Palm Sunday Message

A TRUE SERVANT

(Jesus)emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8)

Reading:Philippians 2: 1-8

      Just imagine this scene. It’s Palm Sunday and Jesus is coming into Jerusalem, riding on a blazing white stallion and kicking up a cloud of dust as he rode along. He’s looking for trouble. The people that he passes on his way are in awe of His beautiful white horse but even more awestruck by the man riding it. As Jesus passes by, you can hear people asking, "Who is He"
There were people on the loose that Jesus has come to town to deal with. A large crowd of people has gathered to see what all the noise and commotion is about. The stallion rears up on its hind legs, neighing loudly, and pawing the air with its front legs. What a spectacle it all makes!
      That makes a great story and maybe there are some who wish that Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a bit more spectacular and dramatic, but that’s not the way God planned it.
      There’s no denying that there’s a touch of glory in Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. He was welcomed as a hero. People had heard how He had raised Lazarus from the dead even though he had been dead for several days. The news had spread about how He had healed people who were incurably sick, how the blind were able to see, the deaf to hear, and how He restored people to their families after He had driven out evil spirits. News had reached the people of Jerusalem of His compassion and love, and how He had shown mercy to people such as tax collectors and prostitutes.
      The people were excited that this miracle-working teacher was coming to town. They waved palm branches and they spread their cloaks on the road, shouting ‘Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.’ The crowd welcomed Him as they would a king. After all, this was the one sent by God Himself to intervene in the wretched circumstances of their lives and to give hope for the future. This was the man who would give them freedom from Roman oppression, bring prosperity and bring a time of peace to their troubled land.
      No wonder they cheered and paved the way with palm branches and clothing! In the eyes of the crowd there was no doubt that Jesus was the promised king sent by God. However, this king was different. There was no white stallion, no show of power and strength, and no great musical overture to accompany His arrival. Instead, he rode a humble donkey, a beast of burden.
      As Jesus rode along His heart was heavy. Luke tells us that as Jesus got closer to the city, He wept. He knew that His enemies had begun to plot ways to get rid of Him. He knew all too well that, in just a few days time, the crowds wouldn’t be shouting praises to Him, but would be calling out, Crucify Him! Crucify Him! He wept because they wanted peace in their city, but could not see in Him the source of true peace – of forgiveness and the restoration of their relationship with God. Jesus wept with grief because He could see a time when Jerusalem would be nothing but a pile of rubble and the people waving palm branches would fall under the Roman sword.
      This is no ordinary king riding on a donkey. He has come to serve. He is a servant-king. On Good Friday we see the love that caused Jesus to be burdened with the sin of all humanity. He gave up His life for us.
      It is in this context that we are confronted with Paul's words to the church at Philippi. Paul, it seems, is quoting an early Christian hymn that speaks about Christ and who He is and what He has done for us. It is almost a mini-creed. Paul presents Jesus in the contrasting pictures of both king and servant. Listen to the apostle, [Jesus] although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:6-8).
      At the heart of Jesus’ work was the humble, selfless desire to serve. "... He gave up all He had, and took the nature of a servant.... He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death …" The Palm Sunday king didn’t want to dominate and lord it over others. He wanted to serve. He always considered the needs of others first, even if that meant giving up his own life. If serving meant laying down his own life, then he would do it.
      This theme of service comes through powerfully during Jesus’ whole ministry. Recall what happened at the Last Supper.
      No one was prepared to wash the dust off the disciples’ feet before beginning the meal. Therefore, Jesus, the Master, tied a towel around his waist, took a bowl of water and, kneeling before the disciples, He began to wash their feet. The picture is that of a true servant. Even though Jesus was the teacher, the master, even the king, He didn't give a second thought to doing the lowliest and lousiest of jobs of all, washing another person’s dirty feet.
      In the Old Testament, Isaiah describes what we refer to as The Suffering Servant. Isaiah is looking forward to the Saviour and describes the kind of person he will be. He endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne. … Because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. … He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word(Isaiah 53). There’s no glory here – just a suffering servant. The King of Glory was treated cruelly at the hands of His creation. Mocked and whipped, He was nailed to a cross. He died a shameful death. He died like a criminal. He allowed all this to happen because of His love for you and me, and because of His desire that the relationship between God and humanity be restored. He died a servant, meeting our greatest need – forgiveness for the sin that plagues every moment of our lives here on this earth.
      Being a servant was tough for Jesus. Satan was determined not to make it easy for him. Remember the temptations in the wilderness. The world didn’t make it easy. The crowd wanted to make Him a king - how tempting that must have been. Jesus’ own humanity didn’t make it easy for him to be a servant. Remember his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Not My will, but Thine.
      Neither is it easy for us to be servants.
Paul says, in the verses leading up to our text today, Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others [namely humility and service (Phil/ 2: 3-4). The apostle is urging us to adopt an attitude of servant-hood. As those who have benefited from Jesus’ shedding all His power and glory to serve our needs, we are encouraged to be servants of Christ and continue to carry on His ministry of service. Just as Jesus has met us at our greatest point of need, so also we are encouraged to meet others at the point of their greatest need. That might be the person who comes seeking assistance at a most inconvenient time; the telephone call with a plea for help that comes in the middle of something we’re doing; a request that seems beyond our ability or capacity to handle; the job that, even though it’s easy and will help someone, we just don't want to do it.
      As I said, being a servant isn’t easy. It’s part of our sinful nature to do things only if they bring some sort of benefit to us. We don’t want to give too much of ourselves away, after all we have other responsibilities. Servant-hood means just this - helping and caring with humility, and a love that wants to serve others unselfishly. Jesus once said: If anyone wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest, and if one of you wants to be first, he must be your slave - like the Son of Man who did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people (Matt 20:26).
      As we enter Holy Week once again, take time to reflect on the way Jesus gave Himself completely and wholly in service to us. Condemned by our sinful natures we were in desperate need, and we were cut off from God, yet Jesus graciously suffered and died for us. He was a true servant. Let’s enter Holy Week with a repentant heart, aware of the ways that we have failed to be true servants towards others. Let’s reflect on what it really means to be a servant, and determine to tear down the barriers of pride and self-concern, and seek to humbly serve at those points in people's lives where there is need. Finally, as we enter Holy Week, let’s take the time to stand before the cross in wonder and thanksgiving, praising God for Jesus and for the way He gave Himself for us. Salvation is free for us, but what a price was paid for our freedom.
Amen