The Answer is Jesus (4)

Here we are! Easter Week. And in normal Ohio fashion it snowed last week and we’ll probably be in the 70’s at some point this week.

Mowers will be out. The daffodils are up and blooming. People are planning their gardens. March madness!

Spring sports are up and running. We’re already into the last 9 weeks of school.

It’s a busy time of the year.

I think I can assume that many of the events of years past are familiar to many of you. We call this Palm Sunday. Your Bibles may call title it The Triumphal Entry. And it really was a triumphal entry. It was when Jesus made His way into Jerusalem in a very specific way…beginning the week when he would prepare for the key part in his Father’s plan to save the world.

As you walked in this morning, out on the counter where you can pick up your communion cup, there were papers there that had a run down of all of the passages, in chronological order, as much as scholars have it down...., through this week. Those passages give you an idea of the things Jesus did and walked through. I want to give credit for this … to Dr. Michael Wilkins, he’s a professor at Talbot School of Theology.

He found that this was helpful for many, many people, students in his class…people in his church, people in other churches, who had ideas of what happened around Easter…knew some of the stories, but was maybe fuzzy in how it all fit together.

He did it for himself originally because he wanted to experience, in a way, what Jesus maybe experienced on His way to the cross.

There’s a story told about a teacher who decided to ask her preschool class what they remembered about Easter. The first little guy suggested that Easter was when all the family came to the house and they ate a big turkey and watched football. The teacher that that perhaps he was thinking of Thanksgiving, not Easter, so she let a little girl answer. She seemed to think that Easter was the day when you come downstairs in the morning and saw all the beautiful presents under the tree.

At this point the teacher was really feeling discouraged. But after explaining that the little girl was probably thinking about Christmas, she called on a little boy with his hand tentatively raised in the air. The teacher’s spirits immediately perked up as the boy said that Easter was the time when Jesus was crucified on a cross and buried. Finally, she felt that she had at least gotten through to one child. Then the little boy added…with a great big smile, “And then he came out of the grave, and if he sees his shadow, we have six more weeks of winter!”

I think for many of us, memories of Palm Sunday might carry along feelings like…well, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, everything was going to be ok…a joyous week leading up to the cross.

Palm Sunday does speak of a big celebration…but people, when we look into the story, were celebrating for many reasons.

Some were hoping that this new prophet really would be a king…drive out the Romans. Bring back national pride.

Some thought he might be bringing a revolt. There really were some who were ready to fight.

Some thought that he was bringing something…but that something was in opposition to what they wanted…or thought was right. They saw him as a threat.

Still there were others who saw this as truly fulfilling the role of the messiah. Things were happening just as the O.T. scriptures said they would.

So today what I’d like to do is chronologically walk through some of the events right before, on Sunday and then afterward leading up to the Last Supper

John 12:1–8 NIV

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

John 12:7 CSB

7 Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.

Matthew 21:1–11 NIV

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.”

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!

Mark 11:11 NIV

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Matthew 21:17 NIV

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Mark 11:12–14 NIV

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

Many believe that this is a small illustration about Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, in better days....Jerusalem was compared to a fig tree that had bunch of fruit…healthy…productive.

But now Jerusalem…with its religious leaders who are leading people in the wrong direction…actually away from God…away from the Kingdom…are leading Jerusalem to destrution.

Mark 11:15–17 NIV

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Mark 11:17 CSB

17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”

Matthew 21:14–16 NIV

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

Thoughts on v.14

Mark 11:19 NIV

19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

next day...

Matthew 21:20–22 NIV

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 21:23–27 CSB

23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

…Jesus then goes on to say that there are those who have believed…and followed....at one point he says…there are tax collectors and prostitutes who are entering the Kingdom ahead of you.

Everyone here is making a decision about who Jesus is. Some have watched him since he started his ministry. I’m guessing with the amount of miracles that he has performed, there are some in the crowd who are witness to his healings. Many are witnesses to his words in the past. But even with all of that…people are making decisions.

Is he a king who enters into the holy city to take it away from Rome?

Is he leading a revolt against the city and religious leaders to bring back that national feeling?

Is he just a wise speaker who can do magic tricks…here today and gone tomorrow?

…or

…is he the Christ, the son of God....the lamb who came to take away the sin of the world.

…remember, the whole city was stirred…and asked…who is this man?

Mark 13:1–14 CSB

1 As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!” 2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.” 3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 10 And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 “When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.

So Jesus is giving them a heads up about what is going to happen. Remember the fig tree illustration? Jerusalem, in 70AD was destroyed. The temple mount was destroyed. The temple was destroyed. A major change was taking place for those who put their faith in Jesus. Now…Jesus wasn’t changing the faith of people…He was just the next step in the Good news going out to the nations…and the spirit was no longer in the temple…the holy of holies....The spirit, as the OT prophets said…would soon be in God’s people…the holy spirit living with you....a bit closer to what it was like in the beginning. Jesus was making the way for this next step to happen.

Mark 14:10–11 CSB

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

Mark 14:12–16 CSB

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Its here that we’ll pause…But you can see something happening…continuing to happen.

Jesus is step by step…still talking about the Kingdom. About Himself…what He was preparing to do.

He was still healing. Teaching. Making pretty bold references. He’s also drawing a line in the sand with the many of the leaders of Israel. Some, but not all, are going to continue their steps.

At one point he looks at those he is teaching and he encourages them follow these leaders…just don’t do what they do. Follow their teaching but don’t live as they live. That amazed me because he in one way was honoring their given authority and their knowledge of the Scriptures. But what the difference was was that they didn’t see Him as the Messiah. They could be pointing all of Israel to Him…but they are not.

And as prophecy states…they would have a hand in the death of Jesus.

One of them actually says…this…it is good that one man die for the sake of Israel. Now…he was saying that if Jesus died this fuss would be over. But in truth…Jesus did die for the sake of Israel…and not only israel, but all the world.

Decisions. One major decision…who is this man?

Who is Jesus to you?