READ: Luke 19:37-38
CHALLENGE: Experience Peace Through Christ, the King of Peace
What would Palm Sunday be without a few verses about the Triumphal entry of Jesus Christ? Jesus is a King and Jesus brings peace. There is a phrase that captivated my attention and completely commandeered this sermon.
Luke 19:37-38 – When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
That idea of saying peace in heaven really made me think and I’d like to talk about the concept of peace.
- OUR KING BRINGS PEACE TO OUR LIFE
It’s safe to say that if we have peace in heaven, we have peace on earth. And if there is peace on earth, there is peace available for our lives, right? And in an anxiety filled world, that seems very relevant. There is no sense in being stressed out or paralyzed by fear when Jesus is our king.
What is happening in this story? There were people flowing out of Jerusalem to meet Jesus and people following behind. What are they joyfully praising God about? They’re praising him for all the miracles they had seen. Jesus had recently raised Lazarus from the dead and that mind blowing miracle is the catalyst for much of this exaltation. Remember that beautiful story? Jesus delayed. Lazarus died. By the time Jesus got there, Lazarus had been in the tomb for 4 days yet, Jesus called and Lazarus came out of that grave!
This is one of the most profound miracles of Christ because it undid everything that the curse of sin had done to wreck Lazarus and take away his life. Even the decay and stink were removed by Christ. Death and everything associated with it was reversed. Lazarus experienced life anew. Jesus also reverses the impact of sin in our lives from the penalty to the power. He gives us new life.
And how did Jesus reveal Himself to the sister of Lazarus? John 11:25-26 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
I am the resurrection and the life and whoever believes in me will live and never die! This is the self-revelation of who Jesus is. He is the resurrection. He is the life. When you consider the role of God as a creator, life-bringer, sustainer, provider, and care-taker of this world, this is not a surprise. He’s always given life! Enough so that He sent Jesus to die on a cross so that we can have life and have it to the full.
This crowd was crying out to celebrate all of the life giving and restorative miracles that they had witnessed from Jesus Christ and they also reveal his true identity. He’s the king. The Pharisees object to all of this praise and Jesus said, if they don’t say it, the rocks will cry out. So, the revelation that came through the mouths of this joyous crowd of God-followers, is accurate. He is the king and we should acknowledge that! Peace starts there. We honor him. Follow him. Praise him.
They say, blessed in the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Thus, Jesus is not operating under his own authority, he’s operating in the name of God and that’s how he was able to raise Lazarus from the dead. He is the one, the Messiah. The long-awaited leader. While they wanted freedom from Rome, he brought freedom from sin. And therefore, the peace they most desperately needed.
Zechariah 9:9 – Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Jesus did great miracles and He also fulfills the Bible predictions about a coming king in the line of David. The wisemen knew by the stars that a king had been born and that star led them to Jesus. It all points to Jesus as THE king, the answer, the Savior of mankind.
They also cry out – peace in heaven and glory in the highest. How would you describe the triumphal entry? It’s a happy time. It’s exuberant and joyful. It’s clearly a feeling that reached the hearts of the people. When they cry out about peace, I have no doubt that they felt that as well.
I wonder how closely that lines up with what the angels said at the birth of Jesus Christ. Luke 2:14 – “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Both passages talk about glory in heaven. Both talk about peace. When Jesus came to earth, it was peace here. Now they pray about peace in heaven. It is remarkable to me because how could any human wish or pray for peace in heaven? I would assume there is definitely peace in heaven already and it doesn’t need my help. Does my prayer bring peace there? Hardly.
However, this exclamation acknowledges heaven as the source of peace. Perhaps we could look at it like this. If I go to look at my bank account and think, “Hope there is money in my account”! The reason I want there to be money in the bank is because there’s money that I can use. If I hope for cranberry pecan bread at the West Side Market at the Mediterra Bake House, I’m wishing it because that means I’ll get some of it. If we pray for blessing on the nation, we know that we experience that as well. Prosperity in the nation leads to prosperity for me.
Peace in heaven will mean peace on earth and peace on earth means peace in my life. Christ clearly has something to do with the peace that I experience and if that were not so, they wouldn’t be saying it.
What is peace? It’s an absence of hostility. It’s a calm that exists. Harmony. It’s fulfillment and satisfaction and contentment. Perhaps a sense that all will be well. I’m at peace with God and the world.
I heard a great illustration of peace. A church commissioned two artists to paint a picture that reflected true peace. One painted a beautiful landscape. The sun is falling softly on the ground below. The skies are blue. It’s peaceful and serene.
Another artist had a different idea. He painted a bird resting on a leaf as it floated on a pool of water beneath a thunderous waterfalls. That was the concept they went with. Peace is when everything around you is chaotic, yet you’re calm. It’s when times are uncertain but you’re certain and confident.
Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Did you notice the connection between peace and Christ! I love that old song, It is well with my soul – When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.
That’s peace in life through Christ. My encouragement would be to come to Christ.
B. OUR KING BRINGS PEACE BETWEEN US AND GOD
Ephesians 2:14-18 – For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
The only way there is peace between man and God is because of Jesus. When Jesus came into Jerusalem to the cheers of the adoring crowds, he was coming to be crucified so that he could reconcile all people to God through the cross.
Reconciliation is about removing a barrier of hostility that exists between parties. It goes from hostility to friendship. Jesus by dying would reconcile all people to God and that means the barrier that exists between man and God is removed by God. What was the barrier? The wall? The divider between us? Isn’t it sin?
Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
We all sin and that’s the roadblock. Like “the bridge is out” kind of roadblock. Down aways on Fobes Road you will come to the remaining abutments of the bridge that used to cross the road. It’s out so you cannot drive across the river unless you were to build a bridge there and connect the two shores.
We are disconnected from God. Much like if a limb fell out of a tree and tore the power line down and put you in the dark, without power. Sin knocked down the connection between man and God, salvation restores it, so the power from God can flow.
When Adam and Eve sinned, we went into the darkness. The God connection is restored through faith in Jesus Christ. The cross is the bridge between we sinners and a righteous God. It crosses the dreaded river of death and reconnects us with God. And that brings the greatest deliverance of all – freedom from sin.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:10 – For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
There was hostility between us and God. Jesus removes the barrier. If you ever had a broken relationship, it can get pretty icy! You have to remove the barrier. Relational barriers do not exist because of good behavior. I was so good that my wife can’t stand me!
So, you say you’re sorry. You quit doing what causes issues. You make amends and you gain forgiveness and then there can be peace. In our relationship with God there was hostility and Jesus went to the cross to pay for all our sins so we can have peace.
Paul said that Jesus preaches peace to those far away and perhaps that’s you today. You are trying to figure it out. You don’t know where you stand. You really need to understand one thing and that’s the cross. Your sins and problems go there and that’s where it starts.
He preaches peace to those who are near. They are the ones who live pretty decent but still don’t have faith in Christ. True peace can only come through Jesus Christ.
C. OUR KING BRINGS PEACE TO OUR HEARTS
Let’s go back to what we said last week. It’s not the dirt on your hands, it’s the dirt in your hearts. How can we have peace unless it’s in our hearts. Christ needs to have say in our heart.
- He Makes All Things New
Revelation 21:5 – He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He is making everything new and that’s the ultimate goal. At the Last Supper he initiated the New Covenant in his blood. This is where God remembers our sins no more and writes his own laws in our hearts. He’s engraving his laws not on a tablet of stone but on your very heart.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Clearly, Christianity is making things new. Doesn’t that include you? Jesus didn’t come to just do a work in a geographical place. He came to do a work in you. Peace comes when you shatter destructive patterns that have been bringing chaos and hurt.
We can relate to new things that actually work properly. I put a new lock on my back door. Keyless. Best idea ever cause I do on occasion lock myself out of my house. I get a new truck and I love some of the features. When you renew something and it works, it’s such a positive for you. That’s us spiritually.
If you are in Christ you are a new creature and there is peace there. I want you to be able to experience but that means we need to take the old out. Let’s great rid of the junk that doesn’t belong there.
- We Can Experience Newness with a Change of Heart
Mark 7:20-23 – He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Jesus points out that the heart is an issue and we need Jesus to be king there. What’s in your heart?
Luke 6:45 – “45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
There can be good or bad there. What’s in your heart and I’d like to explore that a little.
Sexual immorality
It starts in the heart with lust and evil desire. You can also resolve to be pure in your heart.
It grieves me how physical relations outside of marriage are an expected course of action in dating. Of course you’re going to be immoral. Why should that be the expectation placed on our young ladies. How about this – a man can have a young woman when he gets the dad’s permission to marry her and they get married! How about that?
How can a young man keep his way pure? By hiding God’s law in your heart. That’s how you do it. If you’re moral in your commitment inwardly, it will help outwardly.
He also mentions adultery as well. Jesus said that if we look lustfully, we’re becoming adulterers in our heart. Reality is that you see racy stuff on social media. Keep moving, you don’t want to fall into that.
I’ve seen how damaging it is when couples are not faithful. So, watch your communications. You build an emotional bridge and it becomes a physical one. Every woman is on the other side of the river and I don’t need to build bridges. You do that with being sweet, complimentary, and flirty. We bridges via texting, emailing, spending time alone together. The emotional connections leads to the physical and it’s always the way of it.
Keep the consequences in view and just stay away from all the junk. There’s always going to be temptation. What are you thinking about? Don’t entertain the thought.
Theft and Greed
Theft is taking what doesn’t belong to you and it starts in the heart. You aren’t content with what you have. So you take what you have no right to.
If I put something at the end of the driveway, by all means, take it. If it’s in my barn or home, no! I don’t even understand the thinking that thinks it’s OK to take away from other people. Especially when you’re going to reap what you sow.
Murder and Malice
Jesus reminded us to guard ourselves against anger as well. And malice is the desire to hurt another human. This is obviously not a healthy way to think. Don’t wish ill on other people.
Life has intrinsic value and perhaps we need to regard other people from a higher standard. We’re not allowed to take life because humans are made in the image of God. Life has incredible value. So we can’t be racists. We can’t hate people or hurt people because we’re hurting God.
Deceit and Slander
One of the 10 Commandments is that we don’t bear false witness. We don’t deceive people.
It’s the truth and the truth will set you free. If you want to be good friends with people make sure that you’re telling the truth. I don’t believe in saying everything that I’m thinking but I do believe in honesty.
Slander is saying bad things about people. It’s not for us to spread bad reports but we might. We’re not here to assassinate people’s character and it’s easy to do if we’re not careful.
But do we hold to lies in our hearts and believe things that are not true.
Lewdness – Unrestrained shameless living. I can do what I want, when I want. Get drunk, party on, nothing matters. Well, it does matter. Even that is a heart issue.
Envy
Envy is wanting what other people have! Ecclesiastes talks about envy of your neighbor as incentive for so many things. Be content with what you have and be content in your heart. Not that you cannot improve your situation or strive for excellence. I just can’t do it because I’m jealous.
Arrogance
This might be one of the most dangerous ones of all. You think you’re better. You’re like the Pharisee who thanks God that he’s not as bad as someone else.
Pride has got to be one of the most dangerous issues there can be. You don’t feel like you need to listen. You don’t have anything to learn. And you become stuck.
If you’re a know it all, check your pride. And if you’re on a team, check your pride.
Folly
Folly is sensless living. They all come from the inside. Now if these things are inside, you see where the problem lies. This is where Jesus comes into play.
Jesus is the one who sends the Holy Spirit and plants the orchard of the Holy Spirit in the space where all this junk is growing.
Did you hear that Ashtabula is getting a zoo? Yeah, right on Woodman Ave. They’re going to take a blighted area and have lions and giraffes. Now, this isn’t true, but if it were. Yeah, obviously if you can put something in there that’s better – that’s wonderful
At the end of the day, we worry about what we wear and how we look but that’s nothing compared to the heart. Let’s allow Christ it rein in our hearts.
CONCLUSION:
How important is peace in your life? Let’s start with the gospel and Jesus Christ.