The Peace of God. (Mark 11: 1-11)

One of the most powerful images of Jesus I had as a Child was of Him riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey surrounded by crowd of cheering people. It such a well know event in the life of Jesus that it has become a named event for many Christians at this time of year. For some it is described as the triumphant entry, others refer to it as Palm Sunday.

My question this morning is not what it is called, because in a way both of these titles to some degree misdirect attention to what is actually going on. So instead let’s focus on what was the particular point of him riding into Jerusalem, and why did he choose to enter the city on a donkey that day.

Some might point out that Jesus riding on a Donkey was an illustration of meekness and ye, it was that. Another explanation is that it is an indication that he is the Messiah, and it is most certainly that also. There is no question that both those perspectives are definitely part of what is going on here. But the interesting thing about those perspectives is that Mark in his gospel account is very restraining in playing up those aspects of the events.

There is a passage in the Old Testament in Zachariah which says the Messiah would definitely come riding on a donkey and when Matthew recorded these events he chooses to focus heavily on the Messianic aspect of that day. Mark however doesn't even refer to that aspect or the scriptures that reference them.

The first time I ever preached in a church nearly 30 years ago I spoke on Matthew messianic version of these events. However, today we are looking at Marks account and I want us to consider the unique perspective he brings to his account of what occurred that day.

You see it was customary for pilgrims going to Jerusalem for Passover to walk to there, not ride into town. The very fact that Jesus rides into Jerusalem is special, and that he would choose specifically to do it on a Donkey is also special. So, what is the reason that Mark included this aspect of the story in his gospel account of the life of Jesus? Let’s look at the text together and try and find out.

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it".

(Mark 11: 1-3)

The story begins by telling us they drew near to Jerusalem and that they were close to if not on the Mount of Olives. Now those of you who have visited the Holy Land will know that Jerusalem sits on a hill that is about 2,600 feet above sea level. The mount of Olives itself is in fact a little higher even than the city itself. I am told if you are on the Mount of Olives, you have a spectacular view of Jerusalem.

So that's the setting, this is where they are, and Jesus calls two of his disciples and says, go the village nearby and as you enter it you will find a donkey tied up. Untie it and bring it to me and if anyone questions what you are doing just say, 'the Lord has need of it”, and they will let you bring it.

Why the comment, make sure it is the donkey that, “has never been ridden”. What does that mean? The fact that the donkey has never been ridden is very significant because it means that this donkey had been set aside for sacred use. This is because this donkey had been earmarked for prophetic and religious purposes.

So, they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So, they let them go.

(Mark 11: 4-6)

So, verse four tells us that's what they did, they went, they found the donkey and they untied it. If you look carefully at the instructions Jesus gave them, he said, “ go – find – loose – and bring”. When Mark records his version of the story, his is particularly keen to include all those four elements of the event. They went, they found, they untied the donkey, and they bring it to Jesus. By listing events in this way Mark is specifically pointing out that the disciples did exactly what Jesus told them to do. So, they bring the donkey to Jesus, and they throw their coats on it and he sits on it.

Let me just pause for a moment before we continue and let's talk about this donkey for a minute. I drew attention to the donkey a minute ago and said the state of this donkey has got to be significant for various reasons. As I pointed out earlier, Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem is the fulfilment of a prophecy about the Messiah. But there is something else going on here. When a King came to a city, he would always enter a city either riding a horse or riding a donkey. If he was on a horse that was a sign that war was happening, and this was a king entering a conquered city. However, if he came in on a donkey that would indicate that he was coming in peace. Therefore, the first time Jesus comes to Jerusalem as seen here, he comes riding a donkey, and he is coming bringing peace. However, if you read the book of Revelation you will see in Chapter 9 when he comes back again at his second coming, he will be on a horse, a white military horse in fact. However here, the first time he makes his first entry into Jerusalem, his first coming if you wish, he is riding on a donkey, and he is coming in peace. We will park that thought for a moment, we will come back to it later. But remember that Mark specifically highlights that for his readers.

For the moment let’s return to the story in the main text.

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

(Mark 11: 7-8)

They appear to be recognising that he is coming into Jerusalem as a king and the laying down their capes and cloaks is a recognition of that status. We are also told they cut down branches and spreading them on the road in front of him, and Luke tells us and the extra details that were in fact palm branches and that is why to this is often referred to as Palm Sunday. By doing all these things they are giving Jesus a welcome, a welcome as if he were a coming king. The next verse tells us.

“Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest. “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

(Mark 11: 9-10)

Please note, those who “went before him” mentioned here represent those who have come out from the houses in Jerusalem to welcome him and those who are “following” are those who have followed him since he set out from Jericho. So, there is a Jerusalem crowd, and there is a Jericho crowd, and they merge around him as he enters into Jerusalem, crying; “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David”. This phrase hosanna literally means, 'save us'. o, they shout, save us, and then make a reference to the kingdom of David. This is because these people recognise that Jesus is the Messiah, but their interpretation of that was on the most part that Jesus was going to come and save them politically and restore the House of David and in their case what that meant was political freedom from Rome.

What that meant was the overthrow of the Romans occupation of Jerusalem. They thought he was coming to Jerusalem to inaugurate the kingdom of David. To establish the earthly Kingdom of David on earth and kick out the Romans. That's why there are shouting “hosanna -save us”. Not save us from our sins but save us from the Romans.

They are indeed shouting, they are some would say celebrating, they are thrilled, and they have come to celebrate the coming of their king and they quote Psalm 186, a Messianic Psalm, and they shout, and they cheer.

When you look at this story you've got to ask were these the same people who a few weeks later would be calling for Jesus to be crucified. These are the ultimate example of people who get caught up in the emotion of Jesus, or the emotion of Christian events but when it came down to obeying him, when it comes down to submitting themselves to the Word of God, they remain silent. These are the people when it came down to the conviction of sin, don't want to know. You are all free to praise God with abandon in the Spirit anytime we like, and I trust God will bless you, but remember after the singing and the praising ends there also needs to be obedience. There needs to be an ongoing repentance and the rejection of sin in your life There need to be an ongoing desire to live according to the will of God. Between worship every Sunday, there need to be obedience and the turning away from of sin Monday to Saturday.

And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So, when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.

(Mark 11: 11)

So, after the crowd melts away, verse eleven tells us Jesus looks around the temple and then heads away with his disciples to Bethany.................

Let’s take a step back.

Do you remember I said the taking of the donkey had a special meaning and that we would park that though for a moment. The donkey tells us that he is the Messiah, but I also said Mark rather plays down that aspect of the story. Matthew because he is primarily writing to a Jewish readership, focuses on this Messianic aspect but for Mark it is not the key factor. Mark is primarily drawing attention the fact that when Jesus comes on a donkey, he comes to bring peace and when the people say, save us, by their use of the term Hosanna, they give it a political twist by thinking Jesus has come to save them politically. In other words, the simple conclusion of what I am saying is that Jesus came into Jerusalem that day, to save people and to bring peace and that is why he entered on a Donkey.

You see there is one Messiah – who has two coming. On his first coming to earth he came to bring peace. At his second coming his come to bring Victory and Judgement. Today we are focusing on Christ's first coming and what we means when we say Christ comes first to bring us peace.

There are two aspects to peace in the New Testament and to understand what Jesus offered that day we really need to understand both of these aspects.

The first of these is peace with God. According to the scriptures we are at variance with God's will, in fact the scriptures even say that we are enemies of God. Colossian’s 1: 21 tells us that. “Once we were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour”. You see in our natural disposition humanity is not at peace with God, we are in fact enemies with God. However, God took care of that situation when he sent his son Jesus Christ to die, to pay the price for our rebellion and our sin. Therefore, what Jesus did by settling the punishment that was due, he has potentially brought each and every one of us who trust in him, peace with God. That's very important in fact the book of Romans tells us

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

(Romans 5: 1)

When you arrive at the place when you believe that Jesus died for your sins, and that he rose from the dead and you trust in him, then you can have peace with God. You are no longer an enemy of God. You are no longer at war with God because he has established that you are now at peace with Him.

A minute ago, I said there are two types of peace in the New Testament. The first is peace with God. But the second type of peace, just as important as the first and that is the peace of God.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

(Philippians 4: 6-7)

There is peace with God, and there is the peace of God. Are you at peace today? Is there peace in your heart, is there peace in your soul this morning, or are you living in turmoil? How do we acquire the peace of God in your soul?

Many years ago, whilst living in a town in the South of England Swindon I heard a radio talk show host telling people, one of these telephone personal problem agony uncle type of Guys, a life coach. The way to have peace in your soul he told the listeners was to finish all those jobs you started but never finished, all those jobs that need doing around the house. How does that work for you, I'm getting stressed just thinking about it. Take a look around he said at all those unfinished tasks and make a decision to finish them.

I felt like ringing in and saying I took you advise, I looked around the room and decided to finish off all the things I had started and not yet finished. So, I finished that 2 litre bottle of Coke I opened yesterday and the family bag of Doritos, I opened last night, and I also found there was an open packet of chocolate biscuits and a cake in the cupboard, I finished those as well. I took you advice yesterday, but now I feel terrible.

But how do you really acquire personal peace?

Some eat.

Some drink.

Some escape (Some go shopping)

Some get high, take drugs.

Some seeking intimacy they look for sex, or even have an affair.

But how do you get real peace, how can you have the peace of God.

(Philippians 4: 6-7)

Do you realise most of the things we worry about never happen, so worrying is literally a waste of time. And even on the rare occasion when things do go wrong you having worrying about them didn't make a blind bit of difference to what actually occurred. That is easier said than done, I know. Are you worried about anything this morning? None less than God himself has told us. “But to be anxious about anything. But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”. Whatever it is that concerns you give it over to the Lord in prayer and supplication. Peter also tells us to “cast all our cares upon him”. Whatever it is that is troubling you right now, give it to the Lord and do so with thanksgiving and do you know what will happen! “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. By saying thank-you to God for all we have, and all he has done for me, it might just put into perspective all those things that are troubling you as you prepare to hand them over to Him. And don't forget to ask him. Let your requests be made known, it says.

Remember if you pray according to the will of God, you can ask for anything. There is no stipulation in this verse, we can ask for anything. Let me tell you what you can get by praying, what is absolutely guaranteed when you pray. Same verse, “Let your requests be made known to God; then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. I can guarantee you can ask for anything you want, but I can't guarantee you will get what you expect. However, I can guarantee that; the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

No matter what we face, we can hand it over. No matter what troubles us we can cast it unto the Lord and say, Lord you have more wisdom than I do, so I'm going to let you take care of it. Lord, I believe you know what best for me, I believe your smarter than I am, I believe that you have more wisdom than I do, and I know that you care for me, and love me. And I also believe that if I trust in you then I know, because it tells me in your word, and I quote; “That all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purposes”. So, Lord I'm going to hand everything over to you I'm going to pass all my troubles in prayer over to you, and me, I'm going to relax.

When you get stressed is that what you do. Or….

Do you go and eat.

Do you drink.

Do you go shopping.

Do you go running?

Do you go grumpy?

Or do - you Go - and pray.

That is how we find the peace of God. Let’s for a moment assume you have grasped hold of Romans Chapter 5 and have peace with God. And you also are doing what Philippines Chapter 4 says and you have the peace of God. Look with me at Colossians.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful”.

(Colossians 3: 15)

This verse at first glance seems to make pretty much the same point as the verse from Philippian's. But an interesting point to make here is that the Greek word translated as rule, means to act as an umpire, to act as an arbitrator, to help you decide. Here's what is going on here.

You have peace when you let God rule in your decision making. Let the peace with God option always determine what happens next. Not need for meditation on a subject no need for listing out pro's and con's, just let God decide. When there is a conflict of motives or a battle with your emotional drives or urges. Let God step in, let God decide, let the peace of God decide. Give it to God submit to his word as best you understand it, then leave it with God. Believers in Christ are commanded to let the peace of God be the dominant and the determining factor in every situation and every decision of the heart.

Don't let anything rob you of the peace of God. Do not let any of the trouble in this world destroy your peace with God. Don't let anything rob you of the peace of God. Let the peace of God rule in your heart because you have been called to one body and be thankful.

There are two things going on here. Firstly, you should let the peace of God rule in your heart and secondly you should let the peace of God rule in our relationships with other people. There is of course a personal peace to be experienced, and we can be blessed by that. But he also immediately tells us we are called to be one in body, so there is a real opportunity for a community to live in peace with one another within the local church. That's us folks!Don't let anyone rob you of your peace with God, don't let anyone rob us of the peace of God.

Let me conclude this morning by telling you how important this peace of God is. God puts a premium on peace, one of the fruits of the spirit is specifically mentioned as peace. God wants you to enjoy the fruits of His spirit and one of the fruits of his spirit is peace. God does not want you to be at conflict with other people, they may be in conflict with you, but you are not to be in conflict with them.

Let me give you one of the most dramatic examples. Do you know what Jesus says about divorce, quite right says he is against it.

Read 1 Corinthians Ch 9 for full unpacking of marriage and human and relationships. That's a whole series of sermons right there but I only want to focus on one small aspect of this to make one particular point about experiencing the peace of God. Paul says this, if you are married to an unbeliever, and that unbeliever is unfaithful and wants to leave you, let him, or let her, go. Let them divorce you if that's what they want. Then Paul says this, let this happen because God has called you to be at peace. That's astonishing God allows for divorce in the single circumstance of desertion and adultery in order that the Christian believer can be allowed to experience peace. That's how important peace is to God. God really hates divorce, but he allows for divorce in certain limited circumstances because he puts such a premium on those who follow him being at peace.

This tells me two things; God understands how catastrophic adultery and marital unfaithfulness is. So much so in those circumstances and those circumstances only he says, let the guilty party divorce you in order that you might experience peace. God is so concerned that you should be at peace , and He does not want to let anybody take it from you. Thereby the follower of Jesus might again be able to say;

(Philippians 4: 6-7)

God - really - wants - us - to - be - at – peace. With Him and with others.

I honestly believe this has the potential for some people listening to this podcast today to experience a life transforming messages this morning. God wants you to experience peace, to know peace with God and the peace of God. Grasp hold of both aspects of the peace of God and I believe you can take a huge step down the road of spiritual maturity. Grasp hold of this message today and start practising it right this minute.

As a child I have a distance memory of an illustrated book which juxtaposed two images meant to reflect the peace of God.

Picture 1 - Lake, beautiful mountains, reflected perfectly in the lake, clear blue skies with a few fluffy white clouds.

Picture 2 - A sheer slate cliff, with a craggy edge and rough black face, huge rocks and boulders at the bottom, in the sky above the cliff a storm raged and lightening flashed. A waterfall in full flood and torrent and cascaded down the cliff crashing on the rocks below. In a ledge under the corner of the waterfall sits a bird in its nest sitting on it eggs.

Which in your mind wins the competition when it comes to illustrating peace. Picture 1, or Picture 2. Peace is not the absence of conflict, for sometimes we have no control over those who might be in conflict with us. Peace is a state of mind. Those who experience true peace, have love in their heart even when turmoil reigns all around. It's worth saying again. Those who experience the true peace of God, experience it even when upheaval and disturbance are all around them. Peace is living in the will of God, being and becoming like Christ Jesus himself.

Can you still have love in your heart when everything around you seems to be falling apart. Yes, it is possible. Have you got it. If you were students, I'd say that's your assignment for this week. Live in the knowledge that you can have peace with God and also live your life this week in the peace of God. This week - and every week for the rest of your lives.