Exposition by Max A Forsythe
I was particularly gratified this last week when the movie Braveheart won several Oscars. In the history of Scotland, William Wallace had to shed his blood so that King Robert Bruce could eventually gain the throne of Scotland. In the company of Bruce, history records that there was a Forsyth who was made Warden of Stirling Castle. Yes, I know, that position was little better than house manager, butler and janitor all rolled into one. But nevertheless my ancestor's were there for that great moment in history. It is one of those things that descendants are likely to remember. There is another tradition that is not as well remembered. There is some minimal evidence that Pontius' Pilate's mother was a Scot, and like the murderous Macbeth, he had a more historic role to play in the grand scheme of God's providence.
Why is it that a people are more likely to remember the great stories of their history than the tragic ones. Do you remember the old song: "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" What kind of people would we have been? Would we like the vast majority have welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem only to turn and demand His death all within a short week of providential events? I know which of the two events we would like to think we would have participated in. And perhaps, like many in the crowd at Pentecost we would have repented from any participation in demanding Christ's death for our sake.
We like they, certainly would prefer to wash our hands of Christ's blood and imagine that we would be found crying at the foot of the cross instead of shouting for His blood. But what do the Scriptures tell us? Perhaps a million people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. Many of course had no idea what on earth was going on. Some objected immediately, others plotted and planned. Now, we do not know how large was the crowd that gathered to shout "crucify him" later in the week. But we can be certain that the supporters of Jesus would be as scarce as Buchanan supporters are some weeks after New Hampshire.
The conquering hero that the crowd expected did not draw a sword to establish His Kingdom, no indeed - His Kingdom of the Spirit was different indeed. All of those who would fight for a material Kingdom would suffer and die for Jerusalem even while the Romans would pull down the very walls around their ears a short generation later. Yes, there is some glory to be won in human conflicts even as the French describe the lost cause of Napoleon or as southerners deplore their lost cause still today. Recently I joined a cyberspace group that shares an interest in things military. Their first email offering could have been easily written in 1867 Virginia. Do I dare tell that group about my ancestor entertaining the Confederate General Morgan while they had him locked up in the Guernsey County Jail?
After all is said and done, there is one lesson from history that every ethnic group must finally accept. The vain glory of military victory does not last for very long. Everything that men have fought for over the last five thousand years must be fought for again and again.
But, the victory that was won by Jesus Christ is for all time and eternity. Once for all He was sacrificed on the cross for our very own sins. Do you see the irony of the Palm Sunday welcome? "Welcome King Jesus", they cried even as they blessed Him who came in the Sovereign Name of our Father in heaven. But they thought He was a mere man come to defeat the Romans. He was defeated at the end of the week, crucified and lowered into a grave. The world went on its way little prepared for the miraculous delivery that our Christ would receive from the grave.
But the Lord is mighty, the Lord is all powerful and up from the grave He arose and the world has never ever been the same. The joyous parade that they would not give Him after He arose they gave Him before He died. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" they had shouted and then they forgot Him when He chose not to be what they expected. But the one rejected was the one least expected and their precious city would be destroyed because they did not recognize the time of God's coming.
Very many people today when they read this passage see only the man Jesus and the fact that He was God incarnate escapes them. If Jesus was only a man, He would not have been raised from the dead. God Himself came to Jerusalem town and His earthly citizens did not recognize Him. They missed the whole point of the holy history which pointed exclusively at the great day of the Lord's first appearing in the midst of His own people. May we, by the power of God's Holy Spirit, see Jesus as He is, was and will be: The Lord Almighty in our very midst. And may we learn to not only say - "Jesus is Lord" but go on to worship Him as One with the Father.
Resources Used:
Bentley, Michael. Welwyn Commentary Series: Saving a fallen world.
Morris, Leon. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: St Luke.
Schaefer, Francis. Everybody Can Know.
Places Preached:
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America)
Box 132049 -- Columbus, OH 43213-8049
Luk 19h 31 March 96
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