Matthew 21:1-11<\/p>\n\n\n\n
March 28, 1999<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last Sunday, they came in stretch limos. It was the 71st<\/sup> Academy Awards. They were in long white dresses and black satin tuxedos. Gwyneth Paltrow won Best Actress. Roberto Benigni won Best Actor. For today\u2019s generation, there were the Matt Damons and the Ben Afflecks for young moviegoers to dream about. These were Hollywood\u2019s beautiful celebrities. For those of us from a different generation, they had Sophia Loren to present and even James Coburn after acting in over 70 movies finally winning his first Oscar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he was hailed with palm branches cut from trees and the large crowds waved these branches like they were pompoms. Some people took off their coats and jackets and laid them on the road for Jesus to arrive for the big event. And when Jesus past by, the crowds followed the Lord seeking to find out who is this \u201cprophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.\u201d Like Oscars night, the crowd must have been whispering and calling out to each other, \u201cWhat\u2019s the big excitement? Who\u2019s the celebrity who is arriving now? Some who have heard about Jesus\u2019 celebrity status called out his name, \u201cSon of David,\u201d hoping that they might catch his gaze. \u201cCan we have your autograph?\u201d they were asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Hollywood stars, they want to be listed as one of the \u201c25 Most Beautiful People\u201d in People<\/em> magazine or maybe Time<\/em>\u2019s esteemed \u201cMan or Person of the Year\u201d recognition. They thrive on the popularity and spotlights to the point of self-infatuation. The greatest honor, perhaps is to become immortalized so the story never needs to end: Frank, The Duke, Elvis, Jackie, Marilyn, and now Diana. Can you imagine if Jesus had been treated like a 20th<\/sup> century celebrity as he rode into Jerusalem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the celebrities of today are famous because they have hired promoters and agents, Jesus was recognized by a relatively small number of followers or groupies. In fact, some of these groupies were not too sure why they were even there, except for the fact that something drew them to this teacher, this holy man. He could heal them. He spoke in mysterious parables. He was very different from anything they had seen before. Jesus didn\u2019t wear a black satin tuxedo either on his shoulders or in his lifestyle. And he loved them in a way they had never before experienced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Celebrity Christ, for only that brief moment entering into Jerusalem, felt the exaltation of his ministry when the crowds sang,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHosanna to the Son of David!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hosanna in the highest heaven!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He may have felt the warmth on his reddened face like we feel sometimes.\u00a0 All the attention he was getting of being celebrated and fussed over was a bit embarrassing. But this celebrity wasn\u2019t interested in his own success and glory.\u00a0 Rather, this celebrity is very humble.\u00a0 You might say that when he got up on stage to receive his Oscar, he didn\u2019t go on and on about himself.\u00a0 This celebrity, the Celebrity Christ, experienced four things that Hollywood celebrities are clueless about. By this time, the donkey has been supplanted by the horse as the preferred way of traveling and carrying heavy load for those who can afford it.\u00a0 If Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a horse, it would have been like a stretch limo.\u00a0 Rather Jesus asked for a donkey to fulfill the prophecy by Zechariah and to show that here is the humble servant.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 humility extends beyond the simple beast of burden scorned by the Romans.\u00a0 Instead of self-infatuation, it was more self-effacement for Jesus to proclaim quietly that true kingship is not what is \u201cfaster, greater, better,\u201d of the time, but humility.\u00a0 After Jesus was in Jerusalem for some time teaching and denouncing the integrity of the scribes and Pharisees, soon there arose a conspiracy to arrest him. He became a threat to the status quo when he went on and on criticizing the scribes and the Pharisees by saying, \u201cWoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!\u201d Judas, one of the disciples betrayed him by taking thirty pieces of silver. When he was arrested, and brought in front of the high priest to defend himself about his claim that he will destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, Jesus was silent. Although the high priest found Jesus guilty of blasphemy, Caiphas handed him over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. When Pilate found him not having committed any crimes against Rome, Pilate asked Jesus, \u201cDo you hear how many accusations they make against you? Jesus gave Pilate not one answer, not even one explanation for any of the charges. Pilate was amazed but couldn\u2019t understand why Jesus didn\u2019t defend himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike last Sunday\u2019s Oscar winners who seem like they couldn\u2019t stop talking about how famous and great they were, Jesus remain silent.\u00a0 The Lord lets each person to draw his or her conclusions about himself.\u00a0 Otherwise, there would not be a need for faith.\u00a0 There are many times in our lives when God seems mute\u2014dead silence.\u00a0 We find ourselves crying out for God to make himself known.\u00a0 The reason for why God seems to be silent is not that he\u2019s not present and talking with us, but it is more like no one is listening.\u00a0 None of us really want to hear the truth.\u00a0 And it will take the action of the cross to catch the ear of a world deafened by sin. When Pilate didn\u2019t want to be blamed for the death of an innocent man for any crimes against Rome, he nominated another Jesus to compete for the award.\u00a0 Jesus Barabbas was a notorious prisoner who was arrested in trying to violently<\/p>\n\n\n\n take the kingdom by a storm. Pilate said, \u201cWhom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?\u201d Pilate gave the crowds a choice. And the \u201cPeople\u2019s Choice\u201d award goes to Jesus Barabbas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Jesus who was a man of violence went free, the Jesus, the man of peace, did nothing wrong.\u00a0 The crowds screamed out, \u201cCrucify him.\u00a0 Let him be crucified!\u201d\u00a0 What went so terribly wrong here?\u00a0 Jesus triumphantly enters into Jerusalem with his fans shouting \u201cHosanna in the highest heaven.\u201d has now been betrayed by one of his closest friends, deserted by the other disciples, found guilty for speaking out, and now a criminal is set free while the wrong man is still sitting in prison about to be crucified.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t it sound like the \u201cPeople\u2019s Choice\u201d award went to the wrong Jesus? At the Academy Awards gala, under every one of the beautiful people who came up to either present an award or receive one, there was always a credit line flashed on the screen. We must not forget how rich and famous these people really are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus was crucified, the Romans hung a sign over his head. Jesus\u2019 credit line was the crime charge against him: \u201cThis is Jesus, the King of the Jews.\u201d The charge was false. Jesus never intended to be the king of the Jews, much to the disappointment of his disciples. He said, \u201cMy kingdom is not of this world.\u201d Jesus\u2019 plan was to usher in the kingdom of God for all people in the whole world. This credit line was wrong. Even at his death place, Jesus, the Celebrity Christ, was given a wrong credit title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Jesus died on the cross and rose again after three days, he guaranteed that the kingdom is open to all. No one who wants to love Jesus, should be excluded from his love. In Matthew 21:32, Jesus said look at the tax collectors and prostitutes who first believed in him after hearing John\u2019s teaching. They will enter the kingdom of heaven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If there were to be a proper credit line for Jesus, it must be: \u201cJesus Christ, Superstar, Savior of the Whole World.\u201d Jesus shared his own spotlight with the rest of us. In his humility, we share in heaven\u2019s rewards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout his life, Jesus always humbled himself. There was something about him that made people want to be with him. We want to be close to Jesus today. Against this celebrated Palm Sunday entry, the Jesus whom we want to be with is humble even during his last week of his life on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our cruel and violent world, where most people are interested in basic survival, Jesus regularly stirs up enough trouble in us to speak out for peace and justice to risk our safety.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our culture where people shamelessly promote themselves, we are reminded that Jesus told those he healed to \u201ctell no one.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In our society where people follow fads and gimmicks to the detriment to themselves and others, we know that Jesus was never swayed by current trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In our world economy that watches the Dow Jones reaching up for that 10,000 mark, Jesus probably never owned a wallet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n His ministry was guided, nourished, and planned by the only Power that really matters\u2014God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the Best Picture award went to Shakespeare in Love<\/em>, thousands of movie goers rushed out to watch this film if they hadn\u2019t already. And after spending $8.00 to get in and $2.50 on some popcorn, the two-hour long movie will come to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The divine drama that Jesus starred in has been running for two thousand years! Because of God\u2019s love, this story named, \u201cChrist in Love\u201d never ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t end in a procession in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t end with Judas\u2019 kiss on the cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t end when Peter denied him three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t end when all his closest friends abandoned him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t end when they flogged him, taunted him, and mocked him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t end on a cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t end in a cave tomb on the property of Joseph of Arimathea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story continues. It continues in the lives of people like you and me in whom the living Christ continues to work wonders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever you and I say a \u201cThank You\u201d to God for his grace and mercies, God is working wonders in us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever you and I can see that in the midst of grief, sadness, disappointments, and loss, there is still the joy of Christ in our hearts and the hope of a new tomorrow, God is indeed working wonders in us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever we bear witness to one of our young people accepting Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, God is working wonders in us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever we stop and look into each other’s eyes and see God\u2019s love, God is saying, \u201cYou have been good and faithful and I am very pleased with the wonders you are performing in my name in the world that I love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are all best actors and best supporting actors in God\u2019s story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story continues in us who are called to keep it alive. This coming week is referred to as Holy Week in the church. You can continue experiencing this \u201cgreatest story ever told\u201d by coming to the Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service when we will re-enact the Lord\u2019s Last Supper and witness the power of Christ to be the light of the world when darkness falls. On Good Friday, there will be two worship opportunities for you to empathize with Christ on the rugged cross on Calvary. An finally, the day that we have been looking forward to all the days of our lives: Easter Sunday. On Easter, we sing alleluias that Jesus Christ, the humble Celebrity Christ, fought death and won! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me close with a little story. People in an African village purchased a television set. For weeks, all the children and all the adults gathered around the TV set morning, afternoon, and night watching the programs. Then after a couple of months the set was turned off and never used again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A visitor to the village asked the chief, \u201cWhy do you no longer watch television?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have decided to listen to the storytellers,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t the television know more stories?\u201d the visitor asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d the chief replied, \u201cbut the storyteller knows me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus Christ knows us personally, by our own names. We all have leading roles in God\u2019 love story of the forgiveness of our sins and redemption of our souls. Our lives are a part of God\u2019s divine plan unfolding every minute of the day to continue the story of God\u2019s love in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us pray.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n God of all times and places, we confess that we would rather join the beautiful people of the world than to follow the Celebrity Christ who humbled himself for us. Lead us to continue your \u201cChrist in Love\u201d story by living our lives in faithfulness and in sacrifice to your plan for us. In Jesus\u2019 name, we pray. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Matthew 21:1-11 March 28, 1999 Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church of San Francisco. Hollywood Celebrities Last Sunday, they came in stretch limos. ItThe Celebrity Christ<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
He Rode on a Donkey<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was Silent about Himself<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was One of Two Nominees<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
He Got the Wrong Credit Line<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStory Never Ends<\/h6>\n\n\n\n