Shouting "Hosanna!"

Reading: Matthew 7.15-27
Not everyone likes the limelight, but who likes being unpopular? Not any of us, I suspect! It would be a strange person indeed who preferred unpopularity!

Jeremiah the prophet gave us an insight into the feeling - "Whenever I speak, I have to cry out and shout, 'Violence! Destruction!' Lord, I am ridiculed and scorned all the time because I proclaim your message… I hear everybody whispering, 'Terror is everywhere! So let's report him to the authorities!' Even my close friends wait for my downfall… Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?" (Jer.20.8,10,18)

Think of the politicians preparing for an election. The recent N.S.W. election was an exception - neither John Fahey nor Bob Carr were willing to predict the final result. But the usual pattern has been for the main contenders to speak with an absolute assurance of winning. Yet one of them is heading for the big "let-down", because only one can win.

At a number of points, Jesus warned his followers not to expect popularity. In the Beatitudes, he told us, "Happy are you when people insult you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted" (Mt.5.11-12).

On another occasion he said, "How terrible when all people speak well of you; their ancestors said the very same things about the false prophets" (Lk.6.26).

As we have noted before, we are to live before God, knowing and expressing his grace and the life of the Kingdom with integrity - no matter what public opinion may say.

Hosanna!

It was the lead-up to Passover. Knowing that his teaching, his life and actions had angered the Jewish leaders and that they were already plotting to get rid of him, Jesus "resolutely set out for Jerusalem" (Lk.9.51 N.I.V.).

The disciples were concerned that Jesus was heading into danger, even though they knew that many had been impressed by his teaching and many helped by his ministry. But how might people react if public opinion was seen to change?

Again and again, Jesus had said, "Don't tell anyone you have been healed. Don't reveal me as the Messiah" (as, for example, in Mt.8.4; 16.20; 17.9). But now his time had come. Now he chose deliberately to fulfil Zechariah's prophetic words by riding an unbroken colt into Jerusalem (Zech.9.9) - coming in humility and peace, not in war.

The crowds were excited. The disciples' hopes rose. It looked as if Jesus might just ride the tide of popularity into Jerusalem. Palm branches and cloaks were laid on the road ahead of him.

Traditionally, Psalm 118 was sung by the people of Jerusalem to greet the pilgrims as they arrived for the Passover feast. But now it took on a new meaning and was sung with extra fervour - "The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all. This was done by the Lord, what a wonderful sight it is! This is the day of the Lord's victory; let us be happy, let us celebrate! Save us, Lord, save us (Heb. hoshianna)! Give us success, O Lord! May God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! From the Temple of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God; he has been good to us. With branches in your hands, start the festival and march round the altar…" (vv.22-27).

No, Jesus would not stop them, as the Jewish leaders requested. The time had come for the truth about him to be revealed and declared. And declared it must be, even though this "Hosanna!" will all too soon be followed by "Crucify!", even though this moment of popularity will be followed by rejection and death.

Jesus had called them to follow him. Which way was he leading them? Where was he leading them?

Follow which leader?

In the last part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned them to be careful which leader they were following.

He has already warned them that the gate and path to life are narrow and hard - don't expect it to be the popular way (Mt.7.13-14)!

Then he says, "Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves" (v.15).

Here are some amazing statements from a very false prophet, Rev. Moon. Some of Moon's former followers quote him as saying: "The whole world is in my hand, I will conquer and subjugate the world" (1973). "We must have an automatic theocracy to rule the world. So we cannot separate the political field from the religious" (1973). "History will make the position of Rev. Moon clear, and his enemies, the American population and government, will bow down to him" (1986). "The time will come when even a presidential candidate will need Father's endorsement in order to succeed" (1987).

Do you want to follow someone who is pleasant, appealing, popular… or true? Jesus offers the only way to life, warning that it is tough, that it is like the crucifixion of yourself (16.24). Beware of teachers who make for us an easy Christianity with no sin and no Saviour, who weaken the rules God has given us and empty the blood of Christ of its cleansing power. Beware of organisations which claim to be Bible-based, but permit no mention of the name of Jesus. Beware of teachers who try to equate Christianity with Hinduism, Buddhism or some other religion.

Beware! You will know them by their fruit - "You will know the false prophets by what they do" (7.16,20).

True living springs from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It begins with the grace of God in forgiveness and continues as the Holy Spirit pours transforming grace within us. The Christian life is not cosmetic, making the outside more beautiful, while leaving the ugly inside intact. The Christian life works from the inside out.

Saying "Lord, Lord!"

But Jesus turns from the false prophets to the need of all of us to live in a way that reflects our professions of faith and loyalty to him. "Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. When Judgement Day comes, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God's message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!' Then I will say to them, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!' " (vv.21-23).

The expression "face the music" is said to have originated in Japan. According to the story, one man in the imperial orchestra couldn't play a note. Being a person of great influence and wealth, he had demanded that he be given a place in the group because he wanted to "perform" before the emperor. The conductor agreed to let him sit in the second row of the orchestra, even though he couldn't read music. He was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he'd raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers. He would go through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound. This deception continued for two years.

Then a new conductor took over. He told the orchestra that he wanted to audition each player personally. One by one they performed in his presence. Then came the flautist's turn. He was frantic with worry, so he pretended to be sick. However, the doctor who was ordered to examine him declared that he was perfectly well. The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill. Shamefacedly he had to confess that he was a fake. He was unable to "face the music."

It is so easy to be part of a crowd shouting "Hosanna! Hosanna!" - or saying "Lord, Lord!" Some Christians like a more folksy kind of music and clap, raise their hands and call out loud to the Lord. Other Christians prefer a music- and worship-style that is rather more traditional and restrained. The real question to us all is whether, in fact, we "do what our Father in heaven wants us to do". Remember the words of Jesus, "Be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you…" (6.33).

I have often wondered how many of the Palm Sunday crowd later joined the crowd that called, "Crucify him!" Many people were in Jerusalem for the Passover feast. There is no necessity for assuming that the same people were involved. And yet… I wonder! On the day of Pentecost, Peter could refer to "this Jesus, whom you crucified" (Acts 2.36). They would all have to "face the music", but forgiveness was being offered to all who would repent and believe. And it is only on that basis that any of us can "face the music".

Foundations

So - be careful to whom you are listening; the test is not "Lord, Lord!" but whether you do the Father's will.

These two principles come together in the familiar story of the wise and foolish house builders (Mt. 7.24-27). We remember it well from Sunday School days - "Build on the rock, the rock that ever stands. Build on the rock and not upon the sands. You need not fear the storm nor the earthquake's shock! You're safe for evermore if you build on the rock." I am sure we remember it - actions and all!

But in the interests of teaching the parable memorably, we can miss the punch line - "So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock… But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand…"

Don't listen to false prophets - listen to the words of Jesus, pay attention to his life, receive his redeeming grace. Don't just call him "Lord, Lord!" - do what he says, live it out.

When workmen began to renovate Theatre London in London, Ontario, they were determined to save the theatre's greatest glory - a splendid proscenium arch with hand-painted murals of frolicking nymphs. During the project's early stages they discovered that one side of the arch was supported by nothing more than a broken brick standing on loose sand. A steel support was hastily erected before the arch collapsed!

Listen to the words of Jesus, pay attention to his life, receive his redeeming grace… then do what he says, live it out!


© Peter J. Blackburn, Buderim Uniting Church, 9 April 1995
Except where otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Good News Bible, © American Bible Society, 1992.

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