Who Is This Preacher?

April 8, 2001

Matt 7:28-29

by Mark Mullins

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (found in Matt. 21:1-12 and its parallels), with the "palm" imagery coming from the branches that were spread on the road for the occasion (21:8).  It's the beginning of the holy week that remembers the events leading to Jesus' death and resurrection.

It's amazing how quickly these things happened.  The crowd on this day is cheering Jesus into Jerusalem and proclaiming Him king; yet a few short days later, the same crowd, probably including many of the same people, is standing before Pilate shouting "Let him be crucified!" (27:23).

What happened between Sunday and Friday?  What transpired during the Passover feast that changed people's attitude toward Jesus?  I believe the crowd misunderstood Jesus and His mission when they stood along the road and proclaimed Him as king.

They saw Jesus as a political/military leader who finally would galvanize the Jews and lead them in overthrowing the Roman rulers in the region, so that they could regain their independence.  Jesus' popularity had grown so much in the hinterlands that people thought that He might just be the one that could do it.

The problem with political leadership is that it, by nature, plays on the immature desires of the general public.   No politician can remain popular or electable without doing this to some extent.  And Jesus was not willing to be a political leader.

So, his first act as the newly-crowned king was against one of the sacred cows of Judaism at that time--commerce in the temple (21:12-17).  And he did it during the most lucrative season of the year--Passover.   Similar outrage would be heard today if Jesus were to close down a shopping mall during December.

No political consultant would have recommended this course of action.  Church growth experts would have opposed this--and indeed, this action caused his 'congregation' to shrink from thousands to just a few.

But Jesus was on this earth for reasons other than to build a political dynasty, or even a large church.  He was here to save humankind, to give his life as a ransom for many (20:28), and ultimately to reign with true authority (28:18).  These things are only possible through a distinctly non-political kind of leadership--a kind of leadership that leads Him to a cross.

As you meditate on the kingship of Jesus, think about what kind of king Jesus should be in your life and in the life of our church.  Is Jesus mainly a political rallying cry, or does He change the way you think and the way you live?  What "sacred cows" does Jesus need to overturn in your life and in the life of this church?  How can I really mean it when I sing songs of praise to Him?  And as children of democracy, how can we get our minds around the idea of serving a king?