PALM SUNDAY/SUNDAY OF THE PASSION – April 5, 2020 – Phil. 2:5-11
“WHAT REALLY HAPPENED”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Phil. 2. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- There is one thing that I really hate when watching a movie, or reading a book. That is when the hero is placed into a position of having to put down his weapon in order to save someone. He has to give up his position of power, and he becomes powerless to defend himself or to further rectifiy the situation.
- I want my heroes to be invincible, to always be in charge and never vulnerable. I don’t want them to lose at all, not even a round if they are boxing. Not even giving up a basket, if playing basketball, or a goal if playing hockey or soccer. No touchdowns, nothing!
- I want the same of God. In fact, it is part of our great comfort with God that He is almighty. If He were not almighty, then how could we trust in Him to protect us and preserve us. If He were not almighty, then we would wonder whether someone or something might conquer Him, overcome Him, overpower Him.
- The disciples struggled with this – as Christ was arrested, tried, convicted, and executed. How could their hero succumb like this? It must have been excruciating for them – the death of all their hopes and plans! This is why they were terrified after Jesus’ death, in hiding!
- So, how do we react to seeing Jesus enter into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday with great fanfare and popularity, only to be crucified and put to death some five days later? What does it mean that Jesus had to submit to this? What caused it? “WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?”
- We find out in our text! Yes, it is really true!
I. Jesus, The Divine And Almighty Son Of God, Came Into Our World As A Real Human Being
A. He Is Truly God
Text: “Though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.”
Heb. 1:3 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
B. He Truly Became A Man
John 1:1-3,14 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Col. 2:9 “In Him the whole fulness of the Deity dwells bodily.”
1 Tim. 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
C. But He Humbled Himself
Text: “He made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
D. He Obediently Died For Our Redemption
Text: “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross.”
Statement: Ah, you see, this is the part I hate. It looks as if all is lost! It looks as if all our hopes that evil would be overcome are dashed forever. After all, death is permanent, or so it seems.
And there are many who still consider it to be so. Deniers of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But this also means denying that He is God. Or denying that God is Almighty. Or asserting that He failed as the Lamb of God, that He did not take away our sins!
Application: In this view of things, “WHAT REALLY HAPPENED” is the defeat of God. No, in this view of things “WHAT REALLY HAPPENED” is the death of God Himself, of the concept of God, or the hope that somehow Good would prevail over evil!
All of this way of thinking simply ignores the facts. In order to redeem us from sin and death, Jesus had to become vulnerable and subject to our punishment. But it is just as the apostle wrote: “God made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” [2 Cor. 5:21] He had to die so that our sin and guilt would die with Him!
Transition: Now it also really hurts that I am the cause of this. I am the one who has fault, who has sin, who is being saved and rescued by Christ. I am the cause of His vulnerability, His apparent weakness, and His suffering and death. But there is no need for me to grovel with this reality, for according to our text:
II. God Has Vindicated Jesus For His Obedience
A. By Raising Him Up From Death
Text: “Therefore God has highly exalted Him.”
Rom. 1:4 “He was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
B. By Exalting Him Above All Else
Text: “God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name.”
1. He reigns over all things to this very day
Text: “So that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
1 Pet. 3:22 “He has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him.”
Eph. 1:16-23 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
2. He now receives all glory
Text: “So that every tongue confess That Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Statement: The interim is excruciating with drama, when the hero is vulnerable and it is yet uncertain how or even if he will somehow escape and turn the tables, regaining control. But in the case of Jesus, the reversal is stunning! Just as His demise on the cross was stunning, His resurrection was even more stunning. And on top of His resurrection is His elevation and exaltation to the right hand of God – in control of everything: far above all rule and authority and power and dominion.
Application: That is what really happened! Yes, there was a death, an apparent fall and failing of the hero. Yes, for some it calls into question Who He is. For some, it calls into question the whole notion of God. But this can only happen if one is ignorant of “WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.”
Conclusion: It is our great joy to “KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED,” not for some self-satisfaction. Rather, our joy surpasses anything like that a myriad of times. Our joy in this is to also know God, to know His eternal plan and will for us, that we might know Him as He truly is, not only in the glory of His almighty power, but also in the greater glory of His eternal love for us!
This is the blessedness that all Christians share with the Father and His Son, and His Holy Spirit. It is an eternal joy and blessedness – in “WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.” May God continue to strengthen us in this our faith and knowledge of Him, that we might indeed have this same mind among ourselves. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.