Salt Lake City, Utah
April 1, 2007
April 1, 2007“Palm/Passion Sunday: Messages from the Disciples”
Message 1
His name was James. John was his younger brother. They used to work with Peter and Andrew in the fishing industry. Jesus called James to follow him on the same day that he called Peter. Along with the others, James did start to follow, thinking that Jesus would establish his kingdom on earth and that James and John would be his right-hand men.Jesus called these brothers “the Sons of Thunder.” Sounds like the leather jackets of a motorcycle gang. Actually, they were the sons of Zebedee, a rich and powerful man in the community who was a personal friend of the more influential religious leaders. At one time, James hoped this would assure him of a position of power in the new kingdom. In fact, his mother suggested that he should sit at Jesus’ right hand when he claimed his throne, and John at his left. After all, Jesus had invited them to the mountain where they saw him transfigured. His face shone like the sun and the voice of God spoke out of heaven.Jesus had chosen James. He had chosen each one of them. So, now at the time of his final week, how could one of them betray him? They had all seen his perfect adherence to the law. They heard the voice of God say, “this is my Son.” They were present for countless miracles, healings, teachings – things no mere man could accomplish. James must have wondered, “Could it be my brother, John? Could it be me? Is it I?”
Message 2
Before Levi Matthew became a disciple of Jesus, he worked for the Roman government collecting taxes. Back then, IRS agents were even more despised than today. It was not joking matter. Matthew used to take advantage of one of the “perks” of this profession – skimming a little off the top for his own personal use. Listening to Jesus, he came to realize that he had committed many sins against his neighbors. He had taken advantage of those people. He had cheated them. He became wealthy by stealing their hard-earned wages and goods. He now saw how he had hoarded earthly treasures instead of seeking eternal ones.Matthew’s heart changed because of Jesus. He even threw a huge feast at his home (a Matthew party) and invited others who worked in that corrupt organization to meet Jesus, and perhaps be changed as well. But now, Jesus is speaking of a traitor among the close-knit group of disciples. Matthew must have thought, “Will the others suspect me, a known “publican,” a sinner? Lord, is it I?”Message 3
Jesus came to Philip one day when he was working and simply said, “Follow me.” He spent and entire day with Jesus, then another, then another, and was soon convinced. This is truly the Promised One! It took a bit more time for him to understand that this man, this Jesus is actually the fulfilled promise. God was actually here among Philip and the other disciples.Philip was there when thousands of men and women, families, were sitting on the hillside, listening to Jesus teach. Jesus asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed them… all of them. Philip was the one who thought only of the actual, physical cost of such a venture and knew their ministry fund wouldn’t come close to covering the cost. Philip admitted that he gave little thought to the people’s discomfort or the possibility of a divine miracle. But Jesus took five tiny pieces of bread and two tiny fish, prayed over them, and broke them into pieces. He fed those thousands that day. Then Philip and the disciples collected twelve baskets full of leftovers. God was here among them.So, who would deny the Promised One, this divine presence in their midst? And to whom would this person deliver Jesus – to the vain and arrogant priests who refuse to believe that God had kept his promise, or to the pagan Roman government that fears a rival ruler? Philip must have thought, “Could any one of us forget his power, his compassion – could I forget? Is it I?”Message 4
He was known as Bartholomew to some, Nathaniel to others. He was a diligent student of the scriptures and a disciple of John the Baptist. His friend Philip told him about this Jesus of Nazareth, saying that Jesus was the one about whom the prophets had written. At first, Bartholomew was skeptical. Jesus – of Nazareth? That filthy, immoral place? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? But John said that Jesus was “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”Then Bartholomew met Jesus. Jesus seemed to know him already. He knew Bartholomew’s innermost thoughts. Although he had always been a devout man by anyone’s standards, he realized that Jesus was offering something more intimate, more personal than his religion ever offered before. For over a thousand years, the Hebrew people have been celebrating the Feast of Passover, remembering the bitter slavery in Egypt with the bitter herbs, remembering the ten plagues with ten drops from the goblet. Remembering how the blood of the sacrificed lamb caused the angel of death to pass over the Israelites and spare their firstborn. Remembering how God set his people free.That wonderful story! How they fled with no time to bake leavened bread – they made unleavened bread in the warmth of the sun. Now Jesus breaks this unleavened bread and says, “This is my body.” He shares the cup and says, “This is my blood. Do this in remembrance of me.”Bartholomew must have thought, “I don’t understand. What could make me betray me friend? Lord, is it I?”Conclusion
On this Palm/Passion Sunday we are confronted with the incongruity of proclaiming Jesus as Savior, Messiah, King on one hand and of our own tendency to distance ourselves from him when the rejection threatens us. We know the healing message of forgiveness, salvation, new life and faith in Christ. But we also know how often and how deeply we can deny Christ in our words and actions or lack of them.Nonetheless, the Lord knows our frail human condition. Like James, Matthew, Philip, Bartholomew and the others, we have seen and know the majestic power and sympathetic compassion of Jesus. When we place our trust in him, confess him as Lord and Savior, and intend to be his disciple, God will be faithful and grant us all we need to live in and for our Lord. The Lord’s Supper is an invitation to trust in Christ and his loving sacrifice for us. In him we find this healing and redemption. “This is the joyful feast of the people of God…”