Palm Sunday - "All Part of the Plan"

Jewish Expectations for Jesus

The Jews had been awaiting the Messiah.

We celebrate Christmas and often have Emmanuel as our declaration, meaning “God with us”.

That was the promise in the Garden at the fall. That was the promise throughout scripture, that the Messiah would come and restore God’s people to Himself.

Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Who promised Emmanuel?

God did

Who promised a way to redeem mankind?

God did

And so today, we look at the Triumphal Entry of Jesus and ask God to reveal to us from His Word, what He would speak to us.

Matthew 21:1–11 NKJV

1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Our Expectations of Jesus

We expect things of Jesus too. We have plans we want Him to fulfill

However, God is not tailoring His plans to our expectations.

There is an invitation for us to join Him - which does not include a seat at the decision desk.

What do you expect God to do?

Is it possible that our missed expectations is why we withdraw our faith and belief?

God’s plan requires our Presence

You must be present to be used by God. You must be available!

Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

God’s plan requires our Obedience

It sounded crazy to go and take someone’s donkeys and bring them to Jesus

In the OT Saul in 1 Sam was nervous while waiting for the prophet to arrive. He felt pressured by his soldiers and by the situation. He decided to take matters into his own hands and make the sacrifice that was only for Samuel to make. In doing so, he disobeyed God. Samuel tells him

1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV

22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

God’s plan requires abandoning our Expectations

God is going to heal His way

Provide His way

Pour out Revival His way

Redeem mankind His way

We need to surrender to His will and His way

THINE KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE!

Can we celebrate the Triumphal entry and receive Him as He is with His plan and His agenda and align ourselves?

Let’s pray - [Play Thy Will by Hillary Scott]