“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:9). Amen.
This is not English class. So don’t get too excited (either good or bad – I don’t want anyone to start to smile brightly or begin to sweat profusely). Let’s talk about an adjective. It is a word that modifies a noun. It defines it—what a person or thing is like.
Maybe it is easier if we try an example. Think of this coming week and your calendar. How would you describe it? Here are some suggestions:
• A simple week—not really any things to deal with—like only having to decide where to go out to eat. (That would be nice, wouldn’t it? [both the eating out and limited concerns])
• A moderate week—a few things to take on—like one issue at school or at work every other day, but for the most part manageable.
• A hard week—a lot of things to attend to and you don’t know where to start. (That may be normal.)
We all have had weeks that fit into those categories—simple, moderate, or hard. Those are all adjectives.
What about the next seven days for Jesus? We can stick with the normal designation. It is a holy Week. Holy because it is separate from, set apart from all the others. It is indeed special—from Sunday to Sunday, with Jesus entering the capital city on one end and exiting a borrowed tomb on the other end. We even put informative words in front of the days—Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
We head into this important week today. Welcome the King of glory who brings wonderful blessings for us and who deserves joyful praises from us. We read from …
Psalm 24:1-10
Dear Members of Christ’s Kingdom,
It is this way for me at least. You too probably. Nobody really notices when we are out and about. We can go to the store and there is no paparazzi snapping pictures. There are no reporters asking questions. We can come and go as we please without a lot of fuss or fanfare. The most that we might muster up is a wave from a cashier when we walk in or smile from a worker when we walk out. And that is fine. Who cares what groceries we are buying or what clothes we are wearing?
It is different for celebrities and stars. There is no missing them as a crowd gathers around them and gawks at them. There are excitement and enthusiasm. It was that way for Jesus as he arrives in Jerusalem. We join the psalmist David as we celebrate this day (Ps 24 introduction).
Welcome the King of Glory
1. Who brings wonderful blessings for us (1-6)
2. Who deserves joyful praises from us (7-10)
1. Who brings wonderful blessings for us (1-6)
Perhaps grandkids can get away it when grandma and grandpa come. But I don’t know how good that it would make a guest feel if we opened the door with “Ok, what do you have for me?” Not really a great greeting. But Jesus comes bearing gifts. Welcome the King of glory who brings wonderful blessings for us.
The King of glory has the ability and capability to bless us.
He is the Owner of all things. David is emphatic. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Ps 24:1). To him belong every item and every individual—starting with what we can see and stretching to what we cannot. And then everything in between. The Lord is not limited or only local. And he operates out of love. Jesus rules with all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18).
He is the Creator of all things. “For he founded it on the seas and established it upon the waters” (Ps 24:2). Jesus was present at creation as the planets were fixed and the flowers were planted like when a builder puts down the foundation of a building and puts up the walls (Jn 1:3,4). Jesus continues his control even though sin wrecks and Satan ruins. He is still the head of the Church (Eph 1:20-23).
But with those credentials or qualifications—Owner and Creator, David poses an interesting question in regard to the coming King: “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?” (Ps 24:3). Are you brave enough to march up to him? Are you bold enough to make your way to him? You can be if you meet the four criteria:
• “He who has clean hands” (Ps 24:4). This is not a mommy who speaks to her son who has been coloring with magic markers: “Did you wash your hands? Show me them.” This refers to hands that are free from guilt or blame, not smudges or smears. Innocent. You? Me?
• “He who has … a pure heart” (Ps 24:4). Thoughts and intentions that are without perversion. We picked them out as a child removes crust from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That is absent from us? You? Me?
• “Who does not lift up his soul to an idol” (Ps 24:4). There is always and only single and sincere allegiance to God—no one and nothing kicking him out of first place—our own pleasure or the latest technology, another person or the greatest toys. The worthless stuff replacing the Worthy Savior. You? Me?
• “Who does not … swear by what is false” (Ps 24:4). It is just the truth that crosses our lips. You? Me?
Who is going to go up or go before the King? We would rather be gone from him than be glad because of him. But that is not what is what the prophet Zechariah encouraged for God’s people. “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you” (Ze 9:9). He comes to you and he comes for you.
And in fulfillment of God’s promise. Matthew highlighted that as Jesus sends his disciples for a royal requisition of a definite donkey (Mt 21:2,3). “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet” (Mt 21:4). And notice him:
“See, your king comes to you, righteous” (Ze 9:9). Jesus was right—in line with God’s standard of perfection. No sin. Not ever. Not once. But righteous is not just who he is, but also what he gives—righteousness (Je 23:6). He removed our guilt and replaced it with his holiness (2 Co 5:21).
“See, your king comes to you … having salvation” (Ze 9:9). He took up our sins by taking them to Calvary. We celebrate that this Friday. From the pen of the apostle Paul: “He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Php 2:8). That is where and that is when he bore our sin to bring us to himself. He crushed Satan’s head and conquered sin (Ge 3:15). He rescued us.
Now God can deliver to us what he demands of us. David declares: “He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior” (Ps 24:5). Everything is in order between us and God because of Jesus. The Lord in his love clears our account of anything and everything against him. And that is why Jesus gets on that beast of burden with determination and rides on, rides on in majesty (CW 133). He knows what is ahead—death and resurrection. All for us. We join all those before us and even after us: “Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob” (Ps 24:6). Like Jacob, God blesses us by bringing us into his family (Ge 32:26). Welcome the King of glory who brings wonderful blessings for us—there are clean hands and pure hearts, souls that are fit and words that are fine. That is worthwhile to consider (Ps 24:6—Selah).
2. Who deserves joyful praises from us (7-10)
Possibly a visitor does bring a token or a trinket when they walk into our homes. Again, I doubt that a good response would be, “What? Is that all?” That borders on tactless. There might instead be a “thank you” or a “this is nice.” We react the same with Jesus. Welcome the King of glory who deserves joyful praises from us.
Two times David invites all God’s people and us to meet the monarch. “Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (Ps 24:7,9). The repetition is for stress. This is not something out of fear, but in faith as the conquering hero comes. The entrances of the city are to be thrown wide open to receive him.
It was that way on that initial Palm Sunday. The disciples placing their cloaks on the donkey as a makeshift saddle (Mt 21:7). The people joining in the festivities—their garments and tree branches on the road. That was an early red carpet treatment. And those shouts of happy acclaim from those in front and those behind. We add our voices to the mix as we look back at the King who has come on that day and look ahead to the King who will come on the Last Day.
We got to listen in to some of the chants: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Mt 21:9). He is here—the Promised One from David’s line, the Messiah, the Christ, to serve and to save. And that is what “hosanna” means: “Save now, I pray.” And Jesus did.
It is more than just an idle wish. Because of the recipient of our joyful praises:
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” (Ps 24:8). Jesus came to fight for us and free us from the devil. And he did on the cross. The victory is his. And now it is ours (1 Co 15:57).
“Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory” (Ps 24:10). He is over every force in heaven and on earth. He is all-powerful and his reign is universal.
It doesn’t hurt to get ahead of ourselves. This is not like an overconfident team celebrating a win before the final buzzer. Actually we confess it in the Apostles’ Creed all the time. Jesus died—included in that is all the suffering he had to endure and experience. We have been replaying that as we read the Passion History—betraying and denying, mocking and ridiculing, whipping and crucifying.
But Jesus rose—included in that is all the reverence that he is afforded and offered. We will return here next Sunday as we will relay the same message. As Paul mentioned, God lifted Jesus up. And honored his name, the very name that means “Savior”—Jesus (Mt 1:21). And “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Php 2:10). Some do it out of terror. We do it out of trust. Welcome the King of glory who deserves joyful praises from us—both right now and forever. He has saved us. That is valuable to contemplate (Ps 24:10—Selah).
Maybe you have no idea what adjective to put in front of your week. It can range from painless to stressful. We do know what kind of week Jesus has in store. A Holy Week. A week unlike any other. (That sounds as if I stole the tagline from the Masters golf tournament. But that is “a tradition unlike any other.”) One of the golfers might go by us unnoticed. We don’t want to do that with Jesus. Welcome the King of glory who brings wonderful blessings for us and who deserves joyful praises from us. He helped us and we hail him. Happy Palm Sunday. Happy Holy Week. Amen.
“Hosanna! … Blessed is the King of Israel!” (Jn 12:13). Amen.
April 9, 2017
Of David. A psalm.
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas and established it upon the waters.
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty—he is the King of glory. Selah
No comments:
Post a Comment