The King Enters - Passion Week Begins

Matthew 21:1-3 And when they had approached 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 there and a colt with her; untie 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.”

1. Preparation with Profound Purpose:

Jesus gives very specific instructions to help the disciples in an unexpected and a profound way.

This becomes a revelation of Jesus’ sovereign knowledge and control over circumstances,

defines His divine mission

and declares His identity as King.

The disciples responded to Jesus' instructions with faith and trust.

Church family, we need to recognize the moments in our lives where we must totally rely on God's wisdom and His sovereignty, even when the path or the way is not clear.

Acknowledging Him as the orchestrator of ALL events, even when it doesn’t make sense, shows a submission that is necessary for all who believe!

We need to TRUST HIM FULLY!

2. Observe the Obedient Action

Matthew 21:4 And this took place in order that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, 5 “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, LOWLY, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, AND ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A PACK ANIMAL.’”

The disciples' obedience of Jesus’ instructions in the obtaining of the donkey despite the obvious strange encounter that would certainly take place as the owners of the donkey would feel a need to ask, “what are you doing with our donkey?”

Take note of this: Obeying Jesus, and being His Disciple will without a doubt create times that you are very UNCOMFORTABLE, as your obedience to Him pulls you out of your comfort and ease and pushes you into service to the Lord and His purposes.

Legacy Standard Bible CHAPTER 21

This action signifies faith in Jesus' authority and His kingly role.

Even the small acts of obedience in your daily lives are significant!

These acts of obeying Christ need to be seen as a reflection of Jesus' lordship in your life, as they are signs you are trustin in God -

KNOW THIS: God will use these simple acts of obedient service for His greater purposes.

3. There is a problem with that first celebration: It would not last, as it was Superficial.

Mark 11:8–10 “And many spread their garments in the road, and others spread leafy branches, having cut them from the fields. And those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!””

On that special day, the crowd offered enthusiastic welcome with cloaks and branches spread on the road! These actions signified their recognition of Jesus as a royal figure.

However, this outward celebration lacked any true depth…….because, just a few days later, this same crowd who cried out HOSANNA! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, would now be crying out “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” We have no King but Caeser!

It is now, folks, that I want you to think about the depth of your own personal commitment to Jesus!

I challenge each of you to move beyond surface-level expressions of faith

beyond - “LIP SERVICE” to a deep, lasting relationship with Christ.

Celebrated by the crowds, acknowledged as the Messiah - Rescue us! Save us!

- This event marks the beginning of Passion Week, leading ultimately to the crucifixion and resurrection.

Let me ask you -

Do you remember the day you received Jesus into your life?

Do you remember the joy and the fullness as He became King of your heart?

O, the delight of having a King to live within me!

O, the joy of knowing that He has rescued me from a life destined for disaster and destruction!

O, the Power of knowing that within me resides the Spirit of the One who ransomed me from my despair!

Do you remember?

Get those Palm branches in your hand and let’s give out a True, heartfelt shout to our King Jesus!

Hosanna! Hosanna!

Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna!

Family, it is significant that we recall Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, as the central truth to receiving Him into our lives as our Master, and as our closest friend!

This public triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem was celebrated, but it didn’tlast……

The triumphal entry of Christ into our own lives NEEDS CELEBRATED, and IT NEEDS TO BE A LASTING CELEBRATION!

Give those palms another wave - - - -Someone shout again! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Both of these events should draw a connection of our own personal commitment to live in authenticity with our faith-

EVEN IN the most DIFFICULT and challenging of times.

These passages all point to Christ as they highlight Jesus as the prophesied King,

…..not established through worldly ways,

…..nor in ways that were expected at all,

…..but through His voluntary, sacrificial death and His victory over death, hell and the grave that followed at the end of this week of Passion!

You need to know what this Passion Week Observance is Truly About:

Take note:

It wasn’t man’s passion for Christ,

It was Jesus, the Christ’s Passion for us

that should fully immerse us into the recognition of Jesus as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords!

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was not just a historical event;

it is fully theological, as in the discussion of the Biblical narrative shown in all four gospels,

in Matthew 21,

in Mark 11,

in Luke 19

and in John 12,

all directly pointing to the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9

His identity as the Messiah, and the revealing nature of His kingdom, destroyed the earthly expectations of power and triumph over their adversaries the Romans, as Jesus came as the ultimate redeemer for the people to rescue them from their sinful ways.

In the reality of humanity, truly recognizing Jesus as King calls ALL PERSONS for a response that is more than a celebration in a gathering of persons,

it actually DEMANDS an inward choosing

that either reflects the humility of the Crucified Christ as Supreme authority in our lives,

or rejects Him totally,

as the rejection of Him once again cries out the refrains of “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

4. His broken body and poured out blood as the Supreme sacrifice indicates that We need to be a People of Persistent Praise - for what He has done for each one of us!

Luke 19:39-40

Legacy Standard Bible CHAPTER 19

39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

40 But Jesus answered and said, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones will cry out!”

Hold firm to your declarations of faith,

Hold firm! STAY STRONG!

even in the face of opposition

even in the face of pressure

Even when the world tries to get you to conform to its sinful ways,

Now, more than ever is the time for the Church to arise with a shout of Victory!

“Jesus YOU TRULY ARE AND WILL ALWAYS WILL BE truly the ONLY King who deserves our honor and our obedience and our praises!”

“YOU ARE MY KING!” - Wave those palm branches again - YOU ARE MY KING!

The prophecy that came to pass on that FIRST PALM SUNDAY - THAT FULFILLED PROPHECY in Zechariah 9:9 brought hope to a weary people who were longing for deliverance.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Make a loud shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Lowly and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a pack animal.

Imagine a community struggling with uncertainty—a community not too different than ours: The Jews were struggling with much uncertainty….as we recently were as well…….

I remember the agony, the helplessness and the low places that we all felt during the Covid PANDEMIC,

as it seemed that all things that we had dreaded were coming to pass,

that there was a closing of every avenue of freedom in the areas of getting out, travels, even attending church.

There was a downcast spirit on so many in those days, and it seemed like it would just get worse and worse.

But something changed:

LIKE THE FLIP OF A SWITCH, our ‘freedoms’ began to come back to us.

There came an anticipation we all could feel, as the restrictions began to lift, and we felt that there was an end coming to this challenging season in all of our lives.

When we finally saw a glimpse of better days, it was as if the Lord had entered our hearts and souls and filled us with a feeling of triumph!

WE HAVE OVERCOME! WE ARE VICTORIOUS OVER THIS HARROWING DISEASE!

However, I have sensed a dullness that has since enveloped the population once again, and many have fallen away to their old ways and to their old habits.

This cannot continue!

We MUST ONCE AGAIN CRY OUT BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! EVEN SO COME! COME LORD JESUS COME!

DO WE HAVE A HOPE? DO YOU SENSE A GLIMMER OF HOPE?

WHAT’S THAT ON THE HORIZON?

A CLOUD - THE SIZE OF A MAN’S HAND?

RUN WITH THE TRUTH THAT JESUS REIGNS! GLORY TO GOD!

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES! IT IS THE LORD OF HOSTS!

Come join me up front as we prepare to close:

Just like the COVID PANDEMIC ending, AND THE HOPE THAT FLICKERED IN HUMANITY FOR A SEASON……

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem is a forever reminder that even a glimmer of hope can enter our lives, and just a mustard seed of that same hope will conquer even the worst of despair!

Let us keep that hope alive!

He is my hope! Is He still your hope?

Salvation or rededication opportunity