Luke 19:28-40

            {Prayer}

            As a kid, how many of you played the game “King of the Hill”? … So, you remember how it goes. You designate a certain area as the “hill”. It could be a mound, a platform, a piece of playground equipment, or a pile of snow. The person on top is the king. The goal … dethrone the king. You do this pushing the king off, pulling the king off, wrestling the king from atop the hill so that you can become king.

            People have been playing “King of the Hill” for a very, very long time. In fact, the painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder depicted children playing this game back in the 1500s. His painting Children’s Games shows some children playing this game. And while there is good reason to believe that this game did not get its start in the Renaissance of the Middle Ages, no one know when kids began to play this. For generations, self-proclaimed kings of the hill have been pushing everyone else off, fighting to the top and fighting to stay on top.

            Looking at our Gospel reading for this Palm Sunday, we hear about a king, King Jesus. But there is something different about Him. He did not fight to stay on the top of the hill. Instead, He revealed what kind of King He is by coming down a hill, coming down the Mount of Olives, on donkey in peace and humility, friendship and love.

Luke tells us that “As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives” (19:29). At His request, some of the disciples went and got a colt for Jesus to ride on to come down the hill.

            Luke says the people “threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest’” (19-35-38).

            King Jesus came down off the hill in order to enter into Jerusalem. Our Friend, Jesus, came in peace and humility, in friendship and love, to enter into the final days before His death on the cross.

            As we hear these words, there are several things that we should notice. First, the people. Luke says “the whole crowd of disciples” (19:37). They’re praising and celebrating Jesus. Their eyes are fixed on Him. They are looking at Him. They are placing their hope in Him. Palm branches are waving, coats are laid down, and voices are raised. They’re quoting Psalm 118, “Save us, we pray O Lord … Blessed is he comes in the name of the Lord” (118:25-16).

            This was an outpouring of joy. It was celebration at full volume. But while their eyes were on Jesus … Jesus’ eyes were somewhere else.

            How did Jesus respond to all this? What was His response to all this praise and adoration? How did He react to all the celebration and the coats on the road? Did He step off the colt and crown Himself “King of the Hill”? Did He veer to the left and right to soak in the celebration?

Nope. Jesus didn’t do any of that. Jesus wasn’t swayed by the shouts of “Hosanna.” King Jesus looked straight ahead. Jesus remained steadfast in the midst of praise and adoration.

            Earlier in Luke’s Gospel, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Luke tells us that “Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem” (9:51). That’s what He’s doing here. While everyone is looking at Jesus, Jesus was looking ahead. While everyone else was praising and celebrating Him as the Messiah, Jesus was focused on what was next. Our King wasn’t seeking applause … He was preparing to overthrow sin, death, and the devil through the cross and the empty tomb.

            From Bethany, Jesus entered Jerusalem from the east. Likely, He came in through what is known as the Golden Gate of the Old City. And from there, on that Palm Sunday, Jesus would have literally faced the cross.

            Not figuratively, but literally.

            But why does that matter? Jesus entered the city, He would have been looking straight toward the location of Golgotha. Before that, He would face trials before Pilate and Herod. Historians debate the exactly where these took place, perhaps the Antonia Fortress or Herod’s Palace, but either way, no matter the route, the path from Jesus’ trail to the cross became known as the Via Dolorosa … the “Way of Sorrows.”

            But all these places … the trials, the beatings, the path, the cross … they were ahead of Jesus. Chronologically, these places were before Jesus as He journeyed toward them in the days to come. But also literally. As He entered Jerusalem, Jesus was facing the place where He would lay down His life for the world.

            Friends, Jesus faced the cross on Palm Sunday. While everyone lined the street to praise and celebrate Him, King Jesus looked to the cross. He remained steadfast and focused in the midst of praise. Jesus remained steadfast and focused in the midst of adoration and celebration. Jesus looked to the cross. He didn’t get distracted. He looked to the cross knowing that He would offer His life as a sacrifice for you and me.

            And so we look to Jesus. Our eyes are on Him, the author and perfector of our faith. And while our eyes are on Him, there are many things in life that will try to distract us and avert our eyes from Jesus. “You’ve earned this promotion.” “You deserve tenure.” “You have raised wonderful children” “You’re beautiful.” “You’re smart.” There are many things that we tell ourselves that can cause us to take our eyes off Jesus. “At least I am not as bad as others.” “I’m all good, I’ve got this.” “God doesn’t care about me.”

            The world tempts us to play “King of the Hill.” Everyone tries to fight their way to the top, and once you’re up there, the battle really begins to stay there. That’s how the world so often views leadership, power, success, even life. But Jesus shows us something radically different.

            Our King stepped down from the hill. He didn’t shove others aside to stay at the top. No, instead He laid down His life so that you and I could be lifted up. That’s the kind of King we follow. One who reigns not from a throne of gold, but from a cross.

            So here’s the question for you to carry into Holy Week: What things in your life are pulling your eyes off Jesus? Where is the world tempting you to fight for the top, when Jesus is calling you to follow Him in, humility, faith, and love?

            Keep your eyes on Jesus … because His eyes were on you.

            He saw your sin, your brokenness, your need … and He didn’t turn away. He faced the cross for you. He walked the road of sorrows. He went up the hill of Calvary, not to play a game of power, but to win your salvation. He went up that hill to be lifted up, so that you can be raised with Him in victory.

            That’s your King. That’s your Savior. That’s your Friend. Amen.

            The peace of God, that surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and King, now and forever. Amen.