Following in His Way
Philippians 2:5-11
March 20, 2005
Aldersgate UMC
I.
Enamored
with Palm Sunday and donkeys
a. Every time Matthew, horseback riding in St. Kitts
b. Donkey and colt makes me wonder
i.
only in
Matthew’s version of the entrance into
ii.
picture
it
iii.
emphasizes
Jesus’ humility
c. for Matthew, Jesus fit to be Messiah in part because
of this humility
d. Even our opening hymn reminds us of the donkey
i.
1st
hymn suggests clip clop movement and sound of donkey
ii.
riding a
donkey foreshadows coming events
II.
Palm
Sunday may be the most confusing day of the Christian year
a. when I was a kid, used to celebrate just as Palm
Sunday
i.
at least
that’s what I remember
ii.
no
mention of Passion Sunday
iii.
but I
never went to Good Friday and neither did many others
b. without the passion, this triumphant entry looks like
end of story
i.
Imagine
if you came to service with amnesia
1. would you know that was Palm Sunday
2. the beginning
of Jesus’ passion
3. not Easter, the end of the story
ii.
For those
who do not know the suffering of Christ
c. so, lectionary came to include a suggestion of the
passion
i.
reminds
us that the one we exalt today is the same one who dies on the cross
ii.
offers a
new understanding of humble
1. refuses to step away from cross
2. saving others, not himself
3. lives out vocation as Son of God
4. trusting only in God
d. Triumphant entry, yet we know what is to come
1. crowds welcome with shouts of Hosanna
2. yet, will turn away by Friday
3. one of his won will betray him
4. the authorities will arrest him
5. he will die on a cross as a common criminal
III.
In
Philippians, one of those passages, Paul calls us to take on the mindset of
Christ
a. Follow in his way
i.
Reflect
back his obedience to God’s way
1. others as more important than self
2. be willing to go the distance trusting that God is
with us
ii.
adopt his
value system and set of priorities
1. downwardly mobile, no value in things
2. great humility
b. Encouraged to see his life as the spiritual pattern
for our own lives
i.
Christ,
although divine subjected himself to constraints of human existence
ii.
We though
very human keep trying to avoid those constraints
iii.
Time we accepted
them, we are fragile human beings
c. Called to understand our own lives as a reflection of
the pattern of his life
i.
Nouwen names this pattern as chosen, blessed, broken, given
ii.
Follows
actions related to Holy Communion
iii.
Offer up
brokenness of the world for God’s healing touch
1. violence in streets and homes
2. pray for poor and hungry
3. ask Jesus into our hearts to heal places of hatred
and prejudice
4. offer up disease we cannot control or cure
5. pray for the earth that is impacted by human
pollution and war
IV.
Palm
Sunday marks a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus
a. Causes us to look backward
i.
Birth and
baptism
1. tell us of Jesus’ belovedness
2. he is the beloved son of God
b. also makes us look ahead to events recalled
i.
on Maundy
Thursday and Good Friday
1. Jesus consecrates Last Supper
2. Says “this is my body broken for you”
3. This is my blood poured out for the forgiveness of
sin
4. On Good Friday he is broken open for the world
a. Poured out for all
ii.
On
Easter, he is risen and given that all the world might know the love of God
1. Through the grace of God he is raised from the dead
2. Because of God’s love, he shows that death is not the
enemy
c. And Palm Sunday, perhaps we could see as a
blessing.
i.
The
people cry out “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
ii.
They
welcome as their king, yet he rides on a lowly donkey
V.
Donkey is
the one who bears Christ
a. What mean to be Christ bearers
b. Bear Christ for world
i.
As
faithful servant
ii.
Serve
humbly
iii.
Follow
His direction,
1. go where he wants us to go
2. obey the One who holds the reins
iv.
Not
getting spooked by crowd
v.
Take Him
to enemy territory
vi.
Never ask
him to get off
c. This is what we’re called to do?
d. Rather than calling us donkeys,
i.
Just
think about the other names for donkeys
ii.
Rename
all of us Christopher(a)
iii.
I know
God will work in our lives to fill us with humility and confidence to be Christophers for God
VI.
Started
with donkey story, end with one
a. Donkey awakened
i.
Mind
savoring afterglow
ii.
Most
exciting day of her life
iii.
Never
before felt rush of pleasure and pride
b. Walked into town
i.
Saw group
of people at well
ii.
Decided
to show herself and receive their accolades
iii.
They
didn’t even notice her
iv.
Went on
drawing water
v.
“Throw
your garments down.” Said crossly
vi.
“Don’t
you know who I am?”
vii.
they just
looked at her amazed
viii.
slapped
her on his rump and ordered her to move away
c. decided to go to market
i.
people
nicer there
ii.
but same
thing happened
iii.
no one
paid any attention
iv.
strutted
up and down main street
d. shouted “The palm branches! Where are the palm branches!
Yesterday, you threw palm branches!”
e. hurt and confused she went home to mother
f.
“Foolish
child,” mohter said gently, “Don’t you realize that
without Him, you are just another donkey?”
VII.
no one of us wants
to be without Christ.
a. Without Christ! How can that be ?
b. When we lift up Christ, we are no longer ordinary
people,
c. we are taken, blessed, broken and given,
d. following in the way that He taught. Amen!