#6: Give Up – Ignoring Jesus
John 12:12-19 Victory Fellowship
April 13, 2025 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
Palm Sunday
An Episcopal priest was preaching in an unfamiliar church one Sunday morning. As he stood in the pulpit to begin the service, he tapped the microphone to make sure that it was on. He heard nothing, even though, it was working fine. So he leaned closer to the microphone and said, he thought, to himself; "There is something wrong with this thing." The congregation, being well trained church people immediately responded, "And also with you."
This story illustrates the danger of the familiar. We can be so steeped in routine that we stop paying attention to what we are doing.
Statistics show that most car accidents occur within a relatively short distance of a driver's home, often within 15 miles. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "close-to-home effect". It can become dangerous to drive on a road that we drive on every single day. It’s dangerous because we stop being alert, we take things for granted, we figure we can drive this route with our eyes closed. If something different happens on the road we may not notice it at all... At least, until it’s too late.
The same is certainly true about living in a small town. We often hear people gripe about how "Smothering" a small town can be. All the time, unappreciative of the friendly neighbors, good school system, safe community, and even a post office where the mail will get to you even if it has the wrong address. We become so used to these things that we don’t notice them--until they are gone.
This is also the danger we face as we come to the Easter season. The accounts of the Triumphal Entry, the cross, and Easter are so familiar to most of us that we can easily go through the motions of a celebration without ever allowing the message of these events to touch us. We might just ignore Jesus because talking about Him is too familiar.
The challenge every year is to read these accounts with "fresh eyes". Look with me at this familiar account of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus:
A. WHY PALMS?
1. Why did people wave palm branches? They were considered symbols of peace and victory. “The people went forth and brought . . . palm branches” (Neh. 8:15). “Took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him” (Jn. 12:13). “I beheld, and lo a great multitude . . . of all nations . . . and people, and tongues . . . with . . . palms in their hands” (Rev 7:9, KJV).
2. What day was it? The seventh day before Passover, i.e., Sunday. “Seven days ye must eat unleavened bread, on the first day (Sunday) ye shall have an holy convocation” (Lev. 23:5-7).
a. Sunday was specifically predicted in the feast schedule.
b. Sunday was called Yom Too i.e., good day.
c. This Sunday overshadowed ordinary ones.
B. CHRONOLOGY OF PALM SUNDAY
1. SATURDAY NIGHT, Feast at Bethany. “Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany . . . there they made him a supper” (John 12:1-2).
a. Mary anointed His feet. Judas asked a question of application, “To what purpose is this waste?” (Matt. 26:8).
• To predict His death and burial (Matt. 26:12).
• To worship. Perfume was used in sacrifice.
2. EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, “Jesus sent two disciples - you will see a donkey tied there with its colt” (Matt. 21:1, LB).
a. Divine plan. Predicted place. Fulfilled prophecy. “Behold your King cometh . . . riding upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zech. 9:9).
Again, in the gospel of Luke, we are told, that Jesus had arranged to use a donkey. He told his Disciples to go to town to find this donkey that would be tied outside. If they were asked why they were taking the donkey, they were to respond: "The Master has need of Him ". Apparently, Jesus had made arrangements to use a donkey. Jesus had this parade in mind in advance of it taking place.
This was not a spontaneous demonstration. Jesus intended it to happen. The question we must ask is why? Why was Jesus orchestrating this grand demonstration?
First, it was time. It was time for Jesus to do what He came to do. Later in verse 23 we see that "the hour has come." God was determining the timing - not man.
Second, Jesus wanted it to be clear that this was a voluntary act. He could have simply "laid low." He could have walked away like he had done before. We read throughout the New Testament of times when the people went to kill Him and he simply walked away. They had no power over Him. They could not take Him until He allowed them to.
Knowing what was before him: betrayal, humiliation, suffering, death, he chose to come to Jerusalem.
Such is the magnificent love of our Savior. Jesus was not the unwilling victim of a vicious plot. He was a willing sacrifice for all who would believe.
How easy it is for us to talk about the love of God. How difficult it is for us to accept it. Do you understand that he went willingly to Jerusalem for you, and for me?
J. I. Packer writes; "If I understand God’s love, why do I ever grumble and show discontent and resentment at the circumstances in which God has placed me? Why am I ever distrustful, fearful, or depressed?
Why do I ever allow myself to grow cool, formal, and half-hearted in the service of the God who loves me so? Why do I ever allow my loyalty to be divided, so that God has not all my heart?
Packer asked good questions.
I would ask, why do we sometimes ignore Jesus in our lives?
Another familiar but true statement is - God has plans! God’s plan did not end with the coming of Christ. This world in which we live is not running out of control. God is not surprised by what is taking place in our society today. God is not pleased with what is happening but he is not caught off guard.
The Bible is clear that there is coming a day when Jesus will return and this time He will not come as a humble servant but will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s. The decadence of our world does not surprise Him. He told us it would come (see 2 Timothy 3:1ff). God is not wringing His hands wondering what to do. He’s in control.
Friends in Christ, it’s also true that things are not out of control in your life either! Do you understand that God has plans for you too? I know from personal experience that there are times when I see what is going on in and around my life and I wonder what God is trying to do.
But remember our text in verse 16 we read: "at first his Disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him."
On that day when Jesus walked toward Jerusalem the Disciples were unaware of what God was doing. They missed the significance of that day. Only later did they come to see the hand of God in all that was taking place.
At times, that may be true in our lives as well. The fact that we don’t understand what is going on in our life does not mean that God is not at work. He has promised that he would lead everyone who believes in him to that which is ultimately good. Our promise is that God knows what he is doing.
You may not understand but you can trust him. In fact, God does not require you to understand. He just asks you to trust Him. The one thing we do understand is that the Lord wants us to entrust ourselves to Him. Are you willing to do so? Are you willing to give up ignoring Jesus?
Maybe it is time to bow before his throne and to give him the honor and praise that he desires and deserves. Jesus loves you. He faced the mobs for you. He endured torture for you. He went to the cross for you. He went there so you could be free - free from sin’s addiction, free from the treadmill of futility, free to live.
Are you willing to follow Him? Not just to church but in your daily life?
Are you willing to entrust yourself to Him even when the future is confusing - believing God has plans? Are you willing to serve Him until that day when His plans on earth are fulfilled?
These are the questions of Palm Sunday. Take a fresh look at this familiar event. You may be surprised at what you see. It could change you forever.
On that first Palm Sunday the people rejoiced – but Jesus was solemn. He knew what He was about to do for humanity because there’s only love in the heart of God for us.
PRAYER
Song: Heart of God
John 12:12-19 HCSB
12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One—the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: 15 Fear no more, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt. 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify. 18 This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look—the world has gone after Him!”
