.  God gave us minds to think, to question, and to understand. Faith is not blind—it engages our intellect. We use reason to study Scripture, to discern truth from error, and to make sense of the world around us. But we also recognize that our reasoning is limited. We don’t rely on reason alone—we submit it to God’s greater wisdom.

Fourth, we have experience.  This includes both our personal experience with God and the shared experience of the Christian community. It’s how we see God at work in our lives—through prayer, transformation, peace, and conviction—but also how we see Him working in others and in the life of the Church. When we gather for worship, hear testimonies, serve together, and witness God moving among His people, that shapes our understanding of Him.  But even here, our experiences—both personal and communal—must always be tested by Scripture, because experiences can be powerful, but they are not always perfect.

Thomas doubted Jesus was really alive, because the resurrection didn’t seem reasonable.  Furthermore, it was so far outside the realm of normal human experience (even though Thomas had experienced a human ressurection--Jesus raised Lazarus from a tomb after he'd been dead for four days).  

But Jesus didn't abandon Thomas in his doubts.  Jesus was gracious and merciful.  He met Thomas where he was.  Thomas said, “Unless I see it with my own eyes and touch it with my own hands…”  And Jesus obliged.  Eight days went by and Jesus came again.  And He said to Thomas,  “Put your finger here…  Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”  And Thomas believed.

The Blessing of Belief
Jesus also said something that applies to all of us today (becuase most of us never see the risen Jesus in the flesh the way the Disciples did).  Jesus said,
“Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Jesus often talked about faith—believing, trusting.
He said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.” (Mt. 17:20)  He was impressed by faith in people whenever He found it.

Faith is the foundation of a relationship with God.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Faith is so important.  And when we have faith without seeing, it is a true blessing.

Believing without seeing requires faith in who Jesus is.  It’s trusting His character, His Word, and His promises.

Believing without seeing grows stronger, more mature faith.  Seeing can convince you in a moment, but faith built over time produces endurance, trust, and spiritual depth.

Believing without seeing keeps us seeking and walking with God daily.  If we saw everything clearly, we might become complacent.  Instead, faith keeps us praying, seeking, and depending upon God day by day.

Believing without seeing leads to a greater reward.  Jesus calls it a blessing.  There is a special blessing reserved for those who trust Jesus when they can’t see Him.

Conclusion
What are you doubting today?  Maybe you are doubting if God is really there.  Maybe you have doubts about Jesus:  Did He really rise from the dead?  Is He really the only way?  Can I trust what the Bible says about Him?

Or maybe you have other doubts:  Is my faith strong enough?  Am I really saved?  Why didn’t God answer my prayer?  Does God actually love me?  Why do Christians act this way?

If you’ve ever had questions, if you’ve ever struggled to believe, then you have something in common with Thomas.  He’s kind of like your twin.  
Take courage.  Jesus didn’t reject Thomas for his doubt—He met him in it.
And I believe, Jesus will meet you in your doubts too—if you will let Him.

 

 

The Walk to Emmaus | A Sermon on Luke 24:12-34

Introduction
Last Sunday, we celebrated the wonderous resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.  The resurrection changed everything.  It was so unexpected, unprecedented, and momentous, it took time for the ramifications to sink in.  In fact, by Sunday evening of that first Easter, many of Jesus’ Disciples were still trying to figure out what had happened.  And for forty days, Jesus appeared numerous times to different groups on various occasions to confirm He really was alive and to teach what that means for the world.

Over the next 8-weeks, I’m going to share some of the stories of Jesus’ appearances and what they mean for us today.  The first is one of my favorites—the story of the Walk to Emmaus. …….

Luke 24:13-34
¹³ That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles^[c] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. ¹⁶ But God kept them from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. ¹⁸ Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

¹⁹ “What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. ²⁰ But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. ²¹ We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

²² “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. ²³ They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! ²⁴ Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. ²⁶ Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” ²⁷ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, ²⁹ but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. ³⁰ As they sat down to eat,^[d] he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

³² They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” ³³ And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, ³⁴ who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.^[e]”

The Walk to Emmaus Spiritual Retreat
There is a great modern day 3-day spiritual retreat named after this story called "The Walk to Emmaus."  I’ll be working as a chaplain on a the North Georgia Walk to Emmaus April 30-May 2.
If you are interested, I would be glad to talk with you about how you could attend WTE.  It had a tremendous impact on my life when I attend in 1996.

4 Things This Story Teaches Us
Now, back to our Scripture lesson about the original Walk to Emmaus.  It’s an incredible story. 
And it teaches us at least 4 things about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It really happened.  
The 2 Disciples left Jerusalem to walk to Emmaus (about 7 miles—2-3 hours of walking).  Why did they leave Jerusalem?  Scripture doesn’t say directly, but we can read some things between the lines.  In verse 21, they said, “We had hoped he was the Messiah…”  That’s past tense—like they aren’t sure they believe it anymore.  They were probably confused and overwhelmed.  They’d heard the women’s stories, but it doesn’t seem like they believed Jesus was really alive.  

Verse 17 says they were sad; but they may have been afraid too.  That would be a understandable.  The authorities who killed Jesus were probably keen on stamping out his following too  Anyone known publicly to follow Jesus could be in danger of reprisals.  So, the thought was probably, “Let’s get away from Jerusalem to somewhere safer.”

But then, Jesus shows up.  He’s not dead.  He’s alive.  They don’t recognize Him at first, but He’s alive!  The first thing this story teaches us is Jesus really did rise from the dead.  That’s important for so many reasons, but let me share 4.

1. It proves Jesus is who He said He is.  The resurrection confirms Jesus is the Son of God—not just a teacher or prophet.  Jesus is immortal and has power over death.
2. Second, it guarantees our forgiveness. The cross paid for sin, and the resurrection shows that payment was accepted.
3. Third, it gives us hope of eternal life. Because He lives, we will live also—death is not the end.
4. Fourth, it empowers our present life. The risen Christ is alive and active, giving us strength, purpose, and victory now.

The Resurrection was foretold in Scripture.
Another lesson from the Walk to Emmaus teaches is:  This was God’s plan all along; it was foretold in Scripture.  The death and resurrection of the Messiah was a surprise to the Disciples (to everyone really), but it was not a surprise to God or His Son.  The resurrection wasn’t a tragedy that got a positive spin.  It was part of God’s plan all along.  Scripture said it would happen.  So, it validates that God’s Word is trustworthy and true.

It proves Jesus is the promised Messiah.  The fulfillment of prophecy connects Jesus directly to God’s promises to Israel—He is the One they were waiting for.  The fact Jesus’ death and resurrection were foretold in Scripture shows God keeps His promises.  We can trust Him to keep every promise He’s made to us too—including the promise of our resurrection.

When we don’t recognize Jesus, He helps us see.
A third thing the Walk to Emmaus Story teaches us is:  Jesus helps us see Him.  Jesus wants to be known.  He wants us to know He alive and He is with us.  We often have trouble seeing it.  We’re often too busy, overwhelmed, afraid, sad, angry, or lonely to see Jesus.  But Jesus has ways to open our eyes.

Before you were ever thinking about God, He was already thinking of you.  He puts people in your life and lead you into situations that help reveal Him to you and help you see Him.

We see also from this story that God uses Scripture to help us see Jesus.  Scripture—rightly understood—is a powerful way we can understand Him.

Finally, we see that Holy Communion is a powerful way Jesus can open our eyes so we can see Him.  In the story, it was when Jesus broke the bread of Holy Communion that they knew it was the risen Christ with them.  The holy sacrament can open our eyes too.

Knowing Christ is with us empowers us.
A fourth lesson from our Scripture today is: Knowing the risen Christ is with us empowers us.  I want you to notice something.  These 2 disciples walk 2-3 hours to get to Emmaus (possibly running away in fear and disillusionment).  They had planned to spend the night in Emmaus.  We know this because of what they said to Jesus before they recognized Him.  They said, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” (verse 29).  But after recognizing the risen Christ, they were empowered and emboldened to go back to Jerusalem (even though it was already dark)!  No fear of bandits on the road or authority figures who might try to do them in.  They walked 2-3 hours back to Jerusalem in the dark!

One of the most powerful things Jesus did for me when I attended the spiritual retreat, The Walk to Emmaus, was open my eyes to Jesus presence every moment in my life.  Before The Walk, I already knew about Jesus, that He was alive, that He was my Lord.  But somehow, during my Walk, I realized and accepted deep down inside the true reality of His living presence with me.  I can't explain it, but now walking with Christ through life is a very real and powerful experience.  He really is alive and He is with me every day and it is empowering!

The same is true for you if you Jesus is your Lord.  And really knowing it will empower you to live like you have nothing to lose.

Closing Meditation
The two disciples in our Scripture didn’t recognize Jesus at first.  
Jesus walked with them a long time, but they didn’t know it was Him. 
But then something changed.  Scripture says, ‘their eyes were opened.’

I wonder how many of us are walking through life right now, and Jesus is with us, but we just don’t see Him clearly?

I want you to consider for just a minute.
Think about your life this past week.
Contemplate the moments you were too busy or felt overwhelmed.
Consider the times you were afraid or filled with worry.
Remember the moments you felt alone.
What if Jesus was right there with you then and you didn’t recognize Him?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, just like those disciples on the road to Emmaus, we don’t always see You.
But You are with us.  Open our eyes to Your presence, to Your truth, to Your work in our lives.
Help our hearts to burn within us again as we recognize You.
In Your name, we pray.  Amen.

Looking for the Living Among the Dead | An Easter Sermon on Luke 24:1-12

Introduction
Easter is the most important holiday of the whole year for Christians.  Jesus–the Son of God–was arrested, tortured, falsely convicted, and executed on a cross.  His body was hastily placed in a borrowed tomb, but on the third day, Jesus rose to life.  This is the foundation of everything for Christians. 

I want you to know, I believe in the resurrection.  I know Jesus is not dead.  I believe He literally got up out of the grave--a bodily resurrection.  It's not just a great story or an ideal to live up to.  I believe it really happened and it's the Truth I base my life on. 

I hope you believe too.  But if we really believe Jesus rose from the grave, it will change the way we think and live.  That’s what I want to talk to you about today.

Luke 24:1-12
¹ But very early on Sunday morning^[a] the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. ³ So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

⁵ The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? ⁶ He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man^[b] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

⁸ Then they remembered that he had said this. ⁹ So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. ¹¹ But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. ¹² However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Two Angels at the Tomb
The women found an empty tomb.  The stone was rolled away.  The body of Christ was gone.

Luke says, “Two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.”  These are clearly not men, but angels.  They resemble the angels Luke says appeared in heavenly glory at Jesus’ birth.  They also resemble Acts 1:10, where Luke also says “two men dressed in white” appeared when Jesus ascended to heaven

I also can’t help but think about the two cherubim God stationed at the entrance of the Garden of Eden.  Remember, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit and where kicked out of the Garden of Eden, God stationed two angelic figures (Cherubim) to guard the entrance so no one could re-enter.  Those two cherubim were later represented by the golden cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was considered by Jews to be the holiest place on earth and the very footstool of God.  But now 2 angels appear to the women at the empty tomb and say something incredible.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”  In a literal sense, the women were looking for a dead Jesus.  They came to anoint His body with burial spices.  This had not been done at His initial, hasty burial.  Remember, Jesus was crucified and died on a Friday afternoon.  They had to get His body off the cross and into a borrowed tomb quickly, before sunset when the Sabbath started and no work could be done.  So Christ's body had not been properly anointed for burial according to their traditions.

So the women had to wait until Sunday morning to come finish the burial ceremony.  As they approached the tomb, their thinking was completely focused on a dead Jesus, which was totally understandable.  The reality of what they found was so implausible, they couldn’t immediately comprehend the truth.  Their earthly minds struggled to make sense of it with the most reasonable explanations:  Someone has moved or stolen the body.  The authorities must have moved the body.

God knew resurrection would be so far from their thinking they would need help to see the truth.  So, God sent His angels to explain:  “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”  

Some people today still struggle to accept the resurrection.   A dead man coming back to life is incredible (in the literal sense of that word–not credible).  The entire history of human experience as well as modern science cries out as a witness that dead people do not come back to life–not in the way the Gospels describe Jesus’ resurrection.  And so many people cannot make the leap of faith to conclude Jesus rose from the grave as He said He would and as the earliest witnesses and the Bible say He did.

So, many people still look for Jesus among the dead.  What I mean is, they cannot accept that He really, literally rose from the grave and so they try to spiritualize the resurrection.  Maybe they see Christ rising from the grave as a symbol of hope, or a fresh start, or spiritual renewal—but not as a real resurrection that changes everything about how we live and think.  For them, the resurrection has “some” meaning, but they are still looking for the living among the dead—holding onto the idea of Jesus, while missing the reality that He is alive.

They want to find value in the Christian story—and in Jesus as an important religious figure—
without really believing the fundamental claim of Christ.  But if Jesus did not really rise, then the faith He gave us falls apart. It’s not just weakened—it’s false.

The Apostle Paul said it plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:14:   “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”  And he goes even further in 1 Corinthians 15:17:  “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”

On the other hand, there are many Christians who do believe Jesus truly rose from the grave, yet that reality has not fully transformed the way they think and live. They still turn to the dead things of this world, hoping to find the life and fulfillment that only the risen Christ can give.  

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in success, in comfort, in possessions—thinking if they just had a little more, they would finally feel full.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in approval, in relationships, in what others think of them—hoping someone else can give them the worth Christ already secured.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in routine religion—going through the motions without truly setting their hearts on Christ.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in distractions—keeping busy, staying entertained, avoiding stillness—because they’re not drawing from the life that is already theirs in Christ.

They believe Jesus is alive, but still live as if this world is where life is found.

They believe in the resurrection, but they haven’t yet learned to think like people who have been raised with Christ and live like people who have nothing to lose because Christ already won the ultimate victory.

Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
But that’s exactly what the resurrection offers us–a whole new way to think and a whole new way to live.  Paul said it like this in Colossians 3, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ… set your sights on the realities of heaven.”

Not someday you will be raised, but you have been raised.  That means the life you’re looking for is not found in the dead things of this world.  It’s found in a living Savior.  

So stop looking for life where there is none.  Stop searching among the dead, and start following the One who walked out of the grave.  Lift up your eyes!   Set your heart on Him!  Because Jesus is not in the tomb!  He is alive!

And if He lives then real life is found in Him.  Not later.  Not someday.  But right now!  So, let’s stop looking for the living among the dead.  And let’s stand together and celebrate the victory we have in Jesus, because He lives.

Closing Invitation
I want to give you this invitation.  Maybe you need to make a decision today.  Maybe you want to start following this Jesus who walked out of the grave.  You don’t have to understand.  The resurrection isn’t logical.  It doesn’t make sense.  It doesn’t follow the laws of nature.   But if God is real and Jesus is His Son, is anything impossible with God?  Maybe today, you just need to choose to have faith in God and His Son.  For then you will find, not just belief,  but life.  Life that is real.  Life that is full.  Life that is eternal.

So, stop looking for the living among the dead. Come to the One who is alive.  Close your eyes.  Tell God you believe, and ask Him to save you and give you new life in Christ.

Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem | A Sermon on Luke 19:28-40

Introduction
Just before Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He told a parable about a nobleman who was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. But his people hated him and said, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’  It seems, Jesus knew there were many people in Jerusalem who would not accept Him as the true Lord. They would cheer for Him, but they would misunderstand Him.  And when He didn’t live up to their expectations, they would crucify Him.

Luke 19:28-35
²⁸ After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. ²⁹ As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. ³⁰ “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

³² So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. ³³ And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

³⁴ And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

Jesus vs. Pilate
I want to pause here and point out a contrast we see.  There were two parades that happened that week.  The one not in Scripture, but known from history, is Pilates parade.  It was customary for the Romans to have a parade during religious festival times like the Passover.  This was a show of force that reminded the zealous Jewish crowds who was in charge.  It showcased Roman power with the obvious insinuation, "Don't forget, we are in control.  If you step out of line, we will put you back in your place by force."  Jesus rode on a donkey, but Pilate rode on a war horse, surrounded by armored soldiers and chariots.  Donkey's aren't rode into battle.  They're small and slow.  When a Jewish king came to a city in peace, he rode a donkey as a sign, because no one rides a donkey into battle.  They ride a war horse.  But Jesus came to Jerusalem in peace, on a donkey, to offer God's peace to Jerusalem.  That stands in stark contrast to the mighty and intimidating war horse of Pilate and the Romans.

Luke 19:36-40
³⁶ As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. ³⁷ When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

³⁸ “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”^[c]

³⁹ But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

⁴⁰ He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Palms and Cloaks
You may have missed it.  The Gospel of Luke doesn’t mention the use of palm branches on “Palm” Sunday for Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John all say the crowds had leafy branches or palm branches, but Luke focuses on how the crowd spread out their garments on the road ahead of Jesus.

Spreading your garments over the path of your king was an important symbolic act. 

In 2 Kings 9:13, people spread their cloaks in front of Jehu when was anointed the next king of Israel.  It was a common practice in many ancient Middle Eastern cultures.  It was a way to say,
“We will lay down our lives for you, our king.”  It’s a symbol of total submission; sort of like, “We submit to you completely.  You can walk all over us if you want.  You are our king.”

And so the people in Jerusalem say this of Jesus.  “We submit.  You are our king!”

But for many in Jerusalem, their submission was not unconditional.  It came with expectations.  They quote from Psalm 118:25 “Please, Lord, please save us!”  Which is the Hebrew expression “Hosanna!”  It literally means, “Save us now!”  

But, save us from what?

Try to imagine with me, who might be there in that crowd shouting hosanna.

The Overburdened Farmer
He has worked hard his whole life, but Roman taxes take most of what he earns. He can barely provide for his family, and every year feels harder than the last.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will drive out Rome and make life easier, not one who calls him to surrender his heart.

The Zealous Nationalist
He dreams of Israel being strong again like in the days of David. He’s angry, tired of foreign rule, and ready for a revolution.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will fight his enemies, not one who tells him to love them.

The Religious Insider
He faithfully works in the Temple and follows all the traditions. He takes pride in his knowledge and his place in the religious community.   “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will affirm his system, not one who exposes his heart.

The Weary Father
He is trying to hold his family together in a world that feels unstable and unsafe. He wants security, peace, and a future for his children.   “Hosanna! Save us now!” He wants a Messiah who will fix his circumstances, not one who asks him to trust God no matter what.

The Successful Merchant
His business is doing well, and he enjoys a comfortable life. Still, he worries about instability and wants protection for what he’s built.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”   He wants a Messiah who will secure his success, not one who might ask him to loosen his grip on it.

The Quietly Numb Believer
He still shows up. He still goes through the motions. But somewhere along the way, his passion has faded and his faith has grown cold.   “Hosanna! Save us now!” He wants a Messiah who will comfort him where he is, not one who calls him back to wholehearted devotion.

They all shouted the same words, but they were not all asking for the same kind of salvation.

Jesus Riding Into Jerusalem
Perhaps you can imagine yourself in that crowd–waving palm branches, spreading your cloak on the ground in front of Jesus as a sign of submission and allegiance.  We all want solutions to our problems.  Stress and anxiety, financial pressure, health problems, broken relationships, loneliness, guilt and shame, addiction, uncertainty about the future, lack of purpose, loss and grief…  It would be great if Jesus would deliver us now and on our own terms.

Jesus brings the answers—but not according to our plans or expectations.  He brings them on His terms. He is Lord. And when we surrender, we experience His Kingdom.  We find peace, even when life in this world is still hard.  And we hope that we will be made right with God and, ultimately, every broken part of our world will be made right too.

But many in that crowd chanting hosanna were not ready to truly welcome the Messiah.
Within a week, many would chant “Crucify Him!” and “We have no king but Caesar!” 

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
And so, Jesus enters Jerusalem and weeps in Luke 19:42-44, “⁴² “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.^[d]”

Closing
The crowd laid down their cloaks and shouted, “Hosanna!” But many were not ready to let Jesus truly be their King.  The question for us today as we clos is not what the crowd did, but it’s "what we will do."  Will we welcome Jesus as He is?  Or only as we want Him to be?

How will you respond to Jesus today?