Untitled Sermon (72)

John 12:12–18 NASB95

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.

Sermons from the Palm Trees

Intro

It is the palm tree that finds itself at the center of the week that changed the world. In fact it is the branches of the palm tree that will begin the week that will witness the trial, crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

1. The sign of the palm tree

Palm trees were a glorious sight. Not just for their beauty and their tropical association, but Palm trees were a sign for a desert dwelling people that water was nearby.

If you glance back to the Old Testament, we find the children of Isreal in their wanderings in the wilderness, and we find that on more than one occasion, they are in great want for water.

On many occasions, God would move in a supernatural way to satisfy their need and quench their thirst. In Exodus 15, a tree was cast into bitter waters. In Exodus 17 and again in Number 20, a rock would be the source from which quenching waters would flow.

Often God’s provision was supernatural.

And at other times his provision was a sign.

Any time that a wary traveller was making their way through a dry desert and they saw in the distance a palm tree, it was a sign that water was near.

Where there is a palm tree, stretching forth its branches, you can be certain that water can be found.

The roots of the palm tree reaching down into the desert sand and spreading out to find their source of life. It was literally a beacon of hope to the weary traveller in the wilderness.

A lifeline to the weary

Even a branch, perhaps falling from the tree and carried by the winds, would be a sign to the weary that salvation might soon be found.

2. The symbol of the palm tree.

It was a symbol of victory

The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in Roman times. The Romans rewarded champions of the games and celebrated success in war with palm branches. Jews also had a tradition of carrying palm branches during festive times. Early Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul. In Judaism, the palm represents peace and plenty.

https://palmai.io/insights/a-palm-is-a-symbol-of-sustainable-victory/

From the 1st book of Maccabees (an extra biblical book) but it records that after a victory over a great enemy, the Jews entered in with palm branches.

The New Revised Standard Version Simon Regains the Citadel at Jerusalem

On the twenty-third day of the second month, in the one hundred seventy-first year, the Jews entered it with praise and palm branches, and with harps and cymbals and stringed instruments, and with hymns and songs, because a great enemy had been crushed and removed from Israel.

The sermon of the palm tree

John records that when Jesus comes into town a riotous celebration begins.

This moment was monumental

In fact all 4 of the Gospels record the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

There are only 10 passages that are recorded in all 4 of the Gospels. Drawing our attention that these occasions of great significance. 7 of the 10 surround the betray, trial, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Only 3 events preceding the betrayal of jesus are recorded in all of the synoptic gospels.

the fact that the ministry of Jesus began in Galilee (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4 and John 4)

Jesus feeding the 5,000 (matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9 and John 6)

And…the triumphal entry of Jesus

Not Jesus walking on water.

Not Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood

Not even Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

this was not some casual stroll on the back of a donkey.

This was the moment of no return

Macarthurs study bible has a great explanation of how the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem forced the hand of the religious leaders.

when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of the donkey, the statement was unmistakable…your messiah has arrived. The King is here. Zechariah

Jesus on the donkey was a clear message from jesus to the people.

The waving of the branches were a clear sign of the people to jesus

the palm branch had become a national symbol....that sign that water had been found…that symbol of victory over enemies. and to the nation of Israel, it was a symbol that a messiah would come to deliver them…and as those palm trees were waved, the message was clear…messiah has come! Our savior is here!

Hosannah…Save NOW!!

Be a great time to have the people wave their branches.

He is the king!!!

He is the messiah!!

He has coming riding on the back of the donkey…He is the king!!

Save NOW oh king!

in the midst of a world that seems to be losing its mind....Save now!

When we are surrounded by wars and rumors of wars…Save NOW!!

Living in troubled times…Save NOW!!!

But more than just a message that it was recognized that messiah was among them...

There is a great message being preached by the palm trees.

Those branches being waved declared that messiah was here...

But listen to Mark 11:8

Mark 11:8 KJV 1900

8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.

in order for THE BRANCH to be exalted the tree had to give up its branches.

Zechariah 6:12 KJV 1900

12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; And he shall grow up out of his place, And he shall build the temple of the Lord:

Jeremiah 23:5 KJV 1900

5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Zechariah 3:8 KJV 1900

8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, And thy fellows that sit before thee: For they are men wondered at: For, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

But my branches must be removed...

My branches must be cut away!

The symbols of my victory must be surrendered so that his victory can be established.

And so after they waved those palm branches…after they declared him to be king…the lay them across the ground...

This is the sermon of the palm tree.

I must decrease so that he must increase!

Cut away from me what must be cut away so that you might be declared King!