Rev. David Holwick M Palm Sunday
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
April 13, 2003
John 12:12-19
REGIME CHANGE
I. Our triumphal entry.
A. American troops enter Baghdad this week.
1) Lightning conquest of the Baghdad airport.
2) Next day, an armored reconnaissance force rumbles into city.
3) Then, they stay overnight.
4) On fourth day, regime collapses.
a) Saddam's statue tumbles.
b) Arab world is flabbergasted.
c) Defense Secretary Rumsfield is vindicated.
B. Daring military moves, but there is also much tragedy.
1) Thousands of civilian and military casualties.
2) Rampant looting and chaos continues to today.
II. Another triumphal entry.
A. Palm Sunday recalls the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
1) He had been there many times before, but this was different.
2) The atmosphere was one of possibilities, but also of danger.
B. Contrasts of the two entries.
1) Their receptions were different.
a) Baghdad - hostile, then welcoming.
b) Jerusalem - welcoming, then hostile.
2) Their modes were different.
a) Abrams M-1 battle tanks.
b) Jesus on a donkey.
III. It's all about power politics.
A. Soft power vs. hard power.
1) The Archbishop and Colin Powell.
At the World Economic Forum the former Archbishop of Canterbury
asked Colin Powell if America was relying too much on hard
power.
It seemed to him that America was not doing enough to build the
trust that comes from soft values.
Secretary Powell responded that the United States believes
strongly in soft power.
Soft power to him meant the value of democracy, the value of
the free economic system, the value of making sure that each
citizen is free and free to pursue their own God-given
ambitions by using their God-given talents.
Powell went on to say:
"There is nothing in American experience that suggests we want
to use hard power. [Holwick: some would beg to differ]
But what we have found over the decades is that unless you do
have hard power -- military power -- then sometimes you are
faced with situations that you can't deal with.
It was not soft power that freed Europe and Japan.
It was hard power.
"And what followed immediately after hard power?
Did the United States ask for dominion over a single nation
in Europe? No.
Soft power came in the Marshall Plan.
Soft power came with American GIs who put their weapons down
once the war was over and helped all those nations rebuild.
"We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last
hundred years.
Many of our young men and women have lost their lives.
And we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury
them in."
#16338
2) America's power is its goodness, not its army.
a) (Not by might or power, but by God's Spirit.) Zech 4:6
3) Our own experience tells us our best victories have been
revealed in their peace, not their battlefields.
B. God's version of power.
1) Jesus did not point to laser-guided bombs, but a child.
2) Truth is more powerful than bombs.
IV. Palm Sunday tells us much about our King.
A. He was popular.
1) John describes two different crowds - Passover pilgrims and
Jesus' own followers from Galilee.
2) The palm branches and cheers were genuine and heartfelt.
a) Many were deciding to put their faith in him.
B. But Jesus knew his audience. John 2:24
1) He knew his own disciples didn't really "get it" yet.
2) And didn't trust people an inch. He knew what was "in" us.
C. He knew who he was.
1) He chooses a humble and gentle approach, rather than
coming with 3 million armed angels, as expected.
a) Donkeys were normal business transportation,
nothing more. (not "kingly," as I once thought)
b) He even chooses a little one.
2) Yet the humble entry was prophesied centuries before.
a) Zechariah 9:9...
1> Emphasis on non-war-like mode.
2> He comes as a King.
A> Early Jews all saw this as a reference to the
Messiah, God's king.
B> A good one - righteous - not like Hussein.
3> He comes as a Savior.
V. Your response matters.
A. Original response at Palm Sunday.
1) Enthusiastic, but shallow.
2) The possibility of seeing a miracle was their biggest
expectation. John 12:9,18
3) Five days later they were yelling, "Crucify him!"
B. Our response to Jesus:
1) Believe the Bible, which reveals God's plan.
2) Acknowledge the ultimate King, Jesus.
a) Trust in him for your own salvation.
3) Mold your character so it becomes like his.
a) Don't just follow him when it is popular.
C. Be a part of his "exit strategy."
1) Americans will leave Baghdad, hopefully never to return.
2) Jesus left but we hope he comes back soon.
a) He said he would.
b) He will come with all those who believe in him - us!
c) He will never leave again.
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SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
#16338 "Enough Ground To Bury Them In," originally received as an email,
confirmed in http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/powell.php
This and 23,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://illust.holwick.com
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