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Sunday, March 24, 2013

sermon, "Here Comes Jesus Riding on a Donkey", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013, Suncook United Methodist Church


March 24, 2013
Palm Sunday
Worship Theme: Behold Your King
6th Sunday of Lent
Luke 19:28-40 New Living Translation
Philippians 2:5-11 the Message Bible

“Here Comes Jesus Riding on a Donkey”

A reading from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 19, verses 28-40. Listen for a word of God for you and me the people of God.

Have you ever bought anything that you were all excited about and it wasn’t quite what you expected? You did the research on it and felt that it was the best thing for you only to find out it was more problems than it was worth? I remember buying this brush for the girl’s hair. They have that really thick hair that knots easily. Well, this brush was made “specifically for that kind of hair.”  Well, it didn’t quite work as I had expected. As a matter of fact it made matters worse when they tried to brush their hair. It was really a disappointment to me and to the girl’s. I ended up bringing it back to the store for my money back. I remember thinking “this thing is garbage. . . it doesn’t do what I expected it to do.”

I wonder if that is what people were thinking as the Passion Week unfolded. Here we have Jesus coming into town on a donkey. Now the people had seen all the wonders that Jesus did and they thought that this was the coming savior that God had promised. They were excited for this savior as He rode into town. This man was going to take Rome by storm and save them from their tyranny. But in the end. . . Jesus was not what they expected at all. Jesus was kind and loving. . . even to His enemies. How could this man be the savior? This man was just another disappointment to them. He needed to be done away with in order for the “real savior” to come. But Jesus was really their savior. . . even if they didn’t see it.

God had sent them the savior they needed but God didn’t send the type they were expecting. God doesn’t always act in ways that we expect. . . in ways the “we” think He should. But God’s ways are not ours. God’s ways. . . whether we want to believe it or nor. . . are higher than our own. He can see the whole picture while we only see what is in front of us. . .  WE might think that in some ways. . . life has not treated us as we wished it had. We have had disappointments and pain in our lives. We hear preachers preaching about the prosperity but have seen nothing but strife. We may feel our prayers have not been answered and that God has not delivered on what the scriptures tell us. But maybe. . . just maybe we need to look at the world and our lives through the eyes of love and grace that God does.

In the Letter to the Philippians that was read this morning, Paul urges the people of Philippi to love others and to be concerned for them. . . to have the mind of Christ. Paul was calling them to act in ways that we contrary to the world around them.  God would have them. . . and us. . . to be humble as Christ.

WE have a God who does the opposite of what is expected. For instance. . . God used death to give life. . . God uses despair and disappointment to give hope. In the letter from Paul, we hear about how the Son of God emptied Himself. . . left behind His crown. . . and became a servant. . . even to death.  We see the contrast and opposites of God here. The crowd that ushered Jesus into Jerusalem with loud “hosannas” was five days later calling “crucify Him”. God was working through contrast and opposites.

So. . .  what does this have to do with Palm Sunday. . . what does this have to do with our everyday life? God works in ways we don’t expect even making good out of evil. Perhaps that is why God may seem far way in our everyday life. But our God is one who works behind the scenes and we may not notice Him at first but in the end. . . we can see how He was there all along. We actually need a God who may seem as if He is elusive. . . vague. . . even obscure at times because He uses our doubts to change us. . . to bring us more faith and trust.

God may not act in ways that we expect but we can rest assured that God always knows what is best. . . even if we don’t agree. God is always looking out for our best interest. . . even when we don’t think it is. God is love and love will not disappoint us.

Amen
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March 24, 2013
Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28-40 (New Living Translation)
Philippians 2:5-11 (The Message)
Worship Theme: “Behold Your King”
Call to Worship
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2013 Luke 19:28-40)
hymn “Oh How He Loves You and Me
and sermon – “Here Comes Jesus Riding on a Donkey”
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
March 24, 2013
Palm Sunday



All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,790+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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