We have a pre-Easter crowd this morning on Palm Sunday—the final Sunday of Lent. I say crowd because as the saying goes: “Two’s company, three’s a crowd.” But there’s more to a crowd than numbers. A crowd is a gathering of people with a purpose, a collective story. An East Texas preacher, traveling down a country road, discovered the story of a crowd that had gathered around a farm house. He stopped and asked a farmer standing by, “Why the large crowd?” He replied, “Joe’s mule kicked his mother-in-law and she died. Well, replied the preacher, “She must have had a lot of friends.” “Nope,” said the farmer, “We’re all here to borrow Joe’s mule.” That was their story.
So, what will be the story of next Sunday’s crowd—the “Easter Crowd.” Why an Easter Crowd? Because when it comes to attendance, the church is one denomination: “CME”—not the Christian Methodist Episcopal church—but the Christmas Maybe Easter church. If there are two “for sure” days out of the year that you can expect a crowd at church, Easter is one of them. Typically, that is when the church puts on “the Big Show” for the big crowd that is sure to resemble a parade with all the bonnets, and baskets and brand-new clothes. But what will be their story, their response to Christ—the central figure of Easter—the church’s high holy day? The first Palm Sunday offers a hint.
More than 2000 year ago, a throng lined the streets of the Jerusalem with coats and palm branches in hand celebrating the triumphant entry of the prince of peace—Jesus Christ— the promised one, riding in on a donkey. It marked the beginning of Passion week: the climatic last days of the Son of God whose agenda that week was to die, to be buried and to be raised—God’s plan of salvation for sinful man. During that week, another crowd also assembled, but with a far less celebratory response to King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Turn to Luke 9:32-40, 23:21,46. In Luke, with help from the other Gospels, we will see from the stories of that Pre-Easter-/Palm Sunday crowd, who among them had the proper response to Christ. There were three groups that made up the mix that day: the shouters, the silencers and the surrenderers. The question this Palm Sunday morning is, as we look in and forward for Lent: which one are you who will show up next Sunday for the big show? What will be your story?
The Shouters in the crowd had a fickle response to Christ. First, the shouters in the crowd hailed Christ as King.
38 Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Second, the shouters in the crowd also called for the crucifixion of the King.
23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. Luke 23:23
Church, following the crowd can be a dangerous response to the promises of God.
The selfish crowd can lead you to ignore the needy among you.
The violent crowd can lead you to abuse the weak in midst.
The vigilante crowd can lead you to ignore truth and misjudge the innocent
The Silencers in the crowd rebuke true praise of Christ. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to silence the “true praise” of the promised Messiah.
39And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.
There will always be “true praise” of the promised Messiah: 40 And He answered and said, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" Luke 19:40
Church, don’t be silent, but be genuine in your praise about the Christ. First, praise him for his Kingship. He is the ultimate authority. Second, praise him for his being the promised Messiah sent by God. Next, praise him for the peace he brings, not of men, but of God in heaven. Lastly, praise him for his glory. He comes for the highest purpose—to save.
Finally, the Surrenders made the sacrifice like Christ. The owner of the colt surrendered what was important to him so that the plans of God would bring the promise.
31 "And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it.'"
Christ, himself, surrendered his life so that the plans of God f salvation to his people. Lk. 27:46
Lk 26:46… "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."
Be a surrender to Christ in your life, so that the plans and promises of God come to past. When God ask for your retirement years to give you a vocation to do ministry, will you surrender. When God ask for a tithe to support kingdom work, will you surrender the biblical portion of your pocketbook. When God ask for that relationship that you think is “Mr. Right, will you surrender him for a closer walk with Thee, even if it means being single.
Next Easter Sunday, God is looking for the man and woman with a higher purpose than a parade. But if you insist on one, follow the drum major with holes in his hands and holes in his feet, with a blood-stain banner, marching with a song on his lips, to keep you in step until great day God picks you out of the crowd. You know the song:
All to Jesus, I surrender
All to him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him,
In his presence daily live.
I surrender all,
I surrender all
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
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