Palm Sunday

Reading:

Zechariah 9:9-12 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.”

Introduction:

Today is Palm Sunday, a day we celebrate because it was on this day our Lord and Savior was recognized by the world as the true King.

He rode into town in the manner of a King who came proclaiming Himself as a peaceful King; but a King none the less.

There is something more to Jesus’ coming into Jerusalem, He wasn’t planning to set up His kingdom on Earth, He was fulfilling what was said 3x before this point.

Matthew 16:21-23 - Peter Confesses Jesus as Christ.

Matthew 17:22-23 - Jesus healed a boy with a demon.

Matthew 20:17-19 - Jesus’ parable = Master and Vineyard.

Jesus revealed on 3 separate occasions that He would be delivered into the hands of the chief priests, and scribes to be condemned. He would then be given to the Gentiles for mocking, flogging and then the crucifixion.

Don’t worry - He wouldn’t stay dead, He would rise the 3rd day!

Transition:

In John 12:12-19 we are given the account of His “Triumphal Entry”.

It was loud in the streets and in Jerusalem because of the:

The Anticipation

John 12:12-13 “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!””

Transition:

There was:

The Large Gathering

John 12:12 “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.”

? Why was there a large gathering?

It was the celebration of the Passover.

We mentioned the significance about this celebration in our last gathering together. In our second part of the Holy Spirit.

Egypt held captive the whole nation of Israel and were told to sacrifice a lamb.

Eat the whole thing, have their bags packed, and spread the blood on the door posts.

because of faith shown by obedience the Holy Spirit would passover the house and spare the first born of man an beast.

Here is the annual celebration of passover.

Also the crowd heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.

Transition:

You could say that the crowd had an:

The Collective Thought

John 12:12 “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.”

Context:

How would it be fair to say that the crowd was collectively thinking?

What would they have heard up until this point?

John 11:17-27 Jesus’ 5th I Am statement: Resurrection and the Life.

John 11:28-57 Jesus Weeps over His friend.

John 11:38-44 Lazarus Come Forth - He is Raised from death.

John 11:45-57 Plotting to Kill Jesus.

John 12:1-8 Mary Anoints Jesus.

John 12:9-11 The Plot to kill Lazarus.

The Chief priests and Pharisees needed to erase the memory and evidence that pointed to Jesus’ deity.

The world knew of Jesus’ claims about Himself.

They wanted to see the Messiah and find out for themselves if it was true; what everyone said about Him.

It would’ve been a great day in Israel for them to learn that the Messiah had finally come.

Transition:

The crowd made:

The Proclamation

John 12:13 “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!””

They protested and proclaimed: “Hosanna”

Hosanna is the Hebrew term for = “Save Now”

What they were expressing was: “Save us now great King”!!

At this point it would seem unanimous that everyone trusted Christ as the Messiah and believed in Him.

But did they?

I believe in this moment there were many that mis-understood the coming of Jesus.

(Elaborate on the king they thought He would be)

Connection:

We have a lot of people that call out to God:

“Save us now great King”, who aren’t calling out to Jesus.

They are hoping for a deity “up there” that is all love; but no judgment and truth.

Not sure about you but that is not God I have faith in or have read about in the bible.

He is an all loving God that provided a way for salvation through His sacrifice; but those who don’t accept it are going to have their punishment after death, for all eternity in a place of fire and torment.

If you have adopted this belief and don’t have that relationship with Jesus: You can right now.

(Admit, Believe, Confess) - (Don’t forget people online)

Transition:

The people knew of the messiah but didn’t fully realize that Jesus was:

The Fulfillment

John 12:14-16 “And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”

Transition:

Prophecy was being fulfilled through:

Jesus Statement

John 12:14 “And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,”

Illustration:

The position held by someone can bring an expectation for how they show up to something.

A high ranking person or VIP would typically expect to be driven in a expensive care with a chauffeur.

The president of the united states arrives with a motorcade in a Cadillac.

He has his own plane, and helicopters too.

Every King coming into their country would be expected to arrive in town on their horse.

When a King came in to town what animal He rode was symbolic to what kind of King He was or would be.

Riding a horse: He would be a King of war and conquering.

Riding a donkey: He would be a King of peace.

Transition:

The Lord gave prophecies concerning the Messiah and what kind of King He would be.

It was at this point that Jesus revealed a prophecy being:

Fulfilled

John 12:15 ““Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!””

The prophecy foreshadowed the Messiah and with Jesus coming into town on a donkey that hadn’t been used for hauling or mounted

- He was fulfilling the messianic prophecy right before their eyes.

Here was the prophecy:

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

A King riding in on a untrained beast accomplished 2 things:

Prophecy fulfilled!

He would have a mission of peace.

(Next time He comes He will be riding a trained horse with a mission to conquer)

Transition:

Illustration:

Dan Blossom’s “cannon ball” from the scaffolding to lift the beam.

Hindsight is 20/20.

I think this is where the disciples found themselves.

The:

Disciples Missed It

John 12:16 “His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”

The disciples didn’t fully recognize Jesus’ three times prophesying of His death and resurrection.

They had their “aha” moment when Jesus was glorified!

It wasn’t until Jesus was resurrected and ascended and the angels told them =

Stop standing there, get busy!

At that moment they had remembered all that was written of Him.

What He proclaimed.

All that He fulfilled.

Jesus is Messiah/Savior = Lord!

Transition:

This makes Jesus:

The Authority

John 12:17-19 “The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.””

Transition:

He showed His authority through a:

Monumental Testimony

John 12:17 “The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.”

A crowd witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.

Do you think those who witnessed Lazarus coming from the tomb alive after being dead for 3 days would be able to keep it quiet?

Doubt it.

What kind of thoughts would people have about Jesus the one who has the power to raise someone from death?

Illustration:

What length would people strive for to have the power to perform miracles?

Oral Roberts:

At his height in the early 80’s; he was chief of a $120 million/ a year business. He employed 2300 people.

He had a med school

Hospital

Buildings on 50 acres

all valued at around $500 Million

What did he do you ask?

He was a preacher that proclaimed to heal people and was a leader of what we now know as the prosperity gospel.

You know: “Send me money and God will bless you or heal you!”

The world has a lot of desperate people who are looking for answers and miracles. He preyed on that!

Point:

A person who can do miracles would be famous!

How famous would a person be if they could raise people from the dead?

If you witnessed this happen and heard His message: Who would you tell about the gift of grace?

How good would you sell it to others and who would you tell?

Transition:

You would take up the mantle like John did:

Come And See

John 12:18 “The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.”

Come see the King!

He is a king like no other:

He has authority, power, and wisdom over all the Earth and everything in it. Even death!

Come and see Him!

Transition:

I believe that Jesus had all these people there for His plan.

The public testimony for Jesus fulfilling the prophecy and that it would be recorded for all to trust and know.

Transition:

The world had to have the truth of:

His Victory

John 12:19 “So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.””

Jesus came for the whole World.

The world can believe in Him since He is faithful and true.

People can believe in Him and trust Him and know Him.

His testimonies tell us of His

- Message.

- Power.

- Authority.

Immanuel: God with us.

God desired a relationship with His creation ever since the first disobedience with Adam and Eve.

Jesus is what bridges that chasm to His presence.

People were believing in Jesus and trusting Him.

People’s faith shifted from the Law to Jesus.

The Pharisees recognized this truth too but from a different perspective:

Jesus was winning and they were loosing!

They had to take care of the problem.

Conclusion:

Palm Sunday is all about recognizing that Jesus came and fulfilled every prophecy for the Messiah.

We can look back and recognize the full picture with full confidence and rest assured of our salvation.

Looking forward to what He has promised for the future and that He is coming again.

He will come as Lord and King over a kingdom, not as the gift of grace.

Gospel challenge:

There are some people who are skeptical about Jesus: Why?

You have all the evidence to reveal who He is, why He was in flesh, and if you can believe in Him.

We don’t need to convince you of Jesus, You can see who He is and that He died for you because He loves you.

Admit your need to be redeemed because of sin.

Believe in Him for salvation the gift of grace.

Confess it all, every day and ask Him for help.

Your life will change!

Pray.