God often works in ways that are counterintuitive to our thinking. Palm Sunday is a great example of this, especially when we consider the religious leaders. In his account of the events of Palm Sunday, Luke notes that Jesus’s disciples sang that He was the King who comes in the name of the Lord. The song, in particular, is distinct from the other gospel accounts focused on the King. The religious leaders’ response stands out, though. As they heard the songs of the crowd, they asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples. Surely, He wouldn’t want anyone announcing Him to be King. At best, it was traitorous to Rome (who wouldn’t let Him live); at worst, it was blasphemous to God. However, Jesus counteracts their thinking, when, instead of rebuking His disciples for their singing, He rebukes the religious leaders for their lack of faith. The religious leaders thought that they knew God’s Word and what God was doing in the world; they thought they had faith. Jesus revealed that what they thought and believed about God’s work was flawed. If we aren’t careful, we can think in the same flawed way. God is not subject to our thinking or planning. He works His plan in His infinite wisdom. Palm Sunday is a reminder that we must submit our understanding of God and His work in the world to Him. This isn’t to say that we don’t strive for understanding or that we quit drawing conclusions from our study. Rather, we must study diligently while we watch and follow because God’s work might just be different from what we might expect. God doesn’t answer to us; we submit to Him. —Pastor Rory
Sunday at Liberty
8:45AM: Palm Sunday Breakfast
10AM: Pastor Rory Martin–Promised King–Luke 19:28-44 (sermon notes)
6:00PM: Missions Emphasis–Virginia Prodan Biography
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