Several years ago I was privileged to be asked to give the Palm Sunday message at out church.  I am remembering that time and now how that lesson is playing out for myself, Sharon, my wife, and my friends around me.

Palm Sunday celebrates the triumphal entry into Jerusalem of Jesus and his disciples.  They had been with him for three years, seeing and experiencing incredible miracles, and growing to an understanding that Jesus was the Son of God.  Jesus had foretold them that he would suffer and be killed, but it never sunk in until just before their entrance into Jerusalem.

Matthew 16:21-23 (NASB)
21  From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
22  Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”
23  But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

In part, the disciples were expecting to be a part of a great kingdom once Jesus was made king of Israel.  That’s what the crowds were expecting, also.  They laid palm branches on the roadway as Jesus entered Jerusalem.  Jesus would release Israel from the burden of the rule of Rome.

Matthew 21:8-9 (NASB)
8  Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.
9  The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”

How incredibly disastrous for Peter and the other disciples, after expecting to be a part of the ruling hierarchy.  Peter calls out Jesus, “Far be it from you Lord!”  What he says to Jesus is, “NO WAY!!”  Then he gets berated by Jesus.

But Jesus says “Get behind me Satan, you are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

I’ve screamed “No WAY” to God many times.  Recently it has been more frequent.  My expectations and hopes are being dashed about my hopes for being a hero, living forever and being able to compete in triathlons, doing it all by myself, making everything right.  “NO WAY!!!”

The Lord says, “YES WAY!” , and stays with me.