The Empty Promises of Easter

March 29, 2016                               NOTES NOT EDITED

The Empty Promises of Easter

Luke 24:1-12

SIS: God emptied the tomb of death so He could fill our lives with eternity!

We are now in the throes another "election season" and I can tell you one thing that we will have in great abundances -- political promises.  Sadly, a political promise is most often an "empty promise."  The person making the promise either lacks the power, or the intent to make good on the promise.  I read once about a promise three men made to rich friend on his deathbed.  The dying man gave each of his best friends -- a lawyer, a doctor and a clergyman -- an envelope containing $25,000 in cash to be placed in his coffin.  A week later the man dies and the friends each place an envelope in the coffin. Several months later, the clergyman confesses that he only put $10,000 in the envelope and sent the rest to a mission in South America.  The doctor confesses that his envelope had only $8,000 because he donated to a medical charity. The lawyer is outraged, "I am the only one who kept my promise to our dying friend. I want you both to know that the envelope I placed in the coffin contained my own personal check for the entire $25,000."

Easter is really all about a "promise."  The promise of God highlighted at Easter is this:  "Because Jesus lives, we His followers will live also."

So many people treat Easter as an “empty promise” – too good to be true – because the idea of a resurrection is so beyond what our human minds can comprehend without faith. But, I assure you, God has both the power and the intent to make good on the promise of Easter. Easter is a promise made by God and sealed by the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

However, Easter is all about "emptiness," but not in the manner that we are accustomed to thinking about “empty promises.”  The Empty Promises of Easter are actually three: an empty cross, empty grave wrappings, and an empty tomb. Luke 24:1-12 gives us the “empty promises of Easter”:

24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Peter went away wondering – and I can understand why!  I am absolutely amazed and overwhelmed when I contemplate that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is alive, today.  Since He is alive, I can know Him and I can communicate with Him.  The resurrection is not just a quaint story.  It is real history.  Jesus did not just appear to be alive – He was alive.  In the next few days Jesus would sit down in a room with the disciples, He would walk along the way with disciples; He would talk with them many times; He would eat  with them.  Jesus did not merely “appear to be alive” – He was and IS alive.  We can know him and have a relationship with him.

Many people, especially as a result of Passion of the Christ movie know something about Jesus Christ.  That is much different from knowing Jesus Christ personally as your Lord and Savior.

Knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus is the difference between Easter being a “holy” day and Easter being a “holiday.”

The events of the cross and the resurrection were not just something that happened way back somewhere in time.  They were events with a purpose.  Jesus died and was taken down from the cross.  The cross was empty.  It was empty for a reason.  The cloths that once wrapped the dead body of Jesus were neatly folded, empty of their contents.  And, of course, the tomb was empty.  Easter is about “empty promises,” but not in the manner we normally think of “empty promises.”

God emptied the tomb of death, so our lives could be filled with life.

That’s what Easter is all about!

1.  The Empty Cross is a Promise that we can be free from the Penalty of Sin.

In the Middle Ages the Catholic church began to use a “crucifix” or cross that still held the body of Jesus.  While this was initiated to illustrate the “passion” or suffering of Jesus, it is generally rejected as a symbol in the evangelical church world.  I prefer to be reminded that the cross was eventually emptied.  That is, Jesus did die and was removed to a place of burial.  The empty cross is an important reminder that the “wages of sin [which] is death” was paid in full by the Lord Jesus Christ.  He died in our place to pay the PENALTY for our sin.  Sin requires a penalty be paid, and Christ paid it.

In our modern, supposedly enlightened age, “sin” has almost disappeared in our culture.  Should a preacher speak frankly and directly about sin warning of its eternal penalties, he is more likely to be run out of church than thanked for his concern for the souls of men. 

We can change how we talk about sin, or how we label sin, but it will kill the soul just the same.  Years ago a preacher who was known to speak frankly and earnestly about the penalties of sin was confronted by one of the influential members of the church.  This well-known man of the community entered the pastor’s office and said, “Pastor, we want you to stop talking so plainly and sternly about sins.  We do not feel it is good for our boys and girls.”  The man continued, “Call it a mistake or something like that but do not speak about the matter as “sin.”  The pastor replied, “Please wait just a minute.”  The pastor went to the church utility closet.  High upon the shelf was a little bottle with the bold letters P O I S O N!  The powder was strychnine and was used as “rat poison.”  The pastor returned to his office with the little bottle.  He said to the man, “I see what you would have me do.  You would have me change this label from POISON to a milder label such as, “Pepperment candy.”  Don’t you see, sir, that changing the label does not reduce the danger.  In fact, changing the label to a milder one makes the poison even more dangerous.”

Follow with me in your mind as we join the women who first went to the tomb on that first Easter.  From the City of Jerusalem they would probably walk along a path for maybe a half-hour before they reach the tomb.  But, as they approach the tomb, they could look off to their right just outside the City.  They would see a familiar landmark of the area.  A hill oddly shaped like a human skull and appropriately called, Golgotha (the place of the skull).  It was a killing hill.  A familiar spot for crucifixions.  Three crosses are on the hill, backlit by the rising sun.   Their eyes fall upon the middle cross.  This is the one upon which Jesus died a horrible death.   They had watched as his lifeless body was taken down off of that cross – the cross that was made into an altar upon which the Lamb of God was sacrificed, “to take away the sins of the world.”  Now, the cross was empty.

The women perhaps recalled the verse from the prophet Ezekiel, “The soul that sins shall surely die (Ezk. 18:20).    Death – eternal separation from God –was the penalty for sin.  It had to be paid. Jesus, Himself without sin, paid the penalty on our behalf.  He died in our place.  A few years later Paul would once again declare that the penalty for sin—any sin big or small—would be eternal death.  He said it like this:  “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23)

The empty cross is a reminder of God’s promise that we can be free from the penalty of sin.  Jesus died for our sins so we would not have to die for them ourselves.  The cross is empty because the debt for our sin was paid in full.  The Book of Hebrews reminds us:

^10:10 By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

The cross upon which Jesus died was an “ugly event” in the history of humanity.  But, Jesus isn’t on the cross and He is never going back.  Thank God the story does not end on such a tragic note as the cross. There is another “empty promise” in the Easter story:

 

2.  The Empty Grave Wrappings are a Promise that we can be free from the Power of Sin

3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!

.......................................................

The women quickly ran to tell the disciples of their amazing discovery – or should I say – lack of discovery!  Verse 12 picks up the story with Peter^{:  12}Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

I’ve not heard many sermons deal at any length with the neatly folded grave cloths.  This is a very significant part of the Easter story.  Many illustrations for the Christian life can be drawn from that neatly folded cloth lying by themselves in the corner of the tomb.  I believe we do not stretch the meaning of the passage in its context to say that it represents another of the empty promises of God - the promise of freedom from the power of sin.

This is not the first time we are introduced to grave clothes or wrappings in John’s gospel.  In chapter 11 we were told of the incident where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus gave life back to Lazarus’ dead body but it was not completely free from the power of death.  Look at Jn. 11:44

The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.”

Here specific mention of the traditional cloth placed upon the face of the one who died and the traditional grave clothes or wrappings.  There is a very significant difference between the grave wrappings of Lazarus and those of Jesus:  Lazarus was still in his; Jesus was not.  Lazarus looked like an animated, Egyptian mummy stumbling forward from the grave.

The contrast of the neatly folded face cloth and death shroud of Jesus indicate that Jesus had the “power of sin and death.”  Lazarus did not have that power at the time Jesus raised Him, because Jesus had not yet wrenched the power of death from the Devil through His resurrection.  Now the Bible tells us: Death is swallowed up in victory (1Cor. 15:54).

Because Jesus took away the sting of death, we have power over sin in our lives.  We can, through the grace of God, live lives that our holy and pleasing to God.  We fail at this to be sure, but the power is always there and we can be restored from our failure through confession and forgiveness of sin.

Those neatly folded grave wrappings remind us that our salvation from the power of sin gained through the death of Jesus Christ, also involves our power over the control of sin through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Why do so few people experience real victory over the power of sin? It has been my experience that those who fizzled out in church over the years have not fallen to great sins like adultery, or fornication, or murder, or any such grave sin.  Most people in church have collapsed under the weight of a hundred little sins.

We suppose, quite wrongly, that if we do not commit “big” sins then sin is not a problem in our lives.  Think of the burial cloths.  It was not one large shroud, but many small strips.  Between every layer of cloth would be a coating of a thick, tar-like substance called myrrh.  When all was finished the body was bound head to toe in about 100 pounds of cloth and tar.  That is how sin works in our lives.  It is not generally the “big” sin that ruins our lives, but many smaller ones over a long period of time. 

There was a man by the name of Baron Richard d’Arcy.  He was a French aristocrat.  He liked to do exotic things and own exotic things.  One exotic pet he kept was a two-years old lion.  At night the Baron put the lion in the bathroom where it stayed the night.  On this particular night, the lion would not go it.  Instead, it turned on its master and clawed the Baron to death.  The moral of that story is this: we must be careful not to entertain any “pet sins.”  This is like keeping a dangerous pet.  One day, without warning, the sin you thought you had power over, will overpower you.  Only through a consistent, daily walk with Jesus Christ can we have power over sin.  By taking the time to fold the grave cloths, I believe Jesus was showing us that we need to take time to deal with our attitudes and habits so that we can be free from the power of sin in our lives.  Though we may never be completely free of sin’s power in this life, we can experience great victory if we “take time to be holy.”

The Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to write:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery [that is sin].” Gal. 5:1

The empty grave wrappings remind us of the promise that “in Christ” we are free from the power of sin in our lives.

I believe that Jesus left the neatly folded grave wrappings to remind us that once we have been freed from the penalty of sin, we can begin to have victory of the power of sin in our lives; and, the more we break loose from the power of sin, the more we will experience the power of God in our lives.  Sin binds us as surely as the grave wrappings bound Jesus.  He left them in the tomb as a reminder that we can be “free from the power of sin.”

Easter is about “empty promises.”  It is about the “empty promise” of the cross that reminds us we can be free from the penalty of sin which is eternal death, defined in the Bible as eternal torment in hell.  The empty grave wrappings remind us that we can be free from the constricting, soul enslaving power of sin.  There is a third empty promise, and it is the biggest:

3.  The Empty Tomb is a Promise that one day – perhaps soon – we willbe free from the Presence of Sin.

What did the angels tell the women at the tomb?

6 He is not here; he has risen!

There are no more important words in the Bible than the words, “He is risen.”

There are four major world religions from which all other religious expressions spring.  Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.  Judaism and Christianity, as we know are part and parcel of the same faith.  One day God’s chosen people, Israel and God’s adopted Gentiles will be one family.  So, we might say, there are three major world religions. 

One of the “rites of passage” of being a kindergarten student is the little exercise: “one of the things is not like the other.”  The children are asked to choose from several items and pick out the one that is not like the other.  Take Hinduism and eastern mysticism that springs from it.  Hinduism cannot be proven “right or wrong” using any forensic investigative techniques or historical inquiry.  It is not based upon history but upon speculative thought.  Take Islam.  Neither can Islam be determined to be “right or wrong” based upon a historical survey for Islam is based solely on the visions the Prophet Mohammed had in a cave.  Now, consider Christianity.  It is not like the others.  Why?  Because Christianity can be determined by historical investigation to be either right or wrong.  In fact, Christianity can be destroyed simply by proving that the resurrection never occured.  Without the resurrection, Christianity is simply a hoax and Easter is just a nice holiday. The Apostle Paul explained this very fact:   1 Cor 15:16-19

16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.   

That's the essence of Christianity.  No resurrection.  No hope.  Then this life is all there is.  Death is the final irony.  Nothing matters.

Christianity was fledgling religion whose leader had just been crucified on a cross in the public square.  All it would have taken to squelch the Christian movement before it was born was to produce the dead body of a Rabbi named Jesus.  Certainly, the Jews would have produced the body if they could.  They hated Christ and everything He taught.  The Romans could have squelched all the turmoil that the disciples were causing and would cause for the Empire.  They could not produce the body.  They tried saying the disciples stole the body, but of course, everyone knew that nobody ever got away with breaking the official seal of the Roman Emperor that was placed upon the tomb.  Many skeptics have offered alternative explanations for the empty tomb, but none of these alternative answers fit the facts or dismiss the matter. After nearly two millennia of trying to explain away the empty tomb—all skeptics and naysayers have come up . . . well, “empty.”  The tomb was empty and no reasonable explanation has been offered, except a resurrection.

There really are no rational disputes of the facts that are intellectually convincing.  The tomb was empty -- period.  The Empty Tomb stands as the quintessential symbol of God's promise to us -- if we will put our full and enthusiastic trust in the resurrected Son of God we will one day spend eternity with him, not only free from the penalty of sin, and free from the power of sin, but free from the very presence of sin.  That's a promise secured by God's own Word and symbolized by the Empty Tomb. 

The question is not:  is the Easter story true.  The question is: will you fully embrace the promise of God and accept the gift He offers.  The gift is yours for the asking.

All you have to do is understand the Empty Promises of Easter and put your faith in the Savior who emptied sin of its penalty on the cross, emptied sin of its power of death and emptied the tomb so we could be filled with God's Spirit.

The movie, The Passion of the Christ, – Mel Gibson’s epic telling of the Easter story – ends with a subtle, but effective portrayal of the resurrection of Christ.  In the low light of the tomb, we watch as Jesus walks out!  What a powerful image.  Jesus left that place of death once and for all.  In 40 days, he departed this world of sin and the Bible says He now sits at the right hand of God.  In heaven, Jesus experiences complete freedom from the very presence of sin.  And here’s the promise: 1 Cor 15:20-21

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

The empty tomb reminds us of the promise that one day,

Because Jesus conquered the grave, those who trust in Jesus Christ will also be free from the presence of sin.  Heaven will be our home and God will be our neighbor!

Friend, Easter is about “empty promises.”  An empty cross that promises freedom from the penalty of sin.  Empty grave wrappings that promise us freedom from the power of sin.  And, most of all, an empty tomb that promises that one day we will have freedom from the very presence of sin.

Now, some of you are saying, “I just can’t buy into that resurrection stuff!”  Friend, you cannot afford NOT to buy in to it.  What other hope does any one have.  You may not understand it all now, but you will some day.  Are you going to be like Bill that I spoke of earlier?  Are you going to throw away a wonderful promise simply because you do not understand everything about that promise.  Are you willing to risk eternal damnation because of doubt?  Or, are you willing to put your hope in the one indisputable, undeniable, forensically certain fact of the empty tomb?

Make no mistake about it – THE TOMB WAS EMPTY and there is no other forensically valid explanation but the resurrection.  That is a fact that is incomprehensible to be sure – BUT THAT IS THE FACT.  The tomb was empty because Jesus was resurrected by the power of God Almighty.

Another fact is just as sure – you will know for sure some day. But, if you find out that everything about Easter is exactly like the Bible says AFTER you die, it will be too late.

You must cast your ballot today for the one who will be Master of your Soul.  Today, is the day, that you can experience the “empty promises” of Easter.

Someone has said, “God did not roll the stone away so that Jesus could come out of the tomb, but so that we could enter into heaven!”

On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus came out of the tomb so we could go into heaven.  Today, won’t you enter the Kingdom of God through the portal of the empty tomb?  Confess Jesus as the Lord of your life and follow Him right through death into Glory!

We have a tradition here at Our Church.  We conclude the Easter Service with a glorious message declaring that “Jesus is our King!”

PLAY VIDEO:  THAT’S MY KING

Donkey One

Donkey One

Palm Sunday 2016             NOTES NOT EDITED

Matthew 21:1-11

SIS: The King of Kings is coming again and we must be ready to receive Him.

One of the most famous airplanes in the world– perhaps, the most famous–is Air Force One, the official airplane of the President of the United States.  Where I live, we are fortunate to have our very own “Air Force One” housed at the Ronald Reagan Library just up the highway in Simi Valley.  However, it is not officially Air Force One.  This plane is retired.  In fact, technically, the plane is only referred to as Air Force One when the President is actually on board.

Just to keep all the facts straight, the official helicopter of the President is called Marine One. 

Air Force One is the most sophisticated plane flying today.  It is a VC-25A.  It shares the airframe of a Boeing 747, but that is where the comparison ends.  The eight massive engines of AF-1 allow it to get airborne very quickly if security concerns require it.  The plane has 80 telephones and 238 miles of communication cables providing sophisticated Internet and satellite capabilities.  It has a medical compartment with a fully stocked pharmacy, X-ray machine, and full time surgeon.  Literally, it is a flying Whitehouse.

But more impressive than the plane itself is the preparation that must be made when the President flies.  First, there is an identical VC-25A that is usually flown to the same destination for backup.  In addition two C-5 Cargo Planes fly with, or before AF-1.  The contain the Presidential Armored limosine and decoy along with a full motorcade.  A fully stocked ambulance is also taken along.  And, in some cases Marine One is ferried to the destination.

The preparation for the President’s arrival – where ever it is in the world – is a massive, detailed effort.  The Secret Service arrives weeks, sometimes months in advance to scour the site of the President’s arrival.  No detail is overlooked.  The massive effort to prepare for the President’s arrival takes 1000's of man hours in some cases.  No detail is overlooked.  When the President finally arrives, everyone is prepared to assure his comfort and safety.

Now, let’s compare how the King of Kings traveled when He entered Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago. MATTHEW 21:1-11

¹When they approached Jerusalem  and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives,  Jesus then sent two disciples, ² telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them.” ⁴ This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: ⁵ Tell Daughter Zion,“Look, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”  ⁶ The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them, and He sat on them. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. ⁹ Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One! Hosanna in the highest heaven! ¹⁰ When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, “Who is this?” ¹¹ And the crowds kept saying, “This is the prophet Jesus  from Nazareth in Galilee!”

When dignitaries travel, they travel in style and luxury, just like Air Force One.  But, when the King of Kings travelled to Jerusalem, his mode of transportation was much more humble -- a donkey.  Not only a donkey, but a young donkey colt that had never been ridden (the other gospels tell us it was a donkey).  Its spindly little legs were barely able to support the weight of the Lord.  It was an impressive sight only in its awkwardness.

The President of the US arrives on an impressive plane called Air Force One.  The Lord arrived in Jerusalem on Donkey One.

The Lord arrived that day to a mixed reception.  Some were ready to receive Him and shouted and sang: "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord" The other gospels add that the people shouted: "Hosanna!  Hosanna!"

This word, "hosanna" sums up what it means to receive Jesus as the Lord of one's life.  It has a Semitic history, meaning it comes from the Hebrew OT, particularly the Psalms.  Hosanna is the Aramaic and/or Greek equivalent of "hoshi^eah na" which combines the word for "save us" with "now."  So, many of the people were recognizing that Jesus was the Messiah who had come to save them now!  However, they mistook a political idea of salvation for the spiritual salvation Jesus would secure for them on the cross.

There was another group in that crowd which were NOT prepared to accept Jesus as the Messiah.  Luke 19 adds that:

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

One of the themes repeated over and over in the gospels is the constant battle Jesus had with those who were religious.  The Triumphal Entry passages highlight the two primary responses people still have today when Jesus rides into their lives:  some are elated -- even ecstatic to receive Jesus as the Lord and Savior.  Others, are skeptical on one level or the other with those who are most bitter toward Jesus being the ones who are most religious.  Each gospel writer adds a little to the story.  People only fall into one of these two groups:  those that gladly and humbly receive Jesus as Lord, and those who are self-righteous and actually despise the very idea that they need to be saved.  This is a major interpretive theme in understanding the gospels.

Now, here's the point I really want to make today.  There were hundreds of prophecies fulfilled when Jesus came the first time, such as Zechariah 9:9:

⁹Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Likewise, there are also hundreds of prophecies that tell of the Next Coming, or Second Coming of Jesus like Rev. 19

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords.

A major principle in the Triumphal Entry texts of the gospels is that  God has always had a plan, and it will always play out EXACTLY AS PLANNED.  The question is:  will YOU be prepared to receive Him as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings when that time comes?

I want to take the remainder of our time together this morning, after this long but important introduction to give you three ways you can be sure to properly receive the King of Kings when He comes again.  I call it, “being on the Hosanna side of the street.”

1.  We must view Our Savior as more important than our selves

³ If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them.”

The key to the success of our mission in this life and the key to our rewards in the next is comprehend, “Who is Jesus Christ?”  I doubt very seriously if the man with the donkey and colt would have given them up because two rough looking itinerant preachers asked.  But, when they dropped the name of Jesus, the man gave up his possessions without so much as a question.  God had prepared this man to be who he was, where he was, with a donkey since before the beginning of time. The next best thing to “being important” is knowing someone important. Nobody is more important than God!

Notice the wording in verse 4:  “This took place SO . . . ,” or as the as the NIV translates it, “This took place to fulfill.”  Like so many texts referring to Jesus in the N.T. ties His Identity to the Promise Messiah (Savior) of the O.T.  In this case, the promise of Zech. 9:9.

The most important doctrine in the Bible is the doctrine of the Deity of Christ.  If Jesus Christ was not the prophesied Messiah, His death on the cross was no different than the death of the many thousands of other such deaths—except that he would have been a man of sterling character, unlike many who were common criminals.

But, the death of a man—even the most virtuous man who ever lived—would not have been enough to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind.  Only the Messiah—the promised, prophesied God-Man, could do that.  We must recognize Who Jesus is, and we must understand that our Savior is more important than our selves.

One of the most famous people in his day was a man by the name of Billy.  You younger folk probably have never heart of Billy, but if you were watching the news much from 1977-1981, he was something of a “celebrity.” He was often in the news.  He was quite a popular topic for the news–usually because of very bad behavior that was an embarrassment to his family, especially his brother.  In fact, had it not been for his famous brother, no body outside of his small farming community would have known who he was.  He was a nobody, but he had almost unrestricted access to the President of the United States.  The President was Jimmy Carter.  The infamous brother was Billy Carter.  Billy was important, not because of who he was, but because of who he was related to. 

That’s how it is with you and I.  Why would anybody care to hear what we have to say?  Chances are: they would not.  But, because of “Who” we know, we can accomplish even the most difficult tasks.  Christ is the key to success in the church – some of us forget this sometimes.  Another important aspect of preparing to meet the Lord is that we must

2.  See Our assignment as more important than our status.  (6)

{6}The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

In context, this verse had to do with a specific

assignment to two specific (unnamed) disciples at a specific moment in history.  The instructions were simple enough:

{1} As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, {2} saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. {3} If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

This wasn’t a very impressive assignment. The disciples did not achieve “celebrity status.”  In fact, as I mentioned, they remained nameless.  But, celebrity status aside, they were faithful.  Their actions, though anonymous, have become a part of God’s eternal record.  They opted for “eternal status,” over celebrity status.

We are in one of the most annoying times of the year for me.  No, I'm not talking about Easter.  I'm talking about American Idol.  We are now in "Final Season."  This is T.V. code for “perpetual reruns.”

Each year, it is the same process.  First we have to endure the weeks of auditions in which it becomes painfully obvious that some people think they can sing and they can barely bark.

Then, it is week after tortuous week that we have to endure the pompous ceremony of an "idol in the making."  I could go on and on but my sermon would degenerate into a rant.

Here's my beef:  there is so much glitter and so little substance to the whole idea of the show -- and I could probably make the same argument for nearly any other Hollywood production.  Hollywood is all about shadow and very little about substance.  Tens of thousands of young people give up nearly everything in life for a shot at becoming the next "American Idol."  And, when -- as will be the case -- one finally does win, what have they gained?  Fame, fortune, a place of adoration for mind-numbed TV and stage audiences? 

The show grates on me because it perpetuates the sad, sorry message that our "status" in life determines the "substance" of our lives.  In fact, it is only when we realize that our assignment to serve the Lord Jesus Christ is more important than our status in life, that we will ever achieve anything like a sense of fulfilling purpose in life.

Just think for a moment about the title of this hit show, "American WHAT?"  American Idol.  Need I say more.  We live in a society that idolizes status and disdains service.  Society talks a lot about climbing the ladder of success to grab the brass ring, but nearly ignores descending the stairs to minister to those stung by the silver needle. 

In the crowd that day was a motley mix of common folk that received Jesus gladly.  Those with status and standing in the community, like the Pharisees, were not about to take their cloaks off to be used as the red carpet for the Coming King.  Like most people of status, the Pharisees were used to BEING PRAISED NOT GIVING PRAISE.  The Lord must have really pricked their hearts when he said to the self-righteous Pharisees, according to Luke, (19:40)

"If people don't praise me, the rocks will cry out."

Wow!  That had to leave a mark.  The Pharisees
in God's eyes didn't even rate the status of "rocks!"
They were self-righteous and spent a lot of time “evaluating” others, but precious little time evaluating themselves.

That was then.  This is now. That assignment for those two disciples was completed.  But, what about you and I.  Do we as disciples of Jesus, today, have an important assignment to carry out?  According to Jesus we do have an important assignment.  His last words to his disciples then, and to us by extension today are these:

Mat 28   ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples  of  all nations,  baptizing  them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,  I am with you always,  to the end of the age.”

Our assignment is not glamorous.  We will not achieve celebrity status.  In fact, we may be persecuted as we carry out the assignment.

The assignment is simple: tell the world about Jesus the Savior.

A barber had just been gloriously converted in an old-fashioned revival meeting. He was really excited about being saved and was determined to tell as many people as possible. The next morning a customer came in for a cut and shave. The barber was trying to muster up words to say but just couldn't figure out how to start a conversation with the man. Finally the barber stood with his razor poised over the man's throat ready to give him a shave and these words popped into his head:  "Are you prepared to meet God?"

That’s our assignment.  Tell the world about Jesus.  It may not be a glamorous assignment, but it is our duty to God. Perhaps we should put down any sharp objects first.  Like the barber, though, it is sometimes hard to come up with  the right words—but we must try.

Regardless of how hard it is to keep telling the story.  Regardless of how people might reject us or put us down, we must keep eternity in view and remember:  Our assignment is more important than our status in life.

Please hear this.  You will not be ready to receive Jesus when He comes again if you do not see your assignment to serve Him as more important than your status in life.  Most people -- even church folk who attend every time the doors are open -- can miss this important lesson and miss the blessing of hearing Jesus say one day,  "Well done my good and faithful servant."

To be ready to receive the King of Kings when He returns again we must recognize that the Savior is more important than ourselves, and that our assignment to serve Him is more important than our status in life.  We must also understand

3.  Heaven tomorrow is more significant than Our sacrifice today. (8)

Something wonderful takes place in the pageantry of the Triumphal Entry that can be easily overlooked.

⁸ A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.

Now, because of the palm branches the people cut and laid in the road in honor of Jesus that Sunday.  This is why the Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday in the Christian calendar.

The palm tree is one of God’s grand designs. I remember the first palm trees I saw, or at least the first that I took any notice of.  I got off the plane in the Honolulu airport and thought I had arrived in the Garden of Eden.  In the open areas of the terminal were the most spectacular palm trees.  They looked like giant sentries guarding the airport grounds.  I was impressed.

Palm trees in the Bible are associated with victory in the Bible—the victory of good over evil; the triumph of God’s people over our enemies.

But, I’m not near as impressed with the palm branches as I am the first part of the verse, “a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road.”  Now, that’s impressive.  That is a little more of a sacrifice.  God grew the palm branches, but the cloaks were provided by the people’s own hard work.  The cloaks cost them something; the palm branches did not.  I think it is more apt to call this Sunday, “Cloak Sunday,” rather than Palm Sunday.  But, nobody on the “Calendar Committee” asked me.  “Cloak Sunday” is more in line with the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem.  He would soon, within a week, die on a cruel cross for the sins of humanity.

When God made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, he gave nothing less than His Only Beloved Son.  This reminds me of the hen and the pig.  This is one of my favorite stories and I tell it often because it really makes a good point about sacrifice.

Both were asked by the farmer to make a contribution to the morning’s breakfast table.  The hen without reservation gave two eggs.  The pig hesitated and balked.  The hen reprimanded the pig.  “The master is quite good to us.  Is it too much to ask a little in return.”  The pig very quickly replied, “Providing a couple eggs is little enough sacrifice for you, but providing the bacon will cost me everything!”

How true.  A celebration takes on a whole new meaning depending upon the cost of our participation.  Church is a lot like that barnyard—some are hens and some are pigs.  Too many Christians, people in general,  are like the hen, not the pig. They make a small contribution, perhaps, but no great sacrifice.

One of my scripture memory verses a few years ago was Romans 8:18.  It is a penetrating verse that really makes us stop and assess our readiness to meet Jesus: 

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing  with the glory  that is going to be revealed to us.

We all need to keep this truth in mind.  So often, in life, we focus on our struggles, or on how others may be treating us, or on the fact that our week always seems a day or so longer than our paycheck.  It can cause despair.  Struggles are real—no doubt about that.  However, for the follower of Jesus, struggles are not permanent. 

There’s a little song I play on my guitar when I’m feeling sorry for myself.  It helps put my troubles into perspective.

I traveled down a lonely road And no one seemed to care;

The burden on my weary back Had bowed me to despair,

I oft complained to Jesus How folks were treating me,

And then I heard Him say so tenderly,

"My feet were also weary, Upon the Calv'ry road;

The cross became so heavy, I fell beneath the load,

Be faithful weary pilgrim, The morning I can see,

Just lift your cross and follow close to me."

To truly live as a follower of Jesus Christ in our world today requires great sacrifice.  Following Jesus is a struggle. It doesn't require much sacrifice to attend church every now and then.  It doesn't require much sacrifice to have a pot luck every now and again.  It doesn't take much sacrifice to drop a twenty in the plate every once in a while. But living day by day to serve Jesus in this world—that’s a sacrifice!

Keeping heaven in view allows us to face sacrifice with hopeful expectation.  A few months ago I memorized Luke 18:28-30:

²⁸ Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” ²⁹ “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰ will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”

Over and over in the N.T. there are references reminding believers of the unbelievable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, inexplicable glories that await us.  We must understand that HEAVEN tomorrow is much more significant than any SACRIFICES we face today.

Jesus entered Jerusalem that Sunday over 2000 years ago and people literally gave Him the coats off their backs.  Since that day millions of people have watched with expectation waiting for the Lord to return again.  Are you prepared to meet the Lord when He comes again?

Friends, you can be ready to receive the King of Kings when He comes again if you truly believe that heaven tomorrow is truly more significant than our sacrifices today.

A few moments ago we learned that a tremendous amount of effort goes into preparing for the arrival of the President of the United States of America.  No detail is overlooked and no expense is spared to make the proper preparation for the President's arrival.

It is even more important -- infinitely more important that we prepared for the coming arrival of the King of Kings.  He is coming again--we must be ready.