The Triumphal Entry

Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11;Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19

Read Matthew 21:1-1

Did you or do you have a favorite superhero? Marvel films are doing really well throughout the past decade or so. They are bringing in billions of dollars per Avenger film, or 1.9 billion on average per film.

People pay good money for this excitement, to see the hero save the day, and blow up a lot of stuff along the way...

Everyone is looking for a hero. Everyone is looking for a superman, someone who is going to save the day.

For the longest time, Israel has been waiting for their hero and superman to come into their lives and to save them from their oppressors… To save them from Rome and her rulers.

Israel/Jerusalem is awaiting her King and Ruler to come and to do the things they want Him to do… Set them free from Rome, so that they can be an independent nation once again.

*Today, Jesus is about to do something… He is going public.

Today, Jesus is riding in on a donkey, a borrowed donkey’s colt, one that has never been ridden before… which should be recorded as another supernatural event. (This should have been a wild ride/rodeo.)

But what was this pointing to? The Zechariah 9:9 prophecy: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foul of a donkey.”

So, what is Jesus saying? “Your Messiah and King is here, and I am He! I am the King you have been waiting for.”

Up until this time, He wants to remain private during His ministry. “Don’t tell others about this. Keep this to yourself.”

But, not now. There is no question. Jesus is claiming to be their Promised King.

So, Jesus is riding into His capital city as a conquering king and He is hailed by the people. They are treating Him as a king here, as they lay down their cloths and palm branches, in front of Him as He traveled. This is how you treat royalty.

Jesus receives praise and worship from the people.

And the crowd shouts “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest! Meaning, “O save, bring salvation, bring salvation now...”

“Hosanna” has turned into a word for highest praise. But here there is a praise and a prayer, for the King to save the people… from the wrong things...

People are looking for salvation from the wrong things.

The Jews want salvation from the government. They want salvation from taxes. They want salvation from people and or from pain...

These people are looking for the King to do these things.

To do what? To save them from temporal, worldly displeasure… and not from eternal torment.

But before we treat these guys too harshly...

What do you want your King to do for you? What are you looking for? What do you want from Jesus?

Do you cry out to Jesus to only save you from the government, or to make America Great again? Do you only want a Jesus to help your state, county, to relieve you from taxes and pains of life?

Are you looking for Jesus to give you heaven on earth right here and right now?

“Bring salvation! Bring salvation now! Save us! Save us now!”

Jesus has come to save the world from their sins, not to give them their best life now.

**I want you to think about this: What is the biggest enemy? What is the biggest threat? What keeps you up at night?

Who is the biggest enemy? Rome or Satan? Rome or sin? Rome or death?

Why was Rome evil to begin with? Satan and sin… right.

But… even if Rome was overthrown… what then? With Satan and sin reigning and ruling the world… There would have been another evil empire, or Israel would have eventually turned against God again to serve themselves...

And then… you have to deal with the enemy of death...

Listen: There is an enemy greater than the flesh, greater than presidents and dictators, greater than Rome, Russia, China, and any other entity...

And Jesus came to deal with that Goliath… because man couldn’t.

Jesus has come to save you from your sins, to set you free from your slavery to sin, to Satan, to pay your sin debt, and to bring you into His Kingdom, through the Cross.

Jesus is riding in to set souls/hearts free from the evil one and to redeem a people for Himself.

Now: Is it wrong to pray about all these other issues? Absolutely not! But remember why Jesus came, and you will never be disappointed.

Jesus has come to do what He said He would do… and it is enough.

2. People were looking in the wrong direction and to a wrong description. People were looking for a Jewish Rambo; a Jewish Audie Murphy; a Jewish Matt Dillon; an Iron Man to save them.

But think about this: How many men have been heroes for Israel before?

I mean, you have Moses being used to bring plagues and to part seas and rivers. You have warriors and judges that were empowered to do the impossible, to defeat the enemy with great force...

And what happened, over and over, and over again???

Situation and circumstances changed… but hearts never changed.

Man can never change the heart… only God can.

So: Man’s Savior must come from God. God’s Savior to the world is God, the Son.

Men were looking across the horizon, looking for a Pale Rider to ride into town and clean house. They would say, “I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from…?” And they would concluded… “My help comes from a military man, and not from Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth.”

And the attitude was most likely like this: “Ok, the prophesy is to ride in on a donkey… Now, get off, get on a White Stallion and clean house!”

It was like, they were picking and choosing which descriptions they wanted in their Christ. The Old Testament spoke of a Messiah who would like like several things, and that He would do several things...

But… they were only focused on this certain thing that fit their best interests...

Were they looking to God’s purposes, plans, and descriptions? Or were they looking for their purposes, plans, and descriptions?

What do we say? “Israel, look to God and His purposes, plans and descriptions. Church, are you picking and choosing your purposes, plans and descriptions over God’s? Church you look to God, to His purposes, plans and descriptions as well.”

People of God… listen up… You don’t want Him riding in on a White Horse yet… You want Him riding in on a donkey...

They needed God. We need God. They needed and we need God to come to us gently first...

Oh sinner… you want Him to come to you gently first...

If He comes in with rage and anger, its over, you are over, everything is over… time is over...

Christ, must first come humbly. Christ, first comes to die for sinners, to be the Man of Sorrows, to carry away our griefs and iniquities… to set the spiritually captive free from sin and Satan. And to establish His Kingdom on the earth.

This is first. First He comes to serve and to die for His people.

This is God’s plan, God purpose, and God’s description.

The gentle Christ has come riding on the donkey. Christ has come and served His people; He has humbled Himself to death to save you from your sins...

Next time, when He comes, it will be on a White Horse… which will symbolize His power, authority, and victory, and He will reign and rule with an iron fist.

You do not want to see Him on the White Horse before you see Him on the humble donkey!

On that day it will be too late. On that day, He will not give you another chance. On that day, He is going to clean house, and there will be no more chances to see His gentle side...

All the enemies of God will be destroyed.

Until that day… The Lord is patient to you, not wanting any to perish, but for all to come to repentance and faith.

Come to Him while He can still be found. Humble yourselves before His grace and mercy now… Before that day comes. The people will cry out to the mountains to cover them and to hide them from the anger/wrath of Almighty Jesus.

On that day, you will not think about a Jesus that can save you from your taxes, government leaders, or from earthly pain… You will want a Jesus who will save you from every single sin and sinful thought you every had.

On that day, before His holiness, every idle word, every slander, every lie, all unforgiveness, bitterness, sinful lifestyle, and hate towards God’s people will be revealed in you...

And without a humble Savior to clothe you in righteousness… You will burn in His fury.

Church you need salvation from the right things. You need salvation from this Lamb, before you meet the Lion of Judah.

2. You must be looking to the right direction. You must have the right description.

Today, we are not looking to man to save the day. We are not looking for presidents, human rulers to save the day… We are not looking to the perfect spouse or the perfect pastor...

We are looking to the Perfect Savior, Who is from above.

Do not make the King into your image, that would be a mistake that will lead you into idolatry, and to hell.

Who do you say that He is? Some say He is a prophet, a great teacher, only a miracle worker, or some spiritual guru...

What do you say? Peter said, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Are you saying today: “I want to know Him as my friend, as my comforter, and as my Savior… Then you must come to Him first as your King… and submit to Him as the Master over your life...

If you know Jesus as the Son of God and have received Him as Lord and Savior, believing on Him in your heart… He will know you…

And everything is going to be alright...

You will never see His anger… You will always experience His love...

If you do not know Him as King, and if He does not know you as His servant… Nothing will be alright for you, from then onto eternity.

You will never see His gentleness again.

Today, there is time. Today, He is here… gentle… being patient… And HE is ready for you to not lay down your clothes… but to lay down your lives...

Church, we know who He is.

He is the King of Kings and Lord or Lords. He is the Alpha and Omega. We know Who He is today, right here and right now… and We love Him for Who He is...

And we life up our palms, and we lift up our voices… and we sing, and we worship...

Why? We know Who He is. We know what He has saved us from. Death, hell the grave is no more. Fear is no more. We are no longer under law. We are under grace. We are free!

And we worship Him today just like the disciples are doing.

Don’t let people stop you. Don’t let the world or religious folks stop you. The King has come. The King is here. The King is coming again… rejoice!

Luke 19:39 - Teacher, rebuke Your disciples. And Jesus says, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

But Jesus is never going to tell you to stop praising Him.

So don’t stop praising Him!

Today, the sinner in need of the Savior, needs to cry out… “Hosanna… Hosanna Jesus...” Save Jesus; Bring salvation now...”

For the saint… we say… “Hosanna, Salvation has come, and salvation is coming; Come again Lord Jesus and take us to be where you are.

The King is Coming. The King is Coming. Come Lord Jesus Come.

Today could be the day.

Are you ready?

Don’t stop praising until He comes.

You need a Hero. You need a King. Jesus is making it clear everyone of us… He is the One you are looking for.

Who will say today, “Hosanna? Bring salvation now…?”

Close.