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Have you ever noticed how quickly a person with charisma & a bit of leadership skills can grab an entourage of followers?

One might peer into the relationships that led to the multitudes of cults we have seen over the years.

One might look to the David Koresh’s, the Jim Jones’, or the Marshall Applewhites of the world.

Each of these men were cult leaders and gathered a following due to there charisma and leadership abilities.

Men followed them and would be willing to follow them till the death.

You may wonder on this Palm Sunday, “why would you bring up a bunch of cult leaders?”

Let me answer your question: These men, had they have been around at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, would have been looked at by the religious leaders of Jesus’ day in the same light with which Jesus was perceived.

They would have taken them to be the same sort of men as they took Jesus to be— “A Zealot, but a false one.”

Switching gears for a moment: “Have you ever wanted someone to be something to a degree that you overlook everything else including what they are supposed to be.”

Maybe you can think about this in relationship to even a significant other: sometimes people are so infatuated with someone else they can only see what they desire the other person to be.

Maybe they look at the other person with the desire for them to be their mate and maybe even pray for God to make it so...

At this moment we look at the great country and western theologian named Garth Brooks and we “thank God for unanswered prayers.”

It is easy to think of people in the way we want them to be, but much harder to receive them in the way The Lord intends.

I want us to read our focal passage this morning:

Matthew 21:1–11 ESV

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “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 entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

So let’s take a moment to set the stage for you:

Jesus has been on a hundred mile journey from the region around Galilee and is now about the begin the final week of His earthly life “pre-cross”

He has come across the Jordan, thru Jericho, past Bethany, and is almost at Bethphage.

He arrives in our passage this morning nearing Jerusalem, Bethphage, and at the top of the hill called the Mount of Olives.

I’ll show you two images that will give you an idea of the scenery/topography as Jesus is about to to that faithful ride into the Passion week.

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

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.

Isaiah 62:11 ESV

11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.”

We Must Have the Faith To Do What He Says!

Matthew 21:2–3 ESV

2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”

Notice - this is a peculiar request in a way, but not in a way.

Jesus had regularly told the disciples specific things they must do that were a bit aberrant.

Take note, Jesus knew they would be stopped and He also knew what they would need to say.

Matthew 21:6 ESV

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

Question 1 — Do you and I have enough faith to do what is asked?

Are we willing to step outside the box?

Are we willing to have uncomfortable conversations?

Are we willing to have people question us?

Are we willing to be used?

Are we willing to be more…more than just observers…more than just attenders…more than just givers…more than just receivers?

Are we willing to test the bounds and do what Jesus has called us to do?

The Lord Moves The Pieces On The Board For His Purpose!

But first we have to grasp who He is.

What He is.

Why He is.

Matthew 21:4–5 ESV

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

Matthew 21:10–11 ESV

10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Seeing Jesus Demands A Response!

You say “what do you mean?”

Well, we spoke in our introduction this morning about these charismatic men, not honorable men, but leaders of sorts.

People thought that meeting them required a response.

They thought they must follow, but the only problem with these men was they were not of God.

Jesus is God the Son. So that knowledge requires or demands a response.

Let’s look at how these men responded and really what they were looking for in the Messiah.

Matthew 21:8–9 ESV

8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Walking Away, But In...

Respond to Christ!

Prepare for Christ!

Walk in Christ!