Palm Sunday (2)
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
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.
Introduction:
To us we know that Jesus is the Messiah.
The one who crushed Satan’s head; his power and hold over humanity.
The one who freed mankind from the cuffs of sin!
We know as we read the New Testament all that Jesus did and had come to do.
But in reality our knowledge and understanding really just scratch the surface.
That’s the point isn’t it?
Reading scripture, pursuing a deeper understanding of who our Lord is.
Connecting the dots from the truth of God’s word to our lives.
For the purpose of living out our faith glorifying our Lord!
One aspect to bible searching is the simple fact that when we approach scripture we are trying to piece together the lessons within the details.
One thing we might not realize is that we approach scripture with presuppositions.
Those suppositions often dictate how we receive and understand what is being taught.
Because of those pre-suppositions we can miss important details that reveal truth we need to apply to our lives.
I only say this because I was humbled a little bit this week as I studied through Luke’s recording of Palm Sunday.
What I found was that I had missed the points of view or perspectives on this day in Jesus’ life.
Among all the perspectives we can categorize them into 2 different ones.
We have the People’s perspective and Jesus’ perspective.
The People’s perspective includes many different people.
The People’s:
The People’s:
We can see:
The disciples
The colt’s owners
The multitude.
To give us an point of context we go back to what took place before this:
Jesus just abruptly ended His parable dealing with a nobleman who left to gain a kingdom and gave money for his servants to invest and make a profit.
Upon his return, after gaining this kingdom, he called the servants to give a report.
to reward the good stewardship: He handed out cities to have oversight of.
Luke 19:17
17 And He said to Him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
Jesus also handed out judgment, since it is His kingdom He can do this.
Those who were His enemies and didn’t want Him reigning over them were to be killed.
27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”
That is a very strong statement that leads into Jesus’ triumphal entry.
Almost like He was making a statement to everyone listening that He is the owner of the Kingdom and He will judge everyone accordingly!
Jesus made the statement, turned and headed towards Jerusalem.
28 And when He had said these things, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
This is where we may get a presupposition about Jesus heading into Jerusalem; especially after making the statement about being the head of the kingdom.
Jerusalem is considered the city of David and Jesus heading to the city of David would be fulfilling the messianic prophecy to be King.
As king His ruling would bring peace to the world.
That is what He did; but in a different manner.
Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to bring Peace to a city that literally means “Foundation of Peace.”.
Jesus is heading to be the chief cornerstone for peace between God and man.
But He needed something first:
29 When He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ”
He asked his disciples to go ahead and “pull the car around”.
I wonder what the disciples thought about Jesus asking for a donkey to ride into town on.
I wondered if they remembered the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9
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.
Maybe the disciples were excited at the thought of Jesus going to Jerusalem to claim His kingdom.
Maybe they thought: Finally! Our big promotion is coming.
All our hard work and sacrifice is going to pay off.
Jesus would definitely make His disciples the most prominent and important people when He is King!
The disciples did desire a position for themselves, look at what it says in Luke 22
24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.
27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,
29 and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The disciples’ perspective for Jesus entering the city of peace may have been for their own prominence of position.
But they did obey the Lord’s direction to get the colt.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ”
Which brings in the perspective of the colt’s owners.
33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.”
The owners did 2 things:
Sacrificed their donkey (brand new model, never been used)
Had faith and believed that the Lord needed it!
Connection:
What possessions would we sacrifice if Jesus needed it?
See it from this point of view: What possession is too important to give up in a trade for a soul or discipling someone?
The owners gave up the colt easily because it seems like they had a fear and faith in Jesus.
They trusted Jesus and what He was asking for.
The disciples brought it to Jesus and showed honor to Him by preparing it to be ridden.
35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.
36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.
Why lay their cloaks across the road?
Supposedly it was a tradition people did for famous military or civic leaders, while they cheered.
Here is the disciples making a spectacle about their leader coming into Jerusalem.
Starting a trend about Jesus.
Every person in Jerusalem would’ve understood what the disciples were doing.
Instead of rebuking them, they joined in.
Some even began taking palm branches (according to Matthew 21) and waving them in celebration of the new King.
The city recognized Jesus’ prominence and the validity of Him being a great and peaceful leader.
They wanted that, instead of what they currently had.
It’s here we see the perspective of the multitude:
They praised the entrance of the new King who would rule with peace.
Connection:
Sometimes people join the crowd when it’s popular.
It doesn’t mean they weren’t sincere, it just shows that they associated themselves as part of the group.
Illustration:
When I was in High School I used to play a game at the mall.
I would stand in the middle of the mall where the 2nd floor opened up and it looked up to a glass ceiling.
There was nothing there I was staring at; but after a little while:
Other people began staring at nothing with me.
Maybe hoping to see what it was that I was staring at.
We are a funny creation, we follow what others do for many different reasons.
Here people are in Jerusalem celebrating Jesus’ entrance into the city.
Misunderstanding what will happen in the next few days.
He won’t be setting up His Kingdom, He will be raised up on a cross, taking all the shame of humanity onto Himself.
Killing it, so He can leave it in the grave: Dealt with by thee almighty!
Often times people follow the excitement and miss the things that matter.
This is where we find
Jesus’ Perspective
Jesus’ Perspective
41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,
Jesus was crying over Jerusalem.
Why did He weep?
42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Jesus is revealing to us in scripture that they misunderstood why He was coming to Jerusalem.
They didn’t see the job He was sent to finish.
Actually they seemed to forget what He had been telling them all along.
Let me ask you a question:
What happens when that excitement when that leader you placed on a pedestal falls off or lets you down?
It transforms into anger!
Why
You feel betrayed and let down, embarrassed and your pride hurt.
Why?
They didn’t live up to the expectations you had for them.
In Jesus’ case here, when He arrived he didn’t take the throne and rule with peace. (which is what a lot expected Him to do)
Instead He was arrested for claiming to be God and thrown into jail awaiting His crucifixion.
Remember what the crowd did to Jesus from that position of hurt and anger?
The whole crowd cheered for Barabbas over Jesus to be let free.
18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—
19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.
20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus,
21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify Him!”
22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has He done? I have found in Him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release Him.”
23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.
25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
How many times has Jesus not lived up to the expectations we had for Him?
Did it make you mad?
Did you feel betrayed?
If so we allowed ourselves to do exactly the same thing as the crowd and the disciples.
We had a box for Jesus to fit into; but we forgot it’s the other way around:
We are to submit to His will and the box He has for us!
He is worth it because His way is best and perfect.
As we celebrate Jesus, celebrate Him in excitement for His perfection and love for you and I.
Not because of what we think He should be doing for us or assuming He is doing.
Worship Him as we are instructed
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Worship Him in spirit and truth!
He is God and we follow His leading.
He is worthy of our dedication, trust, and loyalty!
Conclusion:
Jesus coming into Jerusalem, the city of peace was a hope being fulfilled right before their eyes.
He was coming in presenting Himself as the peaceful king.
Much different than all other kings who came in riding a horse.
This was a powerful statement that people have been hoping for since Jesus began His ministry.
Only their perspective were different than Jesus’
They needed to understand what Jesus was doing coming into the city of peace.
He was bringing peace between God and man.
Sin would be dealt with and it would be final!
This event for us should bring hope!
Even when we don’t see the whole picture of what He is doing, we know and can trust that it is for our good and is the perfect thing.
Don’t allow yourself to be blind to what Jesus is doing in your life right now!
If you’re not sure: Ask Him!
Then seek what truth’s He has already revealed in scripture about Himself.
It will better help you understand the Lord you serve, and how you are to conduct yourself until He reveals it to you!
Understand why Jesus cried, because they missed the peace He was bringing.
They missed the real reason for cheering Him into the city of peace.
But that didn’t matter because once it was finished, peace between you and God can be achieved.
It’s up to you to believe, ask, and repent!
Then you will be worshipping Him in spirit and truth!
-Pray!
