What Are You Doing

What Are You Doing?
A Palm Sunday Sermon by Brent J. Eelman
Abington Presbyterian Church
April 5, 2009

Mark 11:1-11
    When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
       Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10   Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
    11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

The latest tech fad is “Twittering.” Senators and celebrities twitter. Athletes and pop-icons twitter. Your friends, family and neighbors might be twittering. For those of you who might be curious about this phenomenon, twittering is a web-based message service that lets others know what you are doing. You can send a little message, via your phone or blackberry, and thousands of your friends and fans can know what you are doing at any given time. The viral popularity of Twitter is befuddling to me. Who would want to know what I am doing? But that is the question for today. What are you doing.

It is a question that could be asked in a host of different contexts. What are you doing with your life? What are you doing this evening? What are you doing here? What are you doing? Today the context for that question is Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday. The question was asked of two of Jesus’ disciples. But the question could also asked of us, 21^st century disciples. “What are you doing?”

Today, I want to look at that those two contexts: 1. The role of Jesus’ disciples on that first entry into Jerusalem; and 2. our calling as disciples on this day when we remember Christ’s triumphal entry. I

The Palm Sunday story in the gospel of Mark causes me to feel uncomfortable. I, personally, would feel awkward if Jesus asked me to do get the colt. “Go into the village… you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it.” Let me try and update that: “Go over to Willow Grove, and in the parking lot of the Willow Grove Mall you will find a brand new Honda Civic. Start it up and bring it here. If anyone stops you or asks what you are doing, just say, Dr. Eelman needs it.”

No amount of loyalty or trust would make that feel less awkward, but the two disciples do it. They did what Jesus said. Jesus might have pre-arranged all of this, but the two disciples didn’t know. They just did what Jesus said.

Sure enough, they are challenged by some bystanders: “What are you doing?” Their response: “We are doing what Jesus said.” Scholars surmise that this prelude to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is included in the events of that day to illustrate the truth of Jesus’ words. If what Jesus says about small things come true, certainly the larger statements, about the cross and the resurrection will also be true, and Jesus’ message could be trusted.

The two disciples acted on faith. They were not sure that they wouldn’t be accused of stealing a colt. There only claim in the face of accusation was: “We are doing what Jesus said.” II

This prelude to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem should also present a challenge to contemporary disciples of Jesus. “What are we doing?” But that question begs another: Do we trust the words of Jesus? Do we believe what he said enough so that we will act on his words? Do we trust all the words of Jesus? Some? The ones we like? The ones that aren’t so demanding?

Mark’s account of Palm Sunday puts the question directly to future disciples of Jesus. Perhaps that is why Mark doesn’t didn’t tell us who they were. We can substitute our own names. We can see ourselves in their situation. Thus, Mark challenges us to act on the words of Jesus; to do what he said. Mark also anticipated the bystanders of the world would look upon us and ask, “What are you doing? Will we respond as those disciples did: “We are doing what Jesus told us”?

Jesus spoke to people who were living in challenging economic times. They were people who were concerned about putting food on the table, about working, about providing for themselves and family. These were people who were worried and anxious. His words:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear.

Do we believe those words? Do our actions reflect those beliefs? Do we take to heart the Christ’s imperative, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow.” Or do we believe the pundits and commentators on the 24 hour news channels: the modern masters of anxiety and fear; Chicken Little’s with microphones.

Jesus spoke to people who were angry about injustice and were often victimized. They asked him, “Do I really have to forgive? Isn’t there an end to this forgiveness business?” He responded, “You must forgive 7 times 70”.

Jesus was concerned that often anger and grudges distract us from focusing on what is ultimately important. Do we believe those words? Do we live by them?

I am angry and absolutely indignant about the million dollar bonuses paid to executives from taxes…. But I fear that anger and indignity distracts me from some of the root causes of injustice in the world. It is a distraction from the genocide in Darfur, from the hunger in Malawi, from the AIDs pandemic that continues in the continent of Africa. It creates a self-righteousness that distracts us from aiding the hurting people in our own neighborhoods.

What are we doing? I fear that more often than not we march to the drummers of fear, the pipers of anxiety, and the horns of hatred. The prelude to the story of Palm Sunday is a story of simple obedience on the part of two anonymous disciples. They did what Jesus said, and when they were challenged, they responded, “Jesus told us.”

Jesus’ words were truthful regarding the events of that day…. And we believe that Jesus words are also truthful when he spoke of the cross and our need to carry it. His words were also truthful when he gave us those difficult commands to follow. His words were truthful when he told us that this is God’s world and ultimately we answer to God alone… and the God of Jesus is loving, gracious, benevolent, forgiving and nurturing.

What are you doing? Are we doing what Jesus said? Christ’s Sermon on the Mount concluded with this illustration: "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” He then went on to say that house, built upon the solid words of Christ endures. It endures the storms of life….and triumphs… Just as Christ endured the cross…. And triumphed.

What are you doing? What Jesus said? What are you doing?