Unstoppable Love

The Unstoppable Love: Jesus' Triumphal Entry

Bible Passage: Mark 11:1-25

We all love a good story about a person, people, or a team that against all odds, overcoming every obstacle were able to reach the goal. I think of some classic sports movies, Like Hoosiers, a bunch of farm kids, and a failed college coach with a past win the state title or Rudy. Where no one believed it was possible for Daniel Ruettiger a small, unassuming young man without the grades or money to study at Notre Dame somehow manages to enroll. make the football team actually make a sack in one of the games.

There is something about the impossible odds/ root for the underdog stories that grab our hearts and attention. We love it is when the impossible becomes possible.

When a rich young ruler approaches Jesus and asks this question, what must I do to enter into the Kingdom of heaven? Jesus gives him an answer. Jesus answered him go and sell all that you have and follow me. In other words, get rid of what you worship, your wealth (repent) and then follow me. The scriptures tell us this rich young man left very sad. He could not let go of his current life in order to follow Jesus. It was two high a cost. There are possible some of you that want to follow Jesus but you think you an do it on your own terms. However, this account proves tha t this is not the case. You must repent of your current life and then turn to follow Jesus.

Confused by this Jesus addressed his disciples:

Matthew 19:23–26 CSB

23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

To many the story of Christ’s redemption of the world seems impossible. There are those like the rich young ruler to recognize the truth of it. Yet reject it as they see it as too costly. Then there are those who choose not to admit the truth because to them it would mean a changed life. A life they are not willing to release to Christ’s authority, So its easier to live the lie of unbelief.

Sometimes we as Christians are like the disciples in asking can the Gospel really change anyone? Will anyone come to salvation?

Over the last few weeks we have looked at different aspects of the love of God that makes the impossible possible.

Big Idea: If God’s love is unstoppable than shouldn’t we believe in it’s power enough to proclaim it.

Week 1 - His actions in redeeming a fallen world was “fueled by love”.

Week 2 - His love was a “Humble love” The God who spoke the world into existence came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for us.

Last week, We talked about the perfect love of Christ. In his perfection he must perfectly punish sin. So He who had never sinned became sin for us.

Now this weeks title is “unstoppable love”. Everything he did from Genesis to His time on earth was marching toward the events of this week.

From almost the very beginning of man God’s goodness and love is questioned. After God had provided Adam and Eve with every good tree and plant to eat accept one. Adam and Eve choose to believe the lie of the evil one that our Good God was somehow withholding something desirable from them. Even though sin would from this point on stain and twist all of God’s perfect creation, this was no barrier to God’s “unstoppable love.

Genesis 3:15 CSB

15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

God promised there would one day come from the seed of man a messiah that would crush the evil one.

Then as man continued to rebel. The whole world and all of creation became so corrupt that God would send a world-wide flood to destroy it. Yet even this was not a barrier to God’s unstoppable love.

God chose to a imperfect messiah Noah to save a remnant of mankind that would honor him.

Then once more sin in the world would increase again. Wickedness had spread throughout the earth. Yet This was no barrier to the unstoppable love of God. God would choose Abraham and through Abraham God would continue his promise made in Genesis 3.

Genesis 12:1–3 CSB

1 The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Then God’s people the descendent of Abraham would be enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. Yet this was not a barrier to the unstoppable love of God. For God sent another imperfect Messiah, Moses to lead his people out of slavery to the very thresh-hold of the promise land. Yet Moses sin would keep him from going in. Because he was not the perfect messiah. He could not be there redeemer.

Yet this was not barrier to the unstoppable love of God.

God would raise up another to lead them into the land.

Israel would conquer the land and live in it. Yet they would soon forget God. They would rebel against the one who had brought them out of slavery and given them a home.

darkness would ensue. God’s people would live in exile. Scattered throughout the nation. The very promise that was given to Abraham that one would come to rescue the world through the line of Abraham seemed to be now a faint distant memory. Was the line broken? Was this wickedness to much for God’s love to overcome? How would the promise of a redeemer come from a people who were barely still a nation.

Then God spoke through his prophets. reminding the people that the plan of God, the unstoppable love of God could not be thwarted.

Isaiah 9:1–7 CSB

1 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. 4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian. 5 For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

Yet the people would have to patiently wait for 700 years would pass after this prophecy was made.

Had God forgotten them? Had his plan changed?

But Isaiah was not the only prophet to prophesy 200 years after Isaiah Zechariah would prophesy

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.

Then 500 years pass until this very thing which we celebrate today. Church family the event in which we are about read. The triumphant entry was 4,000 years in the making from Genesis until Matthew. The plan to save the world didn’t begin at Jesus Birth. the plan to save the world was put into place before the foundations of the world. What the people were witnessing as Christ rode in on the Donkey was the beginning of the culmination of God’s plan of redemption. His unstoppable love.

That neither all the powers of hell or the sinfullness of man could stop.

as the modern hymn in Christ alone so beautifully puts it.

No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand Till He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

As we read this passage I want you to read it with this filter in Mind. All the powers of heaven and hell were watching this even unfold. This is the center point of all history. Where the God of all the universe proves that he has won. The Son of God was revealed.

Yet hell didn’t fully realize it. As its angered mounted against the one, the messiah for dare opposing the reign of hell, the very vengeance they would seek of killing the son of God would work the plan of God to redeem all that had been lost.

Before the enemy even realized what had happend Yahweh had won.

Matthew 21:1–10 (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.” 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 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. 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! 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?”

But just like the people in this event. We all must ask the question “who is this?” Who is this Jesus who comes as a man riding on a donkey. A man marching toward his own death. Is he merely a man or as history and scripture shows him to be the only son of God in the flesh.

Will you ignore the 4000 years of evidence that Jesus truly is the messiah?

Will you allow the powers of hell to have dominion over you by choosing to ignore or deny all that is in front of you.

Will you choose the same powers whose only goal is to enact vengeance against God by deceiving you and dragging you down into the eternal torment of hell.

“Who is this?” What will you do with Jesus? Is the most important question you will ever face. Will you today choose to recognize and receive the unstoppable love of God.

If if you are already a believer this morning. Are you celebrating in your heart and by your life the unstoppable love of God. Are you living everyday with this victory in mind and allowing this knowledge to shape every moment?

If you have yet to receive Christ: What are you waiting for? The gift of God’s love has been made available to you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Maybe you here today and your asking how do I receive this love?

Romans 5:8 CSB

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

the first thing you must do is admit and recognize that you are a sinner in need of the grace of Christ.

secondly,

Mark 1:15 CSB

15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

To repent is not to say you are sorry. To repent is to change your mind about who is in control of your life. You must turn your back on this world and embrace Jesus Christ as Lord.

Luke 9:23 CSB

23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Thirdly believe the Gospel. Repent and believe the good news.

If that is you this morning please come see me after the service. I’d love to celebrate your decision and to give you some next steps to help you in your new life in Chrtist.