Palm Sunday

INTRODUCTION

Good morning! Would you turn with me to Matthew 21? Today, we will be looking at Matthew 21:1-11. As you’re turning there, I just want to highlight a few things coming up this week (And welcome visitors again and provide giving message- what a blessing it is to be able to reach this community and we can only do that with your help both through your actions and your sacrificial giving.)

It’s march and I don’t know about you, but I LOVE some March Madness. And I have to say, that was a great Illinois game last night.

But in addition to enjoying watching basketball, I used to play and then coach Basketball.

Now, one thing that I learned as I transitioned to coaching is that as a player, it is easy to only see PART of the picture!

Let me give an example. My Sophomore year of High school, and who knows why I remember this and not anything from my English Lit class, but my Sophomore year, we were playing at a high school called Peak to Peak.

Our high school had won 5 straight state championships, so basketball was a serious thing. But honestly, that year, we weren’t very good.

And I remember sitting on the bench during this game against Peak to Peak and our coach called out a play.

We called it 32 and we ran it against zone defenses.

And our point guard looked at the bench and said, “Coach are you sure?”

Because see, Peak to Peak was playing man-to-man, not zone.

And our Coach said, “Just trust me.”

See, Coach saw something that none of us saw. He saw that the MOTION of 32 would work against this defense.

And sure enough, it did.

But from our limited perspective, we were SO CONFUSED!

I’ll admit, the other guys on the bench and I were thinking, “Did Coach just crack? Like he’s statistically the best coach in Colorado High School history and we just broke his brain!”

But we didn’t see the full picture.

Now, Biblically, we know that we DON’T see the full picture. Think about 1 Corinthians 13. Paul says, “ 1 Corinthians 13:12

1 Corinthians 13:12 CSB

12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.

See, we only see part of a reflection. We don’t see fully!

And I think that Palm Sunday is actually a powerful example of that.

What we are going to see today is what happens when we DON’T understand fully!

We often teach this passage in Matthew 21 as, “Wow, can you believe that these people were led astray by the religious leaders in just one week!”

But instead, I think that we should consider; THE PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THE TRUTH IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Some people understand, but most people are just as confused as I was when Coach Hasz was calling out 32 against a man defense!

And to make this all the more practical, many people TODAY are STILL CONFUSED!

EVEN TODAY, RIGHT NOW, AT THIS EXACT MOMENT, people are confused on WHY EASTER AND WHO JESUS IS!

And that’s why our main point is:

Main Point: If We Miss Who Jesus Is, Then We Miss the Glory of the Gospel

BODY

Palm Sunday is a unique day in scripture. See, we think about it and we talk about it as the people of Jerusalem praising Jesus and it seems so joyous!

But the entire time, we have to remember that the people of Jerusalem don’t understand. They don’t understand who Jesus is, they don’t understand what is going on and they act out of a short-sighted idea!

It’s important I think to talk about what the Jewish people wanted. When you read the Minor Prophets, it is clear what they Jewish people were hanging onto. If you want a non-biblical source for this feeling, check out Josephus.

The Israelites were hanging onto promises of destruction for their enemies and DELIVERANCE for them!

They were holding tightly to the idea of an independent kingdom, something that the Israelites had tasted for a short time in the 100’s B.C. up until they struck a deal with Rome to avoid being conquered.

Despite this, the Israelites never really gravitated towards Roman rule. Instead, they always longed for independence.

And now, they see a man named Yeshua, which is the Hebrew name for Jesus and JOSHUA and they think that they are about to see a kingdom established.

And that sets the stage for the crowd in Jerusalem. They have gathered together for the passover. And they are going to see salvation happen right in front of their eyes. But, it will look different than they expected.

As i say all this, I want to be clear- we can miss it too! we need to be careful as we approach Easter that we don’t think to ourselves, “oh this is the same old story” but rather that we hear it ANEW!

In Matthew 19, Jesus begins a journey that takes him from Galilee to Judea and towards Jerusalem. As he travels, he teaches and he heals.

Matthew 21:1–3 CSB

1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. 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 at once.”

So as the disciples approach Jerusalem they come to Bethphage. (Beth-Pha-gay- Βηθφαγή)

Bethphage is located at the Mount of Olives. It’s a little under 7/10’s of a mile from Jerusalem.

We know that because it was said to be a “Sabbath’s walk from Jerusalem”

Jesus sends two disciples ahead of himself and the rest of his followers.

We don’t know which two disciples go ahead, but just like usual when details are left out, it is done on purpose!

The point isn’t WHO went ahead, the point is Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem!

Jesus tells the disciples that they are to go into the village.

Once there, they will find a donkey tied with her colt.

They are to untie them and bring them to Jesus.

If ANYONE asks, they are to tell them, “The Lord needs them.”

Then, they’ll be sent with the donkeys!

In Luke 19, we see that when the disciples go to get the donkey and the colt, they are stopped, and everything happens JUST AS JESUS TOLD THEM!

But something might feel off to us. Why does Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a colt?

Why doesn’t Jesus ride in on a horse? Why doesn’t Jesus just WALK IN? Why does it have to be on a colt.

Well, there’s two things going on. There’s the fulfillment of a prophecy going on here and then in addition, Jesus is sending a clear message to the people of Jerusalem.

See, Kings only rode into cities on donkeys if they came in peace.

Jesus is sending a message.

Jesus is sending the message that he is KING and also that he COMES IN PEACE!

Don’t miss what Jesus is doing! Jesus is fulfilling prophecy and at the same time is saying, “I am coming in peace.”

Remember, Jesus didn’t come to kill anyone. Instead, he came to SAVE!

Jesus came in peace.

It reminds me of Isaiah 53:7

Isaiah 53:7 CSB

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Jesus CAME like a lamb led to the slaughter. He came in peace and he came gently.

As Jesus rides in on a donkey, he shows this!

In verses 4 and 5, Matthew draws our attention to Zechariah 9:9.

Zechariah 9:9 CSB

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9 is a fascinating set of prophecies. Before verse 9, Zechariah is prophesying about the destruction of Israel’s enemies.

But then everything begins to change! Instead of mourning and destruction, it turns to joy!

It talks about the KING OF ZION riding in on a donkey, humble, victorious and RIGHTEOUS!

Don’t miss that! The king is RIGHTEOUS!

That is something that did not describe other kings. Think about the kings who ruled when Zechariah was alive.

See, Zechariah was a priest when the events of Nehemiah were going on. The Israelites were ruled by pagan kings who lived FAR FROM RIGHTEOUS LIVES!

And that’s the contradiction! The king of Persia comes victorious and proud on a horse! The KING OF ZION comes humble and RIGHTEOUS, WHILE BEING EQUALLY VICTORIOUS while riding a donkey!

We won’t spend long on this, but Zechariah 9:10-12 continue to tell us more about Jesus! It talks about his dominion spreading from sea to sea, from the Euphrates to the ENDS OF THE EARTH, all while war is removed and peace is increased! It talks about the blood of the covenant setting prisoners free and it talks about restoration!

Jesus comes with the BLOOD FO THE COVENANT TO SET PRISONERS TO SIN FREE!

But this isn’t the only prophecy about salvation that includes donkeys!

Genesis 49:11 CSB

11 He ties his donkey to a vine, and the colt of his donkey to the choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine and his robes in the blood of grapes.

Look at this! Jesus, who is being talked about in Genesis 49:11, as the fulfillment of the blessing to the tribe of Judah is linked closely to two things in this verse.

First, the colt of a donkey- just what Jesus had the disciples bring!

Second, WASHING HIS CLOTHES IN WINE; which is used here figuratively to foreshadow the blood of the covenant!

Matthew is doing something really important here.

Matthew wrote his gospel to an audience that spans time, but first was for the Hebrew people that were scattered around the Roman Empire.

And Matthew is showing this audience from the Old Testament just how JESUS FULFILLS THESE PROMISES!

Jesus comes riding in on a colt, but it isn’t just that, it is so much more!

I made a comment last week that all of scripture speaks to salvation! And it’s true! Even in Matthew 21, we see how Zechariah 9 and Genesis 49 prophesy about SALVATION THAT WE NEED!

Matthew 21:6–8 CSB

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.

The disciples obey Jesus.

Next, we see that they laid their clothes or their outer garment on the donkey.

This outer garment was called a “himatia.”

The “himatia” was an outer garment that was worn across the torso. It was designed to keep you warm and protected from the elements.

The himation had a significant meaning to it when it was removed. Typically, when it was removed it was a sign of wanting to fight!

In hockey, if two players want to fight, they’ll drop their gloves. In Israel at this time, to signal you wanted to fight, you’d remove the himatia.

But here, the disciples remove them not to start a fight, but instead out of RESPECT AND REVERENCE FOR JESUS!

It also further reinforces that Jesus has come in peace!

Think about it! The himatia has been removed and it has been laid on the back of a humble donkey so that Jesus can ride in peacefully!

JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES ARE NOT THERE TO FIGHT!

Jesus has come for a very specific reason- he has come to SAVE the crowds! And to do that, he has to do what is prophesied in Isaiah 53:7 that we read earlier.

Isaiah 53:7 CSB

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Jesus has to be killed! And he is entering into Jerusalem in peace, knowing that this is coming!

It isn’t just the disciples that throw down their Himatia’s!

But they don’t do this to fight! Instead, they do this as a sign of reverence!

As some throw down their cloaks for the donkey to walk on, others cut branches from trees down and they spread those on the road!

Understand, this is a conquering hero welcome! They are welcoming Jesus as a hero!

They welcome him with JOY AND WITH ENERGY! WITH FERVOR!

It’s a sight to be seen and to be heard as Matthew 21:9 tells us!

Matthew 21:9 CSB

9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

As Jesus rides the donkey into Jerusalem, the crowd goes ahead of him and some follow and they shout three phrases over and over! They shout praises to him like they would in a parade welcoming a king!

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Let’s talk about these for a minute.

Hosanna comes from a Hebrew word. It is used 5 times in the NT, only when Jesus is being welcomed to Jerusalem. It is never used outside of the gospels.

Hosanna in Hebrew was a declaration meaning, “Save, deliver or give victory.” The meaning shifted a little bit though as Aramaic became a more common language and it took on a contextual meaning of “give praise and glory.”

And here, the crowd cries out, “HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID!”

The crowd recognizes that Jesus is the SAVING SON OF DAVID!

To be the Son of David was a fulfillment of prophecy first given to David. David was given a covenant by God that one of his descendants would reign forever!

Jesus is being seen as a descendant coming to restore the kingdom of David!

The people of Jerusalem can’t even begin to understand how much better Jesus’s kingdom will be!

Practically, it’s so easy to say, “Well, the people of Jerusalem made stupid mistakes with that.”

But when we reduce this to just a series of misunderstandings, I think that we really miss an important application!

The people of Israel had memorized the word of God. They were familiar with it, but they didn’t understand it and they didn’t apply it correctly!

So this idea of Jesus coming to throw out the Romans should remind us of the importance of UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING SCRIPTURE CORRECTLY!

The second statement that the crowd cries out is “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

As Jesus enters the city, they YELL OUT PRAISE! Another way to translate this word is “Praise!”

In fact, it’s the same root word that we use to get EULOGY! They are SPEAKING WELL AND PRAISING JESUS!

PRAISE JESUS WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

They see Jesus as a type of a savior, but they do not understand what type of a savior he really is!

They do not understand that Jesus is coming to save them from their sins!

He didn’t come to restore Israel to freedom for a time, he came to restore the WORLD TO GOD FOREVER!

That’s the truth of the situation!

The final cry of praise is “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

The people declare again their desire for victory while crying out and giving praise.

Unfortunately, the crowd doesn’t grasp what all Jesus has come to do!

Matthew 21:10–11 CSB

10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

As many as gather together to cheer Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, there are some who are confused!

Word travels fast because of the praise being shouted!

But some people in Jerusalem don’t know who Jesus is!

At the passover, people would have come from all over the empire to visit Jerusalem.

They may not know WHO Jesus is!

And look at the response that the crowds say!

“This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

This week as I studied this passage, this statement broke my heart.

Because the people praising Jesus see him as a great prophet like Elijah, but they don’t understand WHO HE IS!

Jesus isn’t like Elijah, or Isaiah, or Jeremiah, JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!

The people have missed who JESUS IS!

And as they’ve done that, they’ve missed how JESUS IS THE FULFILLMENT OF ALL THAT THEY’VE LONGED FOR!

Let’s make sure that we don’t make the same mistake. Sadly, it is so common in our world to diminish who JESUS IS!

Jesus wasn’t just a historical figure. Jesus wasn’t just a healer or a prophet. Jesus IS GOD AND JESUS REIGNS TODAY!

CONCLUSION

Palm Sunday is a day that we remember because it marks the start of what you might hear called “Holy Week.”

But sometimes, I think we remember the wrong thing. Sometimes, I fear that we remember the crowds cheering and we sit back and think, “How did that crowd change in a week?”

When in reality, we should be saying, “WOE IS THAT CROWD, THEY NEVER UNDERSTOOD!”

And unfortunately, as this crowd failed to understand who Jesus is, they failed to understand the gospel!

Sadly, so many people today MISUNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL!

Palm Sunday is a call to Energetic Evangelism and Deep Discipleship

I mentioned last Sunday, SCRIPTURE POINTS US TO THE CROSS AND IT POINTS US TO EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP!

The entire purpose of the CHURCH is to UNITE AND MAKE MORE DISCIPLES!

So, let me encourage you, consider this with me.

What we see in Matthew 21 is a crowd that is lost. I mean, they are totally lost! They have no idea what to do. They’ve been led astray, they’ve been taught poorly and falsely. They NEED GOD DESPERATELY!

What these people needed was truth and to KNOW JESUS!

And although some would come to know the LORD within the next week, the vast majority did not. Instead, Jesus left his disciples with a mission.

His mission was the same thing that we read every sunday as we leave!

And there’s a reason that I’m bringing it up right now.

See, it is heartbreaking to me to think of this crowd that is SO DEEPLY LOST!

They totally misunderstand the gospel and that should break our hearts!

If you don’t understand WHO JESUS IS, then there is NO HOPE!

Salvation can ONLY come through Jesus! Nothing else can save us!

And so I really believe that Palm Sunday and this traditional passage should point us not just to PRAISE OF OUR GOD, it should also break our hearts for our neighbors.

Statistically, only about 20% of Champaign is saved. That means that all around us people are lost. They are WITHOUT HOPE! They are just like this crowd!

They may think that Jesus is a good man, or they may think that Jesus is nothing. But, the truth is that they DO NOT KNOW JESUS PERSONALLY!

Fortunately, it is not our job to force that. But, we do have a responsibility- we are responsible to MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS!

We are responsible to be ready to SHARE ABOUT JESUS AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL SITUATIONS!

And so that is my plea with us.

This Palm Sunday, see the crowd with their misplaced priorities and see how your neighbors are similar.

Friends, we can never save someone, but our hearts can break and we can do 4 things for the people around us.

First, we can pray. We can pray for them!

Second, we can live a life that REFLECTS JESUS! (Our lives matters…)

Third, we can be ready to share the gospel with them! (Don’t shy away from this topic!)

Finally, WHEN THEY ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR, WE CAN WALK WITH THEM in DEEP DISCIPLESHIP!

We can walk with them as they follow Christ, cheering them on, encouraging them, and pointing them back to God!

That friends, is a message that needs to be heard on Palm Sunday!

Palm Sunday is a call to KNOW Jesus!

As we close today, I want to leave us with a simple challenge.

Today is a chance to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus!

GOSPEL- PASSIONATE! (God, MAN, CHRIST, SALVATION- DON’T MISS WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU AND FOR ME! YOU ARE NEVER TOO FAR GONE! JESUS CAME FOR YOU AND I! THIS IS JOYOUS NEWS!)

Repent today and enter into a personal relationship WITH GOD!

PRAY!

Closing- 9,503 EGGS DONE!

Could use some more candy