The scripture we read today is the scene when Jesus entered Jerusalem. The One we are following is Jesus. He came to the earth 2000 years ago, finished His work and ascended to heaven.

People assume there are many nice people in the church, however that is not always the case. The people who gather at church are sinners who have received forgiveness. Some may believe they are righteous, but at least for those who come to church, they are the ones who admit, “I am not righteous. If there is only one of two places I have to go after death—heaven or hell—I would end in hell!” Hence, they come to church, receive God’s grace, and live by God’s grace. They are people who are trying. That is why you shouldn’t be deterred by the attitude of the people you meet at church, saying, “Why does someone who goes to church behave that way? I don’t want to go to church!” They are all the same as you. The only different thing is that they received forgiveness of sins first and gained happiness first. Though we are still lacking, this is the reason we preach to you, saying, “I want you to receive the happiness I have received!”

Atonement is different from forgiveness of sin. ‘Atonement’ is not a commonly used word in the world, is it? But at church, it is used often. Atonement or redemption, both have the meaning of paying a price. Hence, it means to pay the price of sin, just as we have to pay money to purchase something. A sinner is either put in prison or made someone’s slave because of his sin. So, to redeem that person, a price is paid to buy him. That is what atonement means.

There is atonement, and then there is forgiveness of sin. Forgiveness literally means to forgive. When we came to Jesus, we were forgiven. I hope that you will also receive forgiveness. Though you have sin when God looks on you, He wants to forgive you. That is why He calls you to come. So, all you need to do is receive His forgiveness. Only then, only when you are forgiven, can you stand before God. And then you can receive what He is giving.

We need to meet God continuously in order to obtain all the good things He is trying to give. There is nothing bad in everything that God gives us: life, good health, eternal blessing, and so on Hence, we have to meet Him. Yet a sinner cannot go before the holy God. He cannot look at Him face to face. That is why he needs to be forgiven of his sins first. When do you receive forgiveness? When you confess your sin and come to Him saying, “I can’t live on my own! I rely on You!” He will forgive you. But something had to take place first in order for God to forgive the sinner. It took place two thousand years ago. It didn’t happen in the present time, but two thousand years ago, and that was atonement—paying the price of sin. God sent Jesus to shed His blood and die on the cross in order to pay the price of our sins.

Everyone! God paid the price of your sin! He already paid it two thousand years ago. So now, all you just need to receive forgiveness. Simply say, “Thank you!” and receive it. “Thank you for making atonement!” Accept what He has done, and He will forgive you. Thus, you need to first of all understand what God did through Jesus. That is, the reason Jesus died on the cross two thousand years ago was not because of any wrong He did, nor because He was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was cursed for you in order to pay the price of your sin.

Jesus is God’s Son. He is the One God loves. Yet, what He did when He was on the earth was being cursed. Which of you would want to be cursed? But Jesus was cursed, even though He is the Son of God. God said of His Son, “This is My Son whom I love!” But that moment was the beginning of Jesus’ suffering. In the end, He was cursed and died. It wasn’t because He had any fault; it was to pay the price of our sin. If we accept that, then we can rely on His merits, which paid the price of our sins. Likewise, it is when we receive the forgiveness of sin that we get to meet God.

If you haven’t met God yet, you must receive the forgiveness of sin. A long time ago, when I wanted to meet God, I prayed in this way: “God please meet me!” And I really did meet Him. He met with me. Later on, I was at a dinner with work colleagues when I got a job. That was the first dinner I had with my colleagues after getting the job. They poured alcohol into everyone’s glass, including mine, and it was time to introduce myself. So I said, “I met God in 1992!”

And one person sitting on the other side of the table looked at me as though strange, tilting her head in doubt. The next day, that person called me to her office. I later found out that she was my manager. She called me to her office and asked, “I heard you introduce yourself yesterday, and you said you met God. You even remember the exact date in 1992 when you met God. What does that mean? I’ve never heard anyone say something like that before. I’ve been going to church my whole life, as a so-called Christian from birth, following my mum. But when I ask myself ‘have I met God?’ my answer is ‘No.’ I can’t say that I have. So, what do you mean when you say you met God? People usually say they believe in God, not that they met God. So, what do you mean by that?”

I answered her, “We actually meet God. That’s why I don’t say I believe in God; I say I know God.” When you’re at home with your wife, dad, or children, do you say to them, “I believe that you exist!”? You wouldn’t say, “I surely believe that you exist!” Why not? Because you already know them; it is not something you need to believe. That is why you have fellowship with them, share love, and even sometimes argue. You know them and meet them; you don’t believe in them. You don’t need to force yourself to believe.

This is the same with God. We don’t forcibly believe in our God. We know Him. Hence a sermon is not something made up; it’s about introducing the God I know, the God whom I met. If someone asks me to tell them about my wife for ten hours, I would be able to. I can talk about my wife for ten hours. Why? I don’t need to prepare a speech for that because I know her. If I didn’t, I won’t be able to talk like that.

So, I am telling you about God. I do so because I like Him. I wouldn’t tell others about Him if I had a bad experience after meeting Him. Yet many people who come to meet Jesus with all different expectations. Everyone has different reasons why they follow Jesus. In the scripture we read today, how is Jesus portrayed? He is viewed as a king. “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” As they said this, the people spread their cloaks on the road before the feet of the colt He was riding. They rejoiced the King’s entry into the city.

But isn’t it strange? What kind of king rides on a donkey? He should ride a magnificent horse. Though it seemed strange, the people thought that after Jesus’ grand entry to the city, He was going to do what? They expected Jesus would overthrow the Roman empire, which was ruling over Jerusalem at the time—similar to how Japan ruled during the colonial period in Korea. So, they were anticipating a revolution. They believed that Jesus was the long-awaited one who would rebuild the kingdom of Israel. Because Jesus was performing supernatural powers: healed the sick, fed more than ten thousand people with five loaves of bread, walked on water, and calmed the winds, they believed they could win the war with Him. They thought, “If He raises the flag, we will join Him in the revolution.” That is why His disciples said, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him!” The people who followed Him welcomed His entrance, thinking it marked the next chapter in the history of their nation.

Furthermore, He told His disciples to untie the donkey and bring it to Him. He said that if the owner asked why they were untying it, they should say, “The Lord needs it!” and then the owner would let them take it. When the disciples went, they found it as He told them. So, the people thought, “Oh! He had it all planned! He already planned for the revolution!”

Thus, when the people shouted, “The King! The King!” the leaders, the Pharisees there, said to Jesus, “Tell the people to be quiet!” Because the leaders felt uneasy when the people called Jesus a king. Who would be offended if they keep shouting, “King!”? The leaders of the Romans would not like to hear that. Their plan for revolution would become known. That’s why the Pharisees wanted the people to be quiet. To start a revolution, you need to plan a good strategy. If you just shout, “The King! The King!” from the start, they would be caught out at entry. When they asked Jesus to tell the people to be quiet, Jesus answered, “If they keep silent, the stones would cry out!” This is because Jesus is the One who came as a king.

The only thing is that the people believed He came as a king of this world, as a political leader. However, Jesus really came as a king. He is not any ordinary king but the King who created heaven and earth and all things within them, the One who holds authority over all of heaven and earth. He came for the eternal kingdom. For the people in the world outside of the church, Jesus is someone who helps them in their lives. But when you get to know Him more deeply, you realize that He is not someone we follow just to have a better life in this world. He has His own plans. He came for His kingdom, that is, for the eternal kingdom. And that kingdom is not here. It is not of the earth. It is an everlasting kingdom. This earth would all disappear in an instant if a nuclear bomb were to go off. However, we Christians are not afraid of that. Our souls will be resurrected, and we will enter and live in the eternal kingdom.

Heaven is not where ghosts go. Many people misunderstand because we often say that people go to heaven after they die. However, to be precise, heaven is not a place we can go to just because we are dead. Heaven is a place we go in bodily form. In other words, we will go to heaven in our eternal imperishable body, not our perishable flesh. It is not a place where ghosts without legs float about. Heaven certainly exists.

My son loves fruits, and one day he asked me, “Dad will there be fruits in heaven?” Everything that exists on this earth will also be in heaven. Furthermore, there are things in heaven that we don’t have on earth. Just as we have a body now and can shake hands and pick up things, it will be the same in heaven. An everlasting kingdom is waiting for us. It sounds unrealistic, doesn’t it? It may sound ridiculous to some. But as we live our church lives, we can gain evidence of this place. It is true.

For this reason, it is important that we experience the words promised by the Lord fulfilled upon us. If we only believe that it will be fulfilled in heaven later, but have no experience of the evidence of its fulfilment on earth, it will be very difficult to believe that it will be fulfilled in heaven. Now although it may seem impossible, the reason we can know beforehand that it will be fulfilled in heaven later is because we can have the fulfilment of things impossible on the earth.

For example, when have we ever laid hands on a sick person and they became well? But after I had faith in Jesus, starting from the very next month, when I laid my hand on the sick, they were healed. The deaf was able to hear, the blind also opened their eyes, and the paralyzed stood up. Such wonderful things happened, and it isn’t only for me- this happens to all who believe. We have incredible experiences. Through those testimonies, we can know for certain that God is truly living, that Jesus resurrected and is in heaven, and that He will return to take us. I bless you in Jesus’ name that you will all be able to follow Jesus.

We follow Jesus, not as the One who will satisfy our hunger and give us affluent lives; He us the One who wants to lead us to the eternal kingdom. I bless you in Jesus’ name that you will fully know this secret for certain and buy this treasure, even if you have to sacrifice and sell everything on earth. I will pray.

God our Father, help everyone who are here to know all the works that Jesus Christ—sent by You—did and accept Your merits so that they may receive everything You are giving. May they not follow Jesus to have a better life on this earth but long and yearn for the eternal kingdom that You have prepared. Inspire and move everyone here by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen!