Palm Sunday: Hearing God’s Voice

Luke 19:28-30

St. John’s United Church of Christ
Greeley, Colorado
April 13, 2025
Rev. Juvenal Cervantes

Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of the week that changed everything for humanity. The one who did not know sin became sin for us that we might have forgives and new life. All other religions and some denominations teach that you must do certain things to acquire salvation. Christianity says, “You are accepted in Christ, now go and do all those great things.”

We’re also at the beginning of the baseball season and baseball sports is life-giving to many folks. Jackie Robinson is considered the most famous athlete in the history of sports. He broke the color barrier for baseball which helped other sports do the same and grow more comfortable with that. In 1997, 50 years after Robinson integrated baseball, his number, 42, was permanently retired by every team in Major League Baseball. This is a big deal in sports. People revere greatness, in fact they use the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) acronym to describe their favorite player. We can’t help but look up to our heroes.

This morning I’m asking God to let us hear his voice regarding Palm Sunday. Jesus Christ is the hero of this story, in fact, he is the hero and theme of every book in the Bible, including the Old Testament. The essential question on this memorable day is, “Why worship Jesus?”

Our scripture will teach us three ideas:

1)   We worship Jesus because of who he is.

2)  We worship Jesus because of what he has done.

3)  We worship Jesus because we were created to worship.

I. We worship Jesus because of who he is.

Luke 19:28-35

And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

Notice the scripture says that he “went to the Mount Olivet.” Looking at this event thematically, there is great significance. When Absalon, David’s son, usurped David’s kingship, David fled and went to Mount Olivet. Here we have Jesus coming to the Mount Olivet triumphantly.

Jesus was seen much more than a Rabbi, much more than a spiritual leader: He was the King. He knows about the colt, where this would be found, instructed his disciples on how to acquire the colt. Jesus knows exactly what was going to happen. He said to his disciples, “If they ask you who needs the colt, say to them ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

This was a self-referential statement.

The Christian life begins with the big question: Who do you think Christ is? Who is Christ to you? Is he a great teacher, the best example for us to follow, or is he Lord? If Christ is Lord, then he is entitled to have everything that we have.

II. Worship Christ for what he has done.

Luke 19:36-38

And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

The gospel of John describes this scene vividly: the people took branches and waved these as Christ came to Jerusalem. The people were thrilled that the Messiah had come and the kingdom would be established.

This is the man who cast out demons, who healed multiple people with serious health issues. This Christ is the one who in Isiah 61 promised would be sight to the blind, set the prisoners free, and bring the good news to all people.

This is the Christ who crushed the serpents head and redeem humanity.

This was a monumental event. Imagine the stories of yesteryear. King Arthur leading the people with great power and then he dies, then he comes back to life to rescue Brittain from its trials. This is a big deal.

Christ has showed himself in people’s lives and the people are rejoicing, dancing.

How has Christ shown up in your life? What has Christ done for you?

How has Christ made you whole? How has Christ brought peace to you? How has Christ made you complete?

Some of us today sense God very close to us, some of us feel God is distant in our lives. Recall the good that God has done in your life and show your faith.

As people were healed, Jesus said to them, “Go and show your faith” and “Your faith has made you whole,” and “Your faith has saved you.”

My friend, have faith in God. Trust God, regardless. We can believe God has a purpose and a plan for our lives even when we feel he is not coming through with what we want to need at a given time. Don’t doubt in the darkness what you have heard in the light. Don’t let your circumstances dictate your worship. Believe that God is sovereign. King David declared: The Lord is my shepherd and He is enough.

III. We worship Christ because we were created to worship.

Luke 38-40

And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

In a poetic fashion, the book of Romans says reveals, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Rom. 8:22). Since Genesis chapter three, creation yearns for transformation, for newness of life. The hurricanes, droughts, tornados are all indications of creation groaning for transformation.

The created (creation) can rightly worship the Creator (God). We were created to worship.

In the 1992 movie, “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Alec Baldwin plays the part of a salesman and he delivers a powerful sales speech: “Always be closing.”

Just a salesman must sell, a painter must paint, and a poet must write, humankind was created to worship.

We worship Christ because of who He is, because of what He has done, and because we were created for worship.

Several testimonies of Jackie Robinson’s friends include, “There was something different about Jackie Robinson, it was not just his discipline, his gift, and ability, Jackie had faith.”

Do you have faith?

This is the word of the Lord.