Fork in the Road
Walking with Jesus: • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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A "fork in the road" is a metaphorical expression that refers to a point in one's life or a situation where a decision must be made between two different options or paths. This decision is often seen as pivotal because it can significantly impact the course of events or one's future direction. The metaphor is derived from the literal image of a road splitting into two separate paths, resembling the shape of a fork, forcing individuals to choose which path to take.
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Let’s walk with Jesus into Jerusalem.
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
21:1 Bethphage is a small town near Bethany, on the southeast slope of the Mt. of Olives. It is mentioned nowhere else in Scripture except in connection with Christ’s triumphal entry.
21:3 if anyone says anything to you. Mark records that this was in fact exactly what happened
Mark 11:5-6.
5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
Having just arrived in Bethphage (v. 1), Jesus would have no opportunity to make arrangements for the use of these animals. Yet He knows precisely the location of the animals and the disposition of the owners. Such detailed foreknowledge reveals His divine omniscience.
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
21:5 A colt, the foal of a donkey quotes Zechariah 9:9 exactly (cf. Is. 62:11). The Jewish multitudes recognize the fulfillment of this messianic prophecy and respond with titles and accolades fit only for the Messiah (see note on v. 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.
Rejoice Greatly / Salvation
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion” is omitted. Why? Because our Lord is not coming into Jerusalem for that time of rejoicing. That will take place at His second coming.
Also omitted is “he is just, and having salvation”—the word salvation has the thought of victory, which will be fulfilled at His second coming. The conclusion to be drawn from these portions is that at His second coming there will be a true triumphal entry.
It is assumed that our Lord was displaying His meekness by riding upon this little donkey. That is not true. This little animal was ridden by kings. In our day it would be like riding into town in a Rolls Royce. The donkey was the animal of peace while the horse was the animal of war. When Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on this little animal of peace, He was offering Himself as King. In spite of the fact that He was doing that, the prophet says that He was humble. That is very important to see.
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.
21:7 the donkey and the colt. Matthew is the only Gospel writer who mentions the mare donkey. But all mention the young age of the donkey (John 12:14) or state that no man had ever sat on him (Mark 11:2; Luke 19:30).
The mare was brought along, possibly to induce the colt to cooperate.
Set Him on them. I.e., on the clothes. Christ rode on the young colt (Mark 11:7).
8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Most of the people in the crowd took their cue from the disciples’ example. They laid their coats across Jesus’ path in the road, as though to give him the “red carpet treatment.” Others cut branches from nearby trees to extend the “carpet” into the city. John 12:13 tells us the branches were “palm branches,” thus our celebration of “Palm Sunday” five days before Good Friday and seven days before Resurrection Sunday, or “Easter.”
21:8 spread their clothes on the road. Spreading one’s garments on the street was an ancient act of homage reserved for high royalty (cf. 2 Kin. 9:13), suggesting that they recognize His claim to be King of the Jews.
13 They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
21:9 Hosanna transliterates the Hebrew expression that is translated “Save now” in Psalm 118:25. Blessed is He quotes verse 26 of the same psalm exactly.
With such expressions, along with the messianic title “Son of David,” the crowd is acknowledging Christ’s messianic claim.
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Who is this? - When I was a teenager / large crowd / asked for a guys autograph and others started asking who he was and started going up to him and ask for his autograph.
This was no celebrity this was the King of kings and Lord or lords.
Pause / Worship break (2)
There was another crowd that formed.
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”
Pilate had one more scheme: He would follow the tradition of releasing a prisoner. Instead of selecting some unknown prisoner, Pilate deliberately chose the most notorious prisoner he had, Barabbas. This man was a robber (John 18:40) and a murderer (Mark 15:7). Pilate reasoned that the crowd would reject Barabbas and ask for Jesus to be released, for who wants a convicted murderer and robber turned loose into society?
18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. 19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Are you apart of the Hosanna crowd or the Crucify Him crowd?
There is a fork in the road. You have to decide which road you will take.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Song
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”