Palm Sunday- The Prince of Peace

Over the next few weeks we are going to take a look at the final week of Jesus. That means today we are beginning with Sunday. What has become known as Palm Sunday.

On Palm Sunday Jesus fulfilled a prophecy about the messiah, which is why it was so significant that he rode into town on a donkey. This week I want to begin with looking at that prophecy.

Zechariah 9:9-13

Three things that Zechariah points out in this passage:

The King is Coming

Not just any king. The one who will be anointed the king of all. The Messiah, the Christ.

The one who shall establish a kingdom that will never end.

There will be peace

The animals of war and the instruments of war will be done away with.

He will bring peace to the nations, from sea to sea.

The blood of God’s covenant

Exodus 24:7-8

Exodus 24:7–8 ESV

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Moses brings the book of the law, and reads it to the people.

The moral law, as well as the civil law, and the ceremonial law.

Then they make a peace offering to the Lord.

This is a sacrifice of praise, for they have fellowship with God.

They have the commandments that God wants them to live by.

This is the context to which we open in Matthew. They are rejoicing because they the King is Coming.

The King is Coming

Matthew 21:1-11

Donkey

Why a donkey?

This is what was prophesied, that the messiah would come on a donkey.

A horse is a symbol of power, of authority, a symbol of war.

A donkey was a more humble animal.

Matthew 11:29

Matthew 11:29 ESV

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Our Lord is lowly in heart.

He came in humility.

Jesus didn’t come to bring the kingdom with force, but by breaking the power of sin that bind the people.

To do this, he had to come in humility.

But the people weren’t looking for the humble king.

Palm Branches

In the rededication of the temple in the Maccabeean era. After the people of Israel had drove out Antiochus IV Epiphanes and defeated the Seleucid Empire, they waved palm branches in celebration as a sign of Jewish nationalism.

During both major wars with Rome, palms were stamped into the coins minted by the rebels.

Waving the palm branches was symbolizing all the hopes that the people had for the nation of Israel. The hope that they would be free from the Romans.

This hope is now being focused on Jesus as he enters the city.

After all, didn’t Zechariah say that the chariot, war horse, the bow would all be cast off. That there would be peace from sea to sea.

Hosanna

The word from the Hebrew means means “save us now!”

This was in essence a call for deliverance, a call to arms, a call to overthrow their enemies.

They were looking for Jesus, the messiah to overthrow the Roman empire.

Son of David

v.9

Why Son of David?

Jeremiah 33:15-16

Jeremiah 33:15–16 ESV

15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

As if hosanna wasn’t clear enough!

By calling out to Jesus as the Son of David they were saying “you are the one to cause us to dwell securely.”

Of course to them, this meant a revolt.

But this is why Jesus came on a donkey, not a war horse. For the victory that Jesus was bringing wasn’t through brute strength, but through His death.

There will be Peace

The next part that Zechariah speaks of is how the messiah will bring peace.

He shall rule with peace over all people’s, over all nations.

Luke 19:41-44

When Jesus get’s close to the city, he weeps over it.

If you knew the things that would make for peace.

The sanhedrin believed that they would achieve peace by giving into Rome.

They would go alone with what the Romans wanted to do, and Rome would leave them alone to worship.

They didn’t like Jesus becasue He was a threat to their power. He was also a threat to this stability that they shared with Rome.

The disciples and the followers of Jesus believed that they could achieve peace through the overthrow of Rome.

The government was the problem. The messiah must come, and overthrow Rome and establish His kingdom.

What do we give into, for the sake of peace?

We are called to live at peace with everyone as much as we can.

But sometimes, we can’t, sometimes what we see taking place is evil, and we must call it as such.

It is not loving, to call evil good and good evil.

We will not have peace with everyone in the world, because they are not at peace with God.

What the people in Luke all failed to grasp is something that we miss sometimes as well. That peace on earth wasn’t their greatest need, and it isn’t ours.

They needed peace with God.

Romans 8:7-8

Romans 8:7–8 ESV

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Mankind is at war with God.

The mind of flesh is hostile against Him.

When at the birth of Jesus the angels said peace on earth!

The peace that had come was peace between us and a God who we have deeply offended.

Jesus is weeping over Jerusalem, knowing that their deepest need is not:

To be more moral.

Not to get along with their neighbor.

Not to be more accepting.

But to be reconciled with the holy omnipotent ruler of the universe.

This is why Jesus the king of Glory had come to earth.

Do you have peace?

Do you have a relationship with Jesus?

The way to get to know Him is by spending time with Him in His word.

Do you know the one who we can have peace through.

They missed it.

The Blood of God’s Covenant

John 12:23-27

Falls and Dies

This statement was also given on the Sunday before Jesus would die.

Here we see Jesus clearly predicting His death, and through His death would save us.

This is the purpose for which He came.

In Zechariah, God said that he would set the prisoners free by the blood of His covenant.

Jesus is still speaking of saving His people, through the blood.

But now it is the new covenant, given by His blood.

This is the gospel!!

The King came in humility, to bring peace between a holy God and sinful man.

This could only be done through Jesus giving His life on the cross.

That through knowing Him as our Lord and savior, we have salvation.

Communion

We ask that if you do not know Jesus or if you have uncofessed sin in your life. That you do not take communion, for by doing so, you are drinking judgement on yourself.

Benediction

As you go this week, remember the king that you serve, and the peace that you have with Him, because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Go serve your king!