"Blessed is the King Who Comes."

READ (Luke 19:28-40)

Every gospel records this event.

Each spring, the week before Easter, Christian churches gather to celebrate Palm Sunday.

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just days before his crucifixion. Jesus reached the Mount of Olive which overlooks Jerusalem from the east.

Just like other Jews, Jesus had made this very same journey for the annual festivals, especially Passover.

Matthew and Mark, in their recordings, marked the moment when Jesus publically revealed Himself as the Messiah.

“Hosanna” - “Save us now”

Luke focuses on Jesus’ triumphal entry as the King. (He was not just another pilgrim.)

Teaching my children the gospel and neglecting the Lordship of Jesus.

Evans

Prophecy - Messiah

Jesus’ knowledge proved his omniscience

A colt never ridden would not accept a rider so easily. Master over creation.

The kingdom of Heaven is a monarchy and is governed under the rule of one King.

1. Since Jesus is King, He deserves all honor and glory.

This is the first time Jesus allowed the crowds to acknowledge that he was the messiah.

Why now? Because it was now necessary as He entered the city for the last time.

“Blessed” - eulogeo, praise, speak well of, honor

Differs from Matt 5… Makarios, happy, fortunate

“He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” - (Psalm 118:26)

In the ancient world, kings were celebrated for their military victories. Parades were held as they returned from the homeland.

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daugther Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and ride on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” - (Zechariah 9:9)

In Zechariah’s day, Jerusalem has no king but was ruled by foreign powers.

Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on the back of a donkey as the righteous and victorious Messiah.

He was not the King people expected, but He was the King that the people needed.

Jesus is the only person qualified to serve as the King of God’s Kingdom.

2. Since Jesus is King, mankind must decide where to pledge allegiance.

This was the parade of all parades.

“Blessed is the King who comes.”

Similar to phrase used by the angels in the nativity story.

This was the loftiest style in which Jesus could be saluted as the promised deliverer.

The praise of the people was appropriate.

This moment was too much for the pharisees.

“Rebuke your disciples.”

Gravestones were visible from this parade.

Stones will cry out...

“The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.” - (Matthew 27:53-53)

The pharisees could not accept the situatin and spent the week strategizing ways to crucify Jesus.

Evil will always act in opposition to the truth. Evil fights dirty. Truth stays in the light. Truth wins 100% of the time.

The pharisees hoped to remove the “King of the Jews” by killing Him. They failed to realize that Jesus was already the King as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

No matter where you stand on your beliefs in Jesus, He will always be King. Period.

Where do you pledge allegiance?

“We are told to let your light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine.” - Dwight L. Moody