Church of the Holy City

He Will Proclaim Peace

He Will Proclaim Peace
Rev. Dr. David J. Fekete
March 29, 2015
Palm Sunday

Zechariah 9:9-12 Matthew 21:1-11 Psalm 118

Today we think about the triumphant arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem. This Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. In less than a week, we will go through the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. And then we will celebrate the happiest day in human history in Jesus’ resurrection and triumph over death.
This Sunday is all about the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. But since we all know the whole story very well, we can’t help but feel the irony of this triumphant entry. While a large crowd celebrates Jesus arrival, we know that within a week a large crowd will cry for Jesus’ death. I can’t help but think that Palm Sunday is a lesson in mob mentality.
I think that the reason why the crowd turned against Jesus is because he didn’t live up to the mob’s expectations. The mob was set up by the prophesies about the coming Messiah. We heard one such prophesy today from Zechariah. Matthew quotes this passage from Zechariah to explain Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. So I think that this passage deserves some attention.
I can see how Jesus fulfills some of this prophesy. And I can also see why Jesus didn’t fulfill other parts of it. I think the problem is that Zechariah 9 sends out a mixed message. The passage is about a king coming to Jerusalem. Verse 9 states, ” Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you.” This is a special king. The king is gentle, righteous, and brings salvation. The king also proclaims peace to the nations. This much fits with what we know about Jesus.
But there is more. This king will also rule the nations. The king will bring peace, but he will do so by wielding power. Zechariah says that the king will,
Take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken (Zechariah 9:10).
This king will rule the entire known world,
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
The reference to the River is the Euphrates. To rule from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth means that the king’s rule will cover the whole world. The king is to restore the lost fortunes to Israel, “Even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you” (9:12).
This is what the people of Jerusalem were expecting. They were expecting a king who would restore the fortunes of the Jews twice over. Yes, the king would bring peace. But he would bring peace by driving out the foreign powers now in control of Jerusalem and Israel. The prophesy in Zechariah says that the great Egyptian power and the Assyrian empire will be brought low. And the people read that prophesy as especially pertaining to Rome. The king when he arrives will destroy the grip of the Romans and liberate the Israelites. The prophesies promised this and everyone was expecting this. Upon the birth of John the Baptist, Zechariah twice exclaims his hopes for the deliverance of Israel by Jesus,
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us– . . .
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies (Luke 1:69, 74).
Not only will Israel be freed from her oppressors, she will be a light to all the rest of the world. Isaiah is one prophet replete with these prophesies.
I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6).
All the nations surrounding Jerusalem will flock to her and pay her tribute.
Nations will come to your light;
And kings to the brightness of your dawn . . .
the wealth of the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come . . .
Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
And their Kings will serve you. . . .
The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you;
all who despise you will bow down at your feet
and will call you The City of the LORD,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 60:3, 5, 10, 14)
Anyone whose expectations are that high are going to be terribly disappointed when they don’t come to pass. These were the expectations put on Jesus. He seemed to have fulfilled much of the prophesies that people were hoping for in those days. For there were prophesies about a servant who would do these miraculous things,
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
My chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations. . . .
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he established justice on earth. . . .
to open the eyes that are blind ((Isaiah 42:1, 3, 6).
“Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then shall the lame man leap like a hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy (Isaiah 35:4-6).
It was clear that God’s Spirit rested on Jesus. He did open the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, and gave the lame man to leap like a deer. The people in Jesus’ day had high hopes for their redeemer. And high hopes for what He would do for them, and to the Romans.
But Jesus did none of these deeds of warfare and rule. He was the humble Suffering Servant who did not resist the authorities when they came to arrest Him.
And the irony is that Jesus did and does bring peace. But it is not a peace such as the world understands it. It is not peace from war or conquest of nation against nation. When He was questioned by Pilate during His trial, Jesus said,
My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place (John 18:36).
The kind of peace Jesus brings us is peace of the heart. The peace that Jesus brings is the peace that comes when we turn from vengeful feelings and anger. The kind of peace that Jesus brings is when we are filled with love, joy, and forgiveness.
Jesus does have a kingdom. That kingdom is spiritual, not material. And the spiritual world is not located in any place. Rather, it is everywhere, inside us.
That means that wherever we are, at any time, we have access to the peaceful kingdom that Jesus rules. We have the power to open our hearts to Jesus and find His peace. When we empty our souls from hateful feelings, anger, and resentments, we find peace and love flowing into us in their place. Some call this serenity.
I don’t think that even Jesus’ closest followers were aware of this truth while Jesus was alive. It was after the horror of Good Friday, and the joy of Easter that the disciples were able to ponder Jesus’ teachings and come to terms with this remarkable life, this remarkable God-Man.
Unfortunately, the history of Christianity has not lived up to its founder’s beatific vision of inner peace. There have been squabbling and even wars between fellow Christians and other religions. The message of peace that Jesus brings is as near to you as the person next to you and as distant as injustice and oppression around the globe.
And as we consider how we will respond to our immediate neighbor or our neighbors around the globe, I think the starting point is in our own hearts. We will not be in a place to foster peace if we are not peaceful in our own hearts. You cannot give away what you don’t have. Let us, then joyously welcome Jesus into our hearts. Let us welcome Him as the king of our spirit. And let us reflect on his teachings of peace, forgiveness, and healing. Then we will not be disappointed, bitter, or vengeful in our lives. For Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, it is in our souls. Let us prepare a place for Him now.

PRAYER

Lord, this Sunday we think about the joy of your arrival in Jerusalem. We think of the joy you bring to us when we let you into our hearts. But in a short week, the people of Jerusalem turned against you. May we remain faithful to you in our lives and in our beliefs. You are our savior. Besides you, there is no God. May we always hold a place for you in the centre of our life. May we hold a place for love in the centre of all our affairs. And may we empty our hearts of anger and resentment and open the chambers of our hearts for your Spirit, Love, and forgiveness.

And Lord, we pray for the sick. May they experience the power of your healing love. Fill them with the grace of your healing power. We pray for the grace of your healing power for all who are ailing in body or soul.