COPING IN A CRISIS
PALM SUNDAY
4-13-03
Luke 19:28-44
INTRODUCTION
There is little chapel in England that was erected in a time when people were bitterly divided by war and it bears this inscription:
“In the year 1653, when all things sacred were throughout ye nations
either demolished or profaned,
Sir Robert Shirley, Baronet, founded this church,
whose singular praise is to have done
ye best things in ye worst times,
and hoped in ye most calamitous.”
Having done the best things in the worst times is a great commendation!
I believe there is a similar message Jesus is teaching in this Palm Sunday event we celebrate today, but in an even more powerful way. We’ve grown so used to this triumphal entry into Jerusalem we may have missed the mystery. This event so totally out of character with everything else in Jesus’ ministry, it begs the question, “Why?” Throughout His earthly life and ministry, Jesus has shunned publicity and acclaim. He consistently understated His miracles and avoided notoriety. At times He even told people He healed to not tell others what He'd done for them. When the crowds got too large, He often left or escaped. Nowhere do we see Him promoting himself or encouraging people to worship Him. This one event stands out in stark contrast to everything else we are told about Jesus. Why now is He engineering a parade, suddenly encouraging worship, and calling attention to Himself? In fact, in Luke's account, even the Pharisees pick up on this incongruity, asking Jesus to rebuke His disciples for this excess, for this worship of Him. Jesus responds with this amazing statement:
"I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (40)
Clearly something big and unusual is going on here. This is Jesus' response to the greatest crisis in his life up to that point. Jesus knew his death was imminent, just five days away. He was entering a time of daily, intense confrontations with the religious leader's entrapping questions. He was walking into their sinister plots and betrayals by those closest to him. Jesus’ life is intended as a model for us in handling things. Here, He is modeling how to handle a crisis with principles that can guide us through any crisis and bring us to resurrection life beyond it. The centerpiece of this whole scene, of course, is worship. Jesus feels the need of worship and praise to face the dark threatening clouds of the coming days– so much so that He breaks with His normal practice.
Most of the people I observe handling difficulties well, generally at least to some degree are making use of this principle modeled by Jesus. Sir Robert Shirley is in harmony with Jesus’ teaching on this. He knew the church must be central, especially in the worst and calamitous times, and, that the church is a place for gathering to worship God. Thus, Sir Robert’s action was a call to worship, putting his money where it would do the best things.
We all face adversity and difficult times. Is it bringing out the best in us? And, just what is the best thing to do in a crisis? I’ve been told that the Chinese character for the word “crisis” is a combination of the characters for "danger" and "opportunity." How do we discover and seize the opportunity inherent in a crisis and avoid the danger? We see Jesus’ answer in praise and worship. But I think most of us need a little help in understanding why worship is the answer.
WORSHIP– ENTHRONING GOD
As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, praise and worship fills the air. Out text says, they began to joyfully praise God with loud voices... (37). And John adds that,
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the King of Israel.” (12:13)
This doesn’t sound like our sedate, often unenthusiastic Presbyterian worship! You’ll notice this morning, we only gave the palm branches to the kids. Most of us adults were probably relieved that we didn’t have to wave them. It probably would have been wasted money on a lot of us, if we expect enthusiastic waving. Often, I’m afraid, we’ve forgotten what it is to cheer, wave, and shout except at ball games. But our children can teach us. I trust you’ll forgive my having a little fun with our “Presbyterian reserve.” I can be as cautious as any of us in my expressions in worship. We all just need to remember, Biblical worship is a call to “loosen up, show joy and enthusiasm for the Lord.”
As Jesus becomes the center and leader of wonderful, celebrative Palm Sunday worship, there are things going on here on at least a couple of levels. In this place of thickening plots and brooding storm clouds it is first of all a clear proclamation of His rule, and reign. He is, King of kings and Lord of lords. His kingdom cannot be destroyed by the machinations of men. All evil is ultimately doomed in Christ, including the sinister schemes of the Pharisees. And perhaps at least some of those disciples thought Jesus was riding into Jerusalem to seize the power that was His. But, at a deeper level, as I’ve suggested, the worship itself is an essential ingredient for facing this crisis.
To understand how worship itself helps when we’re in trouble, I find Ps. 22:3 instructive. This is the Psalm Jesus was praying from the cross. Two different translations pick up nuances of the truth expressed in the Hebrew original. The KJV speaks of the Lord, inhabiting the praises of his people. The RSV puts it, Thou art enthroned upon the praises... I want us to look at these two aspects of praise: bringing us into God’s presence and enthroning God.
First, praise is the quickest and surest way into God’s presence. I heard my mother often quoting this verse from Ps. 22:3, that the Lord “inhabits the praises of Israel [His people].” She practiced it all day long, every day. She’d go through the day singing, worshiping, and relishing God’s presence. When I was younger, and had friends over to the house, it was sometimes quite embarrassed. The singing wasn’t too bad, my mother had a terrific singing voice. But when she wasn’t singing, there were occasional spontaneous, soft but hearable expressions like, “Thank you Jesus... praise you Lord.” But even at that age (apart from the peer pressure I feared), I appreciated that she knew God intimately and lived and breathed God’s presence. Jesus inhabited our home through her praises. In fact, people often commented when they visited our home with something like, “Your home is so filled with peace and a feeling of joy.”
I read about a little boy who was sick on Palm Sunday. When his father returned from church, he brought home his palm branch for his son. The boy was curious, having never experienced palm branches on Palm Sunday. His dad explained, “When Jesus came into town, everyone waved palm branches to honor him, so we all got palm branches today.” The little boy responded, “Oh no! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday Jesus shows up!”
Well, Jesus is here every week. But, the way we enter into His presence and feel his presence is most often through praise. This is why our singing is so crucial at the beginning of worship. This little formula really works: if you want to enter into God's presence, praise Him with your whole heart. Then, very soon you will be feeling the warmth and joy of His presence. And, singing is the easiest way to do that corporately. Jesus says we must worship, “in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24).” Hymns and choruses are both needed. Hymns appeal more to the truth aspect. Choruses often seem more effective in drawing us into heart-felt praise, where our spirits can join in worship.
Certainly at the beginning of this final week of Jesus’ life, His disciples need to be drawn into God’s presence. They will need the strength, support and guidance that gives in the days they face.
The second aspect the RSV captures in translating Ps. 22:3 is that worship enthrones Jesus over our circumstances. And, when you think about it, aren't we enthroning God when we worship Him? Think what happens in praise. We are making a choice, taking our eyes and thoughts off ourselves and others and focusing upon Jesus. We are proclaiming His qualities and attributes– exalting Him. This is so important in facing a crisis. Our tendency when we’re in trouble may be:
Worship offers a powerful alternative– for when we worship, we put faith in action and:
All of this clears our vision and restores our perspective. This is exactly what the disciples all need in the face of the horrendous evil they will be facing in this last week of Jesus’ life.
I hope you've experienced the power of praise in the midst of oppressive circumstances. When I have faced encounters with evil and darkness, or just felt overwhelmed by troubles, nothing has been more helpful than praise and worship. Have you ever prayed about your situation and felt worse afterwards? In your prayer, you start out thinking about the problem, but the more you go over it in prayer, the worse it seems. As we rehash it before the Lord, it almost grows as we think of other implications and ramifications. When that happens, we need to stop asking and begin praising God for who He is. When we feel the cold draught of fear or despair and hopelessness are dragging us under– praise has a way of breaking their spell over us by exalting the Lord, enthroning Him over it all. Through praise and worship, we are choosing to focus upon the Lord rather than our troubles and it is at least one way we can put faith in action.
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
Often, in times of crisis, we want to "tough it out" alone in Lone Ranger fashion. I think Jesus needs the worshiping community of believers as he enters into this brewing cauldron of plots against his life. In this triumphal entry we see the importance Jesus attaches to being connected in community.
In fact the need for worship is so great at this moment, Jesus proclaims that should the disciples fail to worship, the very stones will cry out! In other words, the very creation, including even the inanimate objects will be given voice to praise their Creator. For, this one riding into Jerusalem is (in those powerful words of Col. 1:16-17) the one of whom it is said:
By him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers of rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him... and in him all things hold together.
The Gaither's capture this memorably in one of their songs, in which they tell the rocks and the mountains to keep quiet, "For this is the time I must sing!" There’s another contemporary song that you may have heard, “Ain’t No Rock Gonna Cry Out!” While it boggles our imagination, that sentence in Luke, "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (40) certainly high-lights the importance and essential quality of what is happening on this day.
Don't ignore the strength God wants to give you in times of crisis through the fellowship of other Christians. Far too often, we stay away in times of crisis. In those times, especially, we need to force ourselves to stay in community. Do not miss the call to worship, no matter how difficult it is to come. Don't let anything keep you away from God's people. Sometimes someone will say, "If I come, I'm afraid I'll just sit there and cry." Friends, this of all places should be a place where tears and the deepest of our emotions are understood, accepted and shared! Don't deny others the privilege of sharing that with you.
And, to those of us in a place to minister to others through our presence and fellowship, we need to reach out, do whatever we can. We need to remind them of the greatness and power of God. We need to carry them with our praise and worship when they can’t even form the words on their own. Don't miss your opportunities to support others facing crises in whatever way you can.
CONCLUSION
A couple of years ago, someone I know began experimenting with really letting God be in control through daily prayer and worship. I’ll refer to this individual as John to protect their identity. At the beginning of Lent, John felt an impression in his heart to commit an extra hour every day to prayer and worship. This was not to “get God to do anything” particularly. It was just to spend time with God in prayer and worship. Now, there were plenty of huge needs in John’s life and family. There were some major losses, disappointments, and frightening medical problems. For John, it could easily be said, over the last couple of years there had been enough adversity to be classified (from a human viewpoint) as the worst of times. But John shared with me what a difference this special time of prayer and worship made. What began as fairly specific prayers for family members and needs, evolved into more just spending time with Jesus. Yes, there were been some miraculous interventions and yet, some things got worse or new problems cropped up. But, the overall picture was one of peace and a firm sense that God was in control. And, John spoke of knowing a strong conviction from the Holy Spirit when reverting to old “take charge” behaviors. Also, he began even being awakened in the night with a clear direction for intercession for a person– a new exciting dimension of prayer for him. I saw a new peace, depth and strength in John. And he had that sense that whatever happened, God was in control.
That’s what true worship does. It happens as we worship individually. But additional power comes as we join together with other believers.
Evelyn Underhill writes, “Many a congregation when it assembles in church must look to the angels like a muddy puddly shore at low tide; littered with every kind of rubbish and odds and ends– a distressing sort of spectacle. And then the tide of worship comes in, and it’s all gone: the dead sea urchins and jellyfish, the paper and the empty cans and the nameless bits of rubbish. The cleansing sea flows over the whole lot. So, we are released from a narrow selfish outlook on the universe by a common act of worship.”