The Triumphal Entry
Notes
Transcript
Intro; This morning as we head into the Easter season, we’re gonna take a break from our study of the Holy Spirit and focus on Jesus’ passion week. This morning I want us to look at “The Triumphal Entry” as Jesus comes into Jerusalem for His final time.
Matthew 21:1–11 (NKJV)
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
This narrative is in each of the four gospels and is the beginning of the Passion Week, which recounts the events of Jesus’ ministry leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection.
There are some common elements of the Triumphal Entry in each of the Gospels;
• Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1–7; Mark 11:1–7; Luke 19:29–35; John 12:14). [In ancient days a donkey was a noble animal. It was used by kings and their emissaries. When they entered a city in peace, they rode a donkey to symbolize their peaceful intentions. So when Jesus rode this colt [donkey] it was a symbolic act of a king coming in peace.]
• As Jesus approaches and enters Jerusalem, crowds and/or disciples spread cloaks and/or branches on the road (Matt 21:8; Mark 11:8; Luke 19:36; John 12:13). [The crowds welcomed Jesus with palm fronds- a traditional sign of peace that is used in the Feast of Tabernacles that commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Followers of Jesus believed that Jesus would bring an earthly peace at this time by delivering Israel from Roman occupation]
• People shout praises and blessings, enthusiastically embracing His arrival (Matt 21:9; Mark 11:9–10; Luke 19:37–38; John 12:13). [The word “hosanna” means “save now”, a cry for their Messiah, the Son of David to bring salvation to His people Israel. The Jews believed that during the Passover celebration, Yahweh would recognise their oppression and send His salvation/deliverer as He did before in Egypt].
Jesus was literally fulfilling Zech. 9:9
9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Jerusalem was rightly rejoicing over Jesus as their king, but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. Jesus’ salvation is not to save one from Rome, but to save one from their SIN!
Text; Mt. 20:29-34
Matthew 20:29–34 (NKJV)
29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
Many people followed Jesus because of what I have already mentioned, and many were traveling to Jerusalem because of Passover, but also just a little over a week earlier Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead [John 11].
1. The Blind Heard; 30
1. The Blind Heard; 30
With a multitude passing by it was easy for the blind to hear [talking, singing, hearing the shuffle of feet, animals]
We have five senses [touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste], and when a person loses any of these senses, the body adjusts by increasing the others.
Now these blind men were by the side of the road for one purpose “begging alms” [Mark 10:46]. This was a week they would do good because of the amount of people coming into Jerusalem for Passover, and many have extra money on them for the trip they made and to buy their animals for sacrifice.
But in all the commotion going on around them, their sense of hearing was peaked when they heard the name “Jesus”! The name of Jesus was a household word by that time, and the name was especially precious to those with physical ailments.
They cried out for “mercy” instead of “money”
The blind men quit begging for alms to get Divine help. They gave up a great opportunity to get extra money from begging. If you want help from God you must put a high priority on Him, that means you may have to give up some worldly opportunities of getting gain.
Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Too many people are more interested in worldly gain than in Christ and He can pass by them and they give up the opportunity to be healed and made whole!
2. The Crowd Warned Them; 31
2. The Crowd Warned Them; 31
The multitude of people, even the disciples “warned them” to be quiet.
Warned- rebuke, threaten
Opposition always comes when one is seeking Christ! [salvation or any need]
We can be a hindrance to ourselves if we get to thinking “what will people think of me, if I confess I’m a sinner?”
Satan can be a hindrance to saving faith by telling us we will have to give up everything for Jesus. [You will, only to receive what is better!]
Many times, even the church may hinder one from coming to faith in Christ by making a person feel unwanted, maybe inferior because of their background, upbringing or even their social status. Shame on that church!!
What is social status anyway? Is it a certain amount of money? Is it having a certain type of clothing and jewelry. Is it a certain size of house? Of car? Is it a certain location in town? How foolish can we be?
Jesus never rejected anyone who came to Him in faith, and He never planned the church to meet the needs of only a certain class of people!!
Song; “Just As I Am” v.5
Just as I am, thou wilt receive; wilt welcome, pardon , cleanse, relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God I come! I come!
If God is calling out to you today, don’t let anyone hinder you or drown out your voice. You do what these blind men did, CRY OUT LOUDER TO THE SON OF DAVID, “HAVE MERCY ON ME, LORD!!”
Matthew 7:7–8 (NKJV)
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
3. Open Our Eyes; 32-34
3. Open Our Eyes; 32-34
There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus already knew the condition of these men. So why did the Lord ask, “What do you want me to do for you?”
When we come to Jesus, we need to be specific about our need!
God already knows our need, but confession is our way of admitting to Him that we can’t meet those needs on our own!
If you are coming to Jesus in need of salvation, you must tell Him that you are a sinner and need His salvation!
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
If you are coming to Jesus with a physical ailment that needs attention, then tell Him what it is!
James 5:13 (NKJV)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray…
If you are coming to Jesus with a financial matter, tell Him exactly what it is!
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
If you are coming to Jesus about a temptation in your life, tell Him exactly what it is!
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Jesus had compassion on them and touched them; Jesus heard and He healed!
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
They followed Him; many people, both in material and in spiritual things, get what they want, and then forget even to say thanks. Being ungrateful is a ugly sin. These blind men received their sight from Jesus, and then they gave Him their loyalty.
We can never repay God for what he has done for us but we can always be grateful to him by following Him!
Close;
Jesus triumphal entry was for the purpose that the “Blind Might Be Able to See!” People today are not only blinded by the god of this age, but also blinded by the pride of their hearts.
I’m asking you to set all that aside this morning and “Cry out to Jesus to Open Our Eyes”, to meet whatever your need is and let Him have compassion on you, and touch you and make you whole!
Then follow Him!!