Palm Sunday 2025
Notes
Transcript
Turn to Luke 19:28.
This week, we celebrate, called Holy Week is the best week to remember as followers of Jesus.
and we need to prepare ourselves for this:
One of the questions I was asking earlier on this year— is how can you grow in your relationship with Jesus? Holy Week—Easter Week is one of the best ways to help you grow...but you have to be intentional...
one way is church events going on...
SA A Capella Choir
Wednesday is our Easter Extravaganza - family event, invite your friends and families
Good Friday—we actually have 4 actors/actresses—doing dramatic monologues as part of the evening (from our church)
Easter Sunday - including the Sunrise Service...which another Schwartz is speaking at my dad—Us Schwartzes are slowly taking over the world—May the Schwartz be with you.
Busy!
but think family or personally how to prepare...
family packets - in the mail...
and then, you should have received a handout - as you came in. We will also post it online at 11:30am or you can find it on our website.
It is the last week of Jesus.
Let me show you this quickly.
Take a moment and think about — how can you grow with Jesus this week?
Palm Sunday—an important Sunday.
It prepares us for Jesus.
before I read—let me set the context with a video from a couple of Bible scholars.
(play video)
It was a tense week in Jerusalem.
Passover week—one of the most if not the most important week for the Jews who celebrated their deliverance from slavery in Egypt from the book of Exodus.
Jerusalem would go from a population of maybe 40 to 50,000 to 6 to 10 times that size.
and there was a lot of religious excitement and passion!
and the Romans were in power—and got kind of nervous during this time. because would the Jews want to be free just like they were hundreds of years ago from Egypt. The Romans would watch the Jews carefully.
The Jewish leaders were probably nervous too because Rome let them have their religion as long as they stayed in order (yet they also wanted freedom).
very tense politically...
and in the midst of that volatile situation...
Jesus comes in on a donkey—fulfilling OT Biblical prophecy—basically declaring He is the king—the king promised from the OT who would bring peace.
Let me start reading—please stand.
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. (act declaring Jesus is king—we see it in the OT - 2 Kings 9:13; also similar to Solomon’s entrance)
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Psalm 118)
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
and let me actually read a couple of the 10 commandments...
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (that’s what Passover celebrates)
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You may be seated.
as we think about growing closer to Jesus...
Do we worship Jesus for who He is —or...who we WANT Him to be and expect Him to be.
Do we truly let God be God as He presents Himself in the Bible—or do we try to make Jesus into our own image—to fit our mold...to fit our expectations, and if he doesn’t meet them, we are sorely disappointed or want nothing to do with Him.
Look at some of the details from this passage that challenge us.
2 details and 3 lessons we learn...2 details...and 3 lessons from those details...
The Colt (vs. 29-35)
This part of Jesus sending 2 of his disciples ahead—to go to a village, start taking a colt (looking like you are stealing it), and if anyone asks you why are you untying it, the Lord needs it.
Some debate that well maybe Jesus pre-arranged this;
maybe this was a cultural thing where powerful leaders could just seize property.
but I don’t think so. I really do believe that Jesus is demonstrating his kingly authority, and his kingly knowledge.
He is the king who is in control of all things...including what’s about to happen to Him. He is arranging all the details.
If you look at the events of the last week—Jesus demonstrates incredible control, power, and authority not just here but over everything.
Jesus predicts Judas’ betrayal
Luke 22:21–22 “21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!””
Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
when Jesus is arrested—-and one of his followers takes out a sword...
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Jesus isn’t forcefully being arrested—He is letting them arrest Him.
and when He is on the cross, dying for our sins...He is saving a criminal beside.
He tells the thief next to him
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
None of this is a surprise to Jesus.
back in Luke 9:21-22
21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Jesus is absolutely in control. This is all part of God’s plan (before the world was even created!)—and Jesus, the Father, Holy Spirit—are orchestrating everything.
I mentioned earlier when we think about our relationship with Jesus—do we realize this? and understand it? believe it? even cherish it?
even if we do believe that Jesus is in control—do we instead try to squeeze Jesus into our own image?
I think one way we do this is we want Jesus to be in control IN THE WAY that WE want.
We have a plan set out—that we want—and we want God to bless that way.
or rubber stamp that plan.
And if it doesn’t go according to plan, we freak out.
this is hard—because as we see here—Jesus being in control—will actually lead him to suffering. to the cross. to death for our sins. a brutal, bloody, horrible way to go.
God’s control and plan includes suffering...not just in Jesus’ life, but sometimes in ours.
One of my favorite pastors I follow—he said he when he was younger, he was in love with a young woman in his early 20’s in college, and they were dating, and he says he tried to do everything in his power to force the relationship. if she got a job in a certain city, he did, too. he tried to pray and convince God she was the one, even though she really didn’t follow God, and it ended up not working out. at the time he was devastated (b/c he was like God what are you doing), but now, years later, looks back at how he was trying to tell God how to be in control, rather than surrendering to His plans. and he is thankful it didn’t work out now.
Where in our lives do we try to make God in our own image? where are we trying to tell God how to run the universe—rather than trusting him, surrendering to Him—even if it means suffering?
One sign that you are forcing God into your own image is that you try desperately to force things to happen in life, rather than surrender.
Even as a pastor, I can tell when I am doing this. I am called to help people follow Jesus—and sometimes I desperately want it more than they do, so I check in, remind people, I sometimes try to do the role of the Holy Spirit and act like it all depends on me—and God reminds, “Richard...that’s how God talks to me...you are not in control. I got their life. Trust me. Keep praying. reach out when I prompt you, but trust me.”
the first lesson from the The colt (and crucifixion)—The Colt: reminds us Jesus is in absolute control, even when it seems like life will get pretty out of control. b/c on the cross—Jesus was paying for our sin in our place, so we could be forgiven and made new with God.
Where do you need reminded of that today?
the 2nd lesson from the Colt is that Colt: Jesus is a king, but not the kind they (or we) expect.
Jesus was being very deliberate and intentional by doing this. for the most part in the Gospels, Jesus avoided public recognition for the longest time. He would say “my time has not yet come.” he would sometimes do miracles and say “don’t tell anyone!”
but now, he is being public.
by riding on a colt in Jerusalem at the Passover time—he is fulfilling Old Testament Prophecy
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
That passage from the OT - predicts Israel’s king coming to them in Jerusalem!
but as scholars have noted—this isn’t a warhorse...horses were associated with war.
this is a colt. This is a symbol of peace and humility.
so one writer says that Jesus does not arrives as his royal highness but his royal lowness.
the colt communicates that he is the king, promised from the OT—but it’s not the kind of kingship they expect from their leader.
in verse 42—Jesus mentions that he brings peace.
but it’s not a peace secured by military victory.
they were trying to put God in their image, too. They wanted a God who would defeat the Romans
Make Israel Great Again
and they expected a military figure, a leader like King David in the past.
but that’s not how Jesus’ mission worked.
They expected that when Jesus was born, it would probably happen in the center of power like Jerusalem—but he was born in a feeding trough in a small town called Bethlehem.
They expected Jesus to demand service, but He says He came not to be served but to serve and give his life.
They expected Jesus to align with the rich and powerful, but he spent time with the poor, outcasts, and marginalized.
They expected Jesus to kill all their enemies...Jesus came not killing, but being killed.
They expected Jesus to shame their enemies, but Jesus experienced incredible shame on the cross at the hand of his enemies.
They expected Jesus to build a following and an army, but for the most part, Jesus was betrayed, denied, and abandoned; even forsaken by God His Father when He became a sin offering in our life.
and yet—Jesus, ironically, was bringing peace—ultimate peace with God...and the true source of peace if they would let Jesus be Jesus and not force him into their expectations and image.
think about this—whenever expectations aren’t met—how do you feel?
disappointed. rejected. disillusioned.
I believe all of this will face this with our relationship with God — He doesn’t always act or do what we want or think we should
couple of the signs I believe we are getting this:
is that when God doesn’t meet our expectations—it’s ok to be disappointed and cry out—but you are start to trust and surrender a lot sooner.
one of the signs that you understand Jesus is an unexpected king bringing an unexpected kingdom—is that your life is marked by humility.
Humility before God...and others. not passiveness.
but a life that is willing to follow Jesus wherever, to associate with the poor and lowly, to love your enemies.
Where are you and I expecting Jesus to conform to our image of who we think He should be? rather than letting Him be who He is—and us adapting to Him.
Part of worship—is letting God be God—letting Him define who He is —not us. if we create God in our image—we don’t have a God, we have a personal servant.
so we learned 2 lessons from the detail of the colt:
Lesson 1: Jesus is in absolute control (though it seems life is out of control) and that applies to our lives, too. even in suffering.
Lesson 2: Jesus is king, but not the kind of king we expect. He has an upside down kingdom.
2nd detail besides the colt is the cry of Jesus. (vs. 41-42)
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
this isn’t the first time Jesus wept.
35 Jesus wept. (at his friend Lazarus’ death)
Luke 13:34 we see a similar response from Jesus
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
and then after Jesus weeps, he declares judgment.
In verses 43-44 Jesus makes an ironic declaration.
43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
They expected Jesus to bring victory over the Romans with power, but by rejecting Jesus, they will one day face Roman domination. These verses were fulfilled in 70 AD when the Romans came against them.
The Cry of Jesus: Lesson 3: Jesus is a weeping judge. He is both loving and wrathful.
The Bible is clear that our God is love. (1 John 4)
and yet that love includes his judgment. His wrath.
I have heard some say over the years, “I can’t believe in a God who ___________.” and one of the most common is I can’t believe in a God of judgment...
We love love—and having a God of love, but the idea of a God of wrath, who holds us accountable, who is a judge can be very off-putting.
but think of our own relationships. If you see someone in your life that you love, making horrible decisions, wrecking their life, how do you react? “I love them and won’t say anything because that is judging them.” No, if you love them, you will confront, schedule an intervention (even though that’s hard) not because you hate them but because you love them. You hate the decisions they are making and how it is wrecking their life. but you love them.
How much more so with Jesus...he hates the sin that has wrecked our lives. He hates how we have gone our own way rather than following HIm.
look at Jesus here—he is not vengefully declaring judgment—it’s tears!! weeping! He desperately wants them to recognize that He really is the Son of God who can save them. He is not smiting them—but longing for them to know Him. He is longing for you to know Him.
The reason that Jesus can say this is— HE is the God of the universe, the one who created them—if they reject the author of life—the only alternative is death.
If they turn their backs on the one who is peace, the only alternative is chaos.
we force God into our own image by not allowing Him to be who He is—He is a Love—and judging—He is peace and wrathful...all at the same time.
I believe we want a God like this—a God who holds injustice and sin accountable. we want a God who will punish evil (just like a good Judge in our legal system dishes out a fair and right punishment).
but we don’t like it when we realize—that evil applies to us. it applies to the sin in our lives that we need to admit before God.
He is both loving and wrathful on the cross...
so where are you and I forcing Jesus into our own image?
instead of allowing Him to be who He is—all in all, even if it makes us uncomfortable?
What happens when we make God into our own image?
We will be disillusioned when God doesn’t meet our expectations. especially when facing suffering.
We won’t truly be in a real relationship with God—just as with human relationships—if someone has expectations of how they perceive us to be—we won’t really in a real relationship until they get to know us and us them.
we can easily be deceived by false teaching.
no image could capture who He is...only Jesus could.
helps us if there is no silver lining....we do have the ultimate silver lining—heaven with Jesus—but we may not see the silver lining this side of heaven. (we become like what we worship)
look at verses 37-40. we see several reactions...
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
we don’t know even how much the disciples understood (they really didn’t) (they are praising Him for the miracles
the Pharisees didn’t respond
ironically—the rocks are responding the best...
where do you need to allow Jesus to be all in all in your life?
Where do we need to allow Jesus to be who He is fully in our lives--not shaped into our image--but allowing Him to shape us into His image?
Graven Image story...Elizabeth Elliott
BibleProject video
