Title: A Good Cleaning - Palm Sunday

Date: 2008-03-16

Reference: Matthew 21: 12-16

On that first Palm Sunday a large crowd of people spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road as well. People went ahead of Jesus shouting: “Praise to the Son of David. Hosanna in the Highest.” When Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred and asked.”Who is this?” The crowds answered: “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

I’m glad Jesus was welcomed in this way. Jesus emptied himself of all trappings of heaven, taking the form of a servant. He was born in a barn, in an obscure out of the way village. He was laid in an animal’s feeding trough. All through his life he gave so much and received so little. Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine teaching and healing. He had no earthly place to call his home. He befriended outcasts of society. He was hounded at every turn by the Religious establishment. He was misunderstood by his family and friends. Jesus was even called demon possessed and mentally ill. He gave himself over to the most painful death that cruel men could devise.

I’m thankful that on this one day he was greeted by friendly faces and excited shouts of welcome. Whether or not it was for the right reason I’m happy Jesus had at least one special day.

This special feeling didn’t last. Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Passion Week in which we remember all Jesus did the last days of his life on earth. We remember how Jesus shared a meal with his close friends and how he stooped to wash the feet of one who had already sold him.

There is a sharp contrast between one who washed his hands and the one who washed feet. Pilate imagined that by washing his hands he would be free of the guilt of condemning an innocent man to a horrible death. Jesus on the other hand personally and lovingly served his followers by humbly washing their feet.

We recall the words of Jesus, how he said: “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. As we remember the cross of Christ and his extraordinary sacrifice on our behalf, we are motivated to carry our cross of sacrifice and to follow Jesus.

After arriving in Jerusalem Jesus went straight to the Temple. There he overturned the tables of the money changers. The blind and the lame came to Jesus and he healed them. The chief priests and teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did, they heard the children shouting Hosanna and they were indignant.

Jesus gave the Temple a good cleaning, a much needed cleaning that day. This cleaning was more symbolic than literal. My wife is able to strike terror into the hearts of family members by uttering those three words.”A Good Cleaning.” That means hard work. I guess no one really likes cleaning. The fact that we clean indicates there is dirt, dust, and clutter needing attention. It may not be so much fun to clean but everyone enjoys a clean home. A house down the street from us has been falling into serious disrepair. It has been neglected. Weeds, dead trees, and trash littered the front yard. This Spring someone has really been working hard to clean it up. It’s starting to look very nice. It is hard work to take on a project like that.

The Temple in Jerusalem was well cared for, but it needed a good spiritual cleansing. God’s house had been defiled. Foreigners came to the Temple to exchange money and purchase sacrifices. What had begun as a service of convenience for visitors from other lands turned into a lucrative business. Dealers charged exorbitant prices and cheated the people. Competition was not allowed. The Temple court had become a place used for mercenary and not missionary business.

Jesus said the Temple should be a house of prayer but it had become a den of thieves. What has God always wanted in His House? God desires prayer among His people. True prayer is an evidence of our dependance upon god and our faith in God’s word. God also wants people in need to be helped. The needy should feel welcome and should find the kind of help they need. There should be power in God’s house.

In cleansing the Temple Jesus challenged the economic, political, and religious powers that be. Jesus managed to upset almost everyone that day. The cleansing of the Temple can be applied to the cleansing that the presence of Jesus brings into our lives and into our church.

Much of what passes for religious activity in the church today is not pleasing to Jesus. I believe Jesus would not be any more welcome in many churches today than he was welcome in the Temple many years ago. We know it’s true. Jesus clearly said: “Whenever you fail to welcome the most unimportant person you fail to welcome me.” Today, in the church, we are often hesitant to offer a true welcome to anyone who doesn’t look or act like we do. In Matthew 25 Jesus spoke of the final judgement. He said: “When I was hungry you fed me. Thirsty you gave me a drink.

When I was a stranger you welcomed me. When I was naked you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick you took care of me. In jail you visited me. When you did this for any of my people no matter how unimportant they seemed you did it for me. Whenever you failed to help any of my children, you failed to help me.

Jesus has always told us to remember our calling. Our purpose is to be a light for God in the darkness. We are called to be an example for the world. We are to help care for the poor. Jesus criticized Israel for it’s failure to fulfill it’s special mission. He told his disciples to obey the teachings of the Scribes and Pharisees but not to emulate their lives. He denounced their practices calling them hypocrites who said one thing and did another.

Once again this Palm Sunday we symbolically welcome Jesus into our midst, into our church into our lives. I pray this Sunday, this service is more than just tradition. I hope we are eagerly waiting and open. As Jesus comes among us he calls our attention to whatever is weak, wrong, or inadequate in our lives and in our church.

As Christ is the mirror of God in the world, so the church is the mirror of Jesus. Either the worlds sees Jesus in us or it does not see him. Charles Sheldon wrote a book entitled: “In His Steps.” This was the story of a man who made a conscious effort to walk in the steps of Jesus. Before saying anything, doing anything, going anywhere or making any decisions at all he asked himself “What Would Jesus do?” He tried to do the same. This is a good challenge for each of us and a wonderful challenge for our congregation.

During our lives on earth daily situations will reveal our character. Will our character point others toward Jesus or cause others to stumble and fall?

We look to Jesus as the example of a Godly life. Jesus showed us how to live with kindness, gentleness, sympathy and affection. He was always loving, forgiving, merciful and patient. He had a sense of justice and compassion for the suffering and persecuted. He was willing to take a stand for what was right in God’s eyes. We can and should learn so much from Jesus.

We cannot be exactly like Jesus. Our humanness and sin get in the way.

We should always attempt to be more selfless and joyful so that our character will reveal the likeness of Jesus. As Jesus’ representatives in the world today, we will walk in His steps when we follow His call to us. When we help the helpless. When we pray for the sick. And when we clothe the homeless. Today may our praise be translated into purpose. May our conviction be expressed in deeds. May our faith take the form of service.

I think Jesus would be pleased with some aspects of our congregational life. Recently the United Methodist Church reported that our congregation had increased benevolence giving by 282% over the last nine years. I’m sure Jesus would be pleased to see us reaching out to the world and our community in this way. Our building is in constant use by various groups. Once a month we welcome the homeless to live among us through the IHN ministry. We share our facility with the Korean worshiping community. These are all good signs, but there is always room for improvement.

In our personal lives are we allowing the Spirit of God to heal, forgive, cleanse, and challenge us? When we are full of ourselves, it is impossible for God to fill us. When we are empty God has a useful vessel.

On this Palm Sunday we ask God to pardon us for not confidently trusting, for not enthusiastically following, for not lovingly embracing and for not fully committing ourselves to Jesus Christ.