Ironic Entry 10/6/2024

The Ironic Entry

as you flip to John 12: 12

Has anyone here attempted the 1 year bible and was either defeated in Leviticus....or had to really power yourself through it?

I hope to reveal some things today that help show that Leviticus was a lot more about Jesus than you probably thought.

To show that God brilliantly designed and mastered a law and ceremonies that was specific for Isreal, but pointed to the nation that was going to save the whole world.

John 12:12–19 ESV

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Pray

Always on time everywhere

Even if you aren’t on time, your first impression is crucial

Loved watching WWE for the entrances

Jesus was making a special triumphant entrance,

Jesus was such a controversial person by this point that it was impossible for Him to enter without being unnoticed.

Everyone had to make a decision about Him

Not making a decision is a decision

Everything was symbolic but a lot of people didn’t understand it

Not even the disciples

John 12:16 ESV

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

This moment started something that we call passion week (or holy week) which is the week leading up to His death on the cross.

But at the time this was also known as Passover

This has a lot of teaching but I want to break some things down for ya’ll

Passover- considered most important of 7 holidays, one of 3 to be celebrated in Jerusalem

All holidays point to Jesus

Originates from the 10th plague that lead to the release of the Israelites from Egyptian captivity.

Remember? the story about the religious man who came out of the wilderness to take on Ramses....(or was that Nacho Libre?)

Killed first born…unless had blood of lamb…

Today we are saved from the sting of death by the blood of the lamb

So almost everyone is in town and what some people normally used to celebrate Passover, they start using to celebrate Jesus

They would lay down cloaks or palm branches and cry out “hoseanna” which meant “save us!”

they’re asking Jesus to step up and be the warrior king

But he wasn’t here to save them the way they wanted to be saved

Several types of different people here

Disciples, those that saw or heard of Jesus’ miracles (specifically Lazarus), or those specifically celebrating Passover.

During this time, Jewish people would sacrifice a lamb (or a bird if they couldn’t afford) to cover their sins,

More than likely they were purchased because these animals were hard to carry long distances

Which lead to greedy people, which led to jesus flipping the tables

Now, The high priest would pick one lamb to sacrifice on behalf of the whole nation (Lev. 16)

Only the high priest would travel to pick out a lamb and bring him back.

All lambs came from the same place, and this is undoubtedly where the priest went…Bethlehem

All attention would usually be on the high priest as he entered with this spotless lamb

But on this day, Jesus was entering the town of Jerusalem as the lamb being led to the slaughter

Jesus entered Jerusalem during Passover week, probably at the very time the thousands of Passover lambs were being brought into the city, later to be killed and eaten as part of the Passover observance.2

James Montgomery Boice

I guess you could say that this was the ultimate Silence of the Lambs

Traditionally, the lamb was to be tied up in the temple area for one week to be inspected for blemishes

Jesus also was tied up and inspected

Pilate – “I find no fault”

Jesus was not only declared as the lamb, but also perfectly qualified

Except this sacrifice didn’t cover sins like animal sacrifice, it cleansed it.

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.

Luke and Mark give a detail that describes the donkey as one “that no one else has sat”

Which is important because no-one could do what Jesus was going to do

But also important because the text eludes to the donkey not being “broken” yet

If he can calm a young colt, he can bring you peace

Also, tradition of that time was if a king was entering a land with the intention to make peace, he would ride a donkey.

But if it was to make war, he rode a horse (stallion)

Jesus came to make peace between us and God, but the next time He comes, he’ll be on a horse (revelation 19:11)

The Problem at this time was that they wanted a king on a horse, but they weren’t ready, they needed the savior on a donkey first

They wanted a lion, but they needed the lamb. He’s coming back as a lion and he wont just be defeating Rome

Everyone wanted to follow jesus until they found out where He was going

True today

Everyone wants to follow jesus until they realize that it takes picking up your cross and carrying it

Quote from “Not a Fan”

“They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all of the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from Him”

What they didn’t understand and what we also tend to forget today is that Jesus is not a temporary fix

They wanted freedom from Rome. If He did deliver them, they would have found a way to be captive to another empire

Jesus is an eternal savior

So many look to Jesus only caring about their earthly circumstances

Of course, He does

But

His purpose was to fix your eternal address

And In that time, people had to work so hard to give a sacrifice

Religion was hard work

And that’s why Jesus said “come to me”

Its not going to be about working your way into heaven

And some of us still think that it is

Are you tired? Burnt out?

You’ve come here maybe expecting another ritual…

But instead, a relationship

Jesus doesn’t want your habits, he wants your heart

Religion says do, but jesus says done (I did it all)

But it all came perfectly together

Romans 5:6 – “ for while we were still weak, at the right time, christ died for the ungodly”

God has no Grandchildren, only children.

Just because your address has changed doesn’t mean your kids have

And maybe this is important for you to understand because your children and grandchildren need a change of address as well and it might be up to you to show them the One that can do it

God wants children, not slaves

He doesn’t want your work, He wants all of YOU.