In the classic movie, The Ten Commandments, which played on TV last night, the Pharaoh wass attended to and heralded wherever he went. In the World War II movie, Patton, George C. Scott makes a number of dramatic entrances as the brash, “spit and polish” General Patton. Wherever our President arrives, he arrives with a an entourage in keeping with his office.

In our Gospel text today Jesus is making his entrance into Jerusalem. Not much of an entrance when you consider who He is- the eternal, almighty, all-powerful God, second member of the trinity.

In our lesson, just as the prophet Zechariah had prophesied, we hear of Jesus riding a donkey, on a colt, the foal of donkey. (Zech 9.9) He was not riding a warhorse as many would have hoped or expected. He is cheered on by some of His disciples and other pilgrims who are headed into Jerusalem for the Passover. Despite who He is there is no royal road, no valleys filled in, no hills made low, no paths made straight; no, there are only cloaks and palm branches spread before Him.

For Jesus there was no grand army in review, no drums and trumpets, no shock and awe, no entourage befitting a king; just Jesus with that rabble from Galilee and a few of the surrounding towns. Many must have overlooked Him because He came in such an unassuming way.

How about us? How often do we overlook how Jesus comes to us? He comes quietly in His Word and through His sacraments. How often do we, too, overlook Him? After all when we hear the scriptures read, it is God Himself speaking to us. How often do we fail to realize in communion all that is God is coming to us “in, with, and under the bread and wine” even though it appears common and ordinary? And just as I believe from my study of scripture that there were people along the side of the road on that Palm Sunday who were just too busy for Jesus, I believe there are people who are too busy today. And it isn’t just “them” who are too busy; How many times are we too busy for Jesus? ….You go ahead Jesus I’ll catch up later.

The people to whom it had been revealed that He was the Christ were shouting, Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Luke 19.38) Hosanna in the highest! ( Mark11.10) Blessed is the King of Israel! (John 12.13) These were people the Spirit had been poured out upon. No one can say Jesus is Lord apart from the working of the Spirit. And proclaim they did: “Come and see my Jesus!”

It is that same Spirit that has been poured out upon us. Spending time with Jesus by and through the study of His Word can bring us to share, proclaim, and tell others about our Jesus. But understand this: the working of the Holy Spirit is resistible. Instead of listening to the Spirit, we can be swayed to listen to the rebuke of the Pharisees to stop sharing, to stop telling, and to stop proclaiming our Jesus.

Out text records that the crowd shouted, “Peace!” What amazing words for it was a proclamation of peace that the angels sang on the night He was born. Peace on earth and on whom God’s favor rests. It was peace that Jesus came to bring us. Yet they failed to recognize it, and in our sinfulness we fail to recognize it too.

Peace came to us when Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19.30) Peace with God could only be achieved when the full price for sin had been paid. God declared that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9.22) And not just any blood but blood from one who was without sin. The only one who could make the sacrifice was riding into Jerusalem. He rode into Jerusalem to make the payment. It was made at the cross by and through His death.

Jesus willingly laid down His life to save ours; He endured that scourging, wore that crown of thorns, hung on the cross that we might be at peace with God. His death in our place bought and brought us peace.

Even His disciples didn’t understand this. As Jesus was riding into Jerusalem they were raising their voices for all the miracles they had seen. It wasn’t the miracles that would bring them peace, although we often think that. If this problem or dilemma or disease would be taken from me then I would have peace. No, without the forgiveness of sins they would and we would still perish eternally. It is only in the forgiveness of sins that we find real and lasting peace.

The disciples would not understand this until Easter evening when Jesus appeared to them in the locked room. And what did He say to them after they had deserted and denied Him? He said the same thing to them that He says to us, Peace be with you. (Luke 24.36) I forgive you. Yes, He forgives us for our many sins, denials, and times we were too busy for Him. Yes, He offers us that peace, a peace that comes through His forgiveness.

It is that peace I proclaim to you in the words of absolution. It is that peace that comes to us when the scriptures are read and properly proclaimed. It is that peace that comes to us in baptism. It is that peace that comes to us in communion. Apart from His peace there is no peace with God. Our good works, our good intentions, our foolish belief that all roads lead to heaven, or God only wants me to be sincere will not bring us peace with God. Peace is found only at the cross and at the empty tomb.

And what of those Pharisees - to them Jesus said, If I tell my disciples to stop, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. As I read this I could see all creation, which had been groaning since the fall, waiting with eager expectation for these days to proclaim deliverance. While that is true, it is interesting to know that “stones” is also used as a metaphor for Gentiles. Salvation has come first to the Jews but if you do not listen then it will go to others. If these disciples stop proclaiming, then all the Gentiles to whom the truth of who I am is known will step up, and they will proclaim it.

God’s plan of salvation, God’s kingdom, will not be denied! If we will not proclaim it then the Gospel will go out to the “Gentiles of this Age”- faith will be created in the “Stones” and they will proclaim it.

This past Friday at Bible study, a man made his entrance into McDonalds. He wasn’t very tall, and his years of seemingly misspent living showed all over him. He carried his belongings in Wal-Mart bags along with his bedroll. He didn’t come in with fanfare or entourage. He is one most of us would over look or look away from. I looked at him and pondered, “there is another one that Jesus came for.” Oh, I wondered for a moment if he might not be an angel in disguise for the scriptures say, Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers for by so doing some people have entertained angels. (Hebrews 13.2) Maybe, maybe not.

But I did look at him and pondered if he weren’t an angel then maybe was he a fellow brother in Christ. If not brother then he was “a gentile of this age”- one who needed to hear about my Jesus. Shouldn’t I take the time to share the news that my Jesus rode into Jerusalem for him? Wasn’t he one that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for? Doesn’t he need to hear just like I do? And if by hearing might he believe and be saved? And by believing would he boldly proclaim my Jesus to the people of Boulder? Is he one who would gladly bend his knee to Jesus?

I challenge you this week as you go about living the days God has given you. Look at the people around you at work, school, and in the grocery store - wherever you go. Chances are the people aren’t angels but are they people. Are they individuals, that Jesus rode into Jerusalem for - people that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for? They may or may not look different, speak a different language, or have a different culture but don’t they need to hear about this Jesus who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey for all of us?

Amen