Who Is This?

I preached this sermon at Kurume Christ Church on April 9th, 2017, Palm Sunday.

Matthew 21:1-11

Today is Palm Sunday, a day of mixed emotions. We’ve been in the Lenten season for several weeks, a time when we are encouraged to ponder our own shortcomings, our own sin. Lent is a time when the church historically focusses on the personal answer to the question, why did Jesus have to die on the cross. Followers of Jesus are pushed to re-examine the painful fact that each one of us is a living example of why Jesus’ death was necessary. As such it isn’t a very happy season to say the least. But then today we come to Palm Sunday, a brief pause in the somber mood of Lent. Today we remember and celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He was welcomed as a king. A huge celebration broke out. People lined the streets, showering him with praise. One can’t help but be reminded of victory parades that take place whenever champions return from sporting victories. Championship baseball teams, medal winning Olympic athletes, and tournament winning sumo wrestlers all have victory parades. Of course the modern version usually involves an open convertible car driving down a busy street with lots of confetti in the air. Jesus’ victory parade into Jerusalem is different in significant ways. It appears that it was not planned, but rather happened spontaneously. And the means of transportation chosen by Jesus was intentionally humble, unlike a fancy open convertible. Yet the celebration that occurred is similar to any victory parade. In a sense, parts of our weekly worship are modeled after this seemingly spontaneous victory parade that took place on the road into Jerusalem two thousand years ago. We sing, in some churches we even shout our praises for Jesus. And look at the words the people were shouting. READ v.9 “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Many of our hymns include similar words. So Palm Sunday is a day when our worship tends to be celebrative and upbeat! Some churches even include the palm branches that people waved and spread on the road. Today is a day of joyous celebration, when we offer our heartfelt praises to our king, Jesus Christ. But as I said at the beginning, Palm Sunday is a day of mixed emotions. Of course we all know that next Sunday, Easter Sunday, is the greatest celebration in the Christian year. So perhaps Palm Sunday is a sort of warm-up for an even greater celebration. But the mixed emotions come from knowing that the days between today and next Sunday are the most painful and torturous days of the Christian calendar as well. We are entering passion week, when we follow the steps of Jesus toward his death. Passion week painfully takes us thru Jesus’ journey of being betrayed and denied by his own disciples, his arrest, his profoundly unfair trial, and his tragic murder by crucifixion on a cross. Yes, today is a day of mixed emotions.

As I read thru Matthew’s account of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem many things stood out, but in particular I was captivated by the words of v.10 READ v.10 On the one hand Jesus’ followers and fans were joyfully proclaiming who they believed him to be. READ v.9 & 11 But at the same time many throughout the city were asking, “Who is this Jesus?” It would seem that the two sides weren’t really talking to each other or having much meaningful communication. Strangely similar to our situation today, isn’t it? In our worship we proclaim with great conviction and joy who we believe Jesus to be. We do so in song, we do so in prayer, and we do so in our confessions of faith such as the apostles’ creed. And yet we are surrounded by a world where many are asking, “Who is this Jesus?”. We have our own answer but for some reason it doesn’t resound very loudly or convincingly in the ears and hearts of those who continue to ask the question. Asking that question can mean different things for different people. Some ask derisively, almost mockingly. “Who do you think you are anyway” is a common way of putting someone down. For those people the idea that Jesus is anything more than a man who falsely aroused the interest and hopes of people seems ridiculous. After all, in the end those hopes were dashed and nothing his followers anticipated actually happened. No rebellion against the Roman occupation, no toppling of the emperor, and no new king for Israel. The modern counterpart to those people are individuals who believe all of us Jesus followers are once again being fooled. We claim Jesus is the son of God, we believe he loves us and died for us, and we set our hopes on his glorious return. The cynics say, “Good luck with that!” Wait as long as you like… you’re just deceiving yourselves, pinning your hopes on something that will never come true.

For others the question may be one of genuine interest. The news of Jesus had spread quickly in Jerusalem. Reports of his miraculous deeds and insightful teaching were everywhere. There were probably many in the city who weren’t ready to throw their robes on the road for him and sing his praises; and yet were genuinely curious. They found the whole spectacle intriguing and wanted to know more so they asked, “Who is this Jesus?”. Isn’t it the same today? Nation-wide polls here in Japan have shown that many people, especially young people have a genuine interest in Jesus Christ and Christianity. In fact the percentage of young people who say Christianity is their favorite religion is something like 8 or 10 times higher than the percentage of young people who actually join the church. Lots of people are seriously interested in knowing more about who Jesus is. Several years ago in a small church in Gunma we started a gospel choir. Our Sunday worship saw about 15-20 people on average, but our gospel choir practice on Saturday night was regularly attended by about 50! Most of them were not Christians and most of them were young. What fascinated me the most was their openness to Christianity. During our practices we would regularly open and close with prayer. We openly talked about the meaning of the lyrics and their source in the bible. No one ever complained about any of that. In fact I was frequently asked by these interested non-Christians to pray with them or for them when they were facing difficult situations. They really wanted to know the answer to the question, “Who is this Jesus?”

Then there were those in Jerusalem for whom the question was simply an expression of disinterest. For them the question was just another way of saying, “I don’t care. I’m not interested.” People who would idly stand by while Jesus was nailed to the cross for crimes he didn’t commit. Sadly today’s society is filled with similar people. In fact I would suggest that this is probably the largest group. People who just don’t think Jesus has anything to do with them. People who are too occupied with other things to even take the time to think about Jesus.

So here we are today, proclaiming our reply to the question of who Jesus really is. That’s a beautiful thing, and I believe it brings joy to God’s heart. But at the same time we are surrounded by those who continue to ask the question. My concern is whether we actually hear them or not and how we reply. I’ve been painfully forced to hear the question by some of the people that are closest to me. Even my own children ask the question. They have asked me, “who is this Jesus” when people who claim to be his followers do horrible things. Those so called followers don’t treat others with love, respect and dignity. Especially women, people of color, or the LGBT community. And they vote to put politicians into office who continue systems of oppression against the weak and needy. Who is this Jesus? I’ve been asked by my own children, who is this Jesus? I’m too busy living my life to devote lots energy to spending time with other folks who call themselves Christians. Especially since I don’t have much in common with those people. Almost none of my close friends are among those people. Who is this Jesus? My children have also asked me, Who is this Jesus? What right does anyone have to claim that their faith is the only true faith. How can we discredit the genuine faith and religious practices of so many people in the world when they are just as devout and well intentioned as us? Who is this Jesus? I am asked the same question by a whole generation of young people in the U.S. who look at that society and shake their heads. They ask, who is this Jesus? The very people who claim to be his followers end up bitterly divided along racial lines as shown in the most recent presidential election. Especially those who call themselves evangelicals. Statistics show that 81% of white evangelicals voted for the current president, while only 15% of non-white evangelicals did so. Who is this Jesus? In Japan perhaps people are asking, who is this Jesus who fails to attract even 1% of the population? Or who is this Jesus who historically came to us thru invading enemy forces; first thru the colonizing Europeans in the 16^th century, then thru Admiral Perry and the U.S. navy, and then again thru the occupation forces after WWII? Or “who is this Jesus, whose evangelists tell us we can’t do the things we’ve always done, like honor our ancestors?”

Jerusalem was in turmoil because something unusual was happening. People were asking, “Who is this Jesus?” The people with Jesus replied, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” But what I find fascinating is that the question was not seen by Jesus as an opportunity to explain the answer. In fact, when the question was put to him by a ruler who arrested him and had the power to decide his fate, Jesus chose to remain silent! Events were unfolding that would continue to capture the attention of the people. And while many continued to ask the question, Jesus’ followers shouted out their answers. As followers of Jesus, we continue to answer the question as did those people celebrating his arrival in Jerusalem. This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee!

But for many this will not be a convincing answer. So what did Jesus do in the face of so many people asking the question? Jesus simply proceeded to enter the city and face the task ahead. It was a task of monumental importance, one that would include his arrest, torture and death on the cross. His actions would be characterized by complete sacrifice, humility and a deep love for all of humankind. And what he was about to accomplish would open the door for all of humanity to be reconciled with God and one another. In other words, the full answer to the question is found in Jesus’ actions, not in the words of his followers, as theologically correct as they may be.

So while we continue to answer the question with words that we boldly and gladly repeat here in this place of worship, for our answer to be more Christ-like, we also need to make sure that our words are accompanied by actions. Actions that are in sync with those of Jesus Christ. Actions that are a continuation of the work Jesus did here on earth. Jesus actively sought out those who were weak and needy. When we encounter people who have been cut off from society by circumstances beyond their control, we are called to show them the love of Jesus Christ in ways that will bring them back into community. When we encounter people who have been struck by natural disasters we are called to flock to their aid, using all the resources we have to meet their needs. When we encounter people who have been victimized by systems of oppression, not only are we called to meet their immediate needs, but we are called to combat, dismantle and replace those systems of oppression. These are the actions that, accompanied by our verbal proclamations of faith, provide the full answer to the question, “Who is this Jesus?”. We proclaim that Jesus is our king… so let’s behave like his followers. Let’s continue the work he began here on earth. Let’s work for the establishment of his kingdom here on earth. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen