Palm Sunday

The King is Recognized by the Miracles of Resurrected Lives of New Believers...

Reading of ,

Palm Sunday is celebrated as a time when Jesus returns to Jerusalem a week before passover and is recognized as King of the Jews. But in the book of John, there is much more taking place as a backdrop as Jesus transitions from His public ministry to the final Passion week leading toward His Crucification and Resurrection…Palm Sunday reminds us you and I were and are the inspiration that led Christ to maintain focus on His Mission toward the Cross.

Text:

This Chapter transitions the Public Ministry of Jesus toward Passion Week

It identifies persons and groups crucial to understanding the Story of Jesus

It also challenges the reader once again on the importance of believing

Jesus Anointed at Bethany ( )

“The fact that the story of the anointing appears in all four Gospels confirms its significance to the overall presentation of the good news” (Borchert, 2002).

The New American Commentary: John 12–21 1. The Anointing for Death (12:1–8)

The fact that the story of the anointing appears in all four Gospels confirms its significance to the overall presentation of the good news.

Some commentators believe this to be a separate anointing than Luke

A Threefold Transition ( )

Gathering Crowd - People want to see Jesus and Lazarus

Chief Priests - Plotting to Kill Lazarus also

Departing Jews - Jews leaving to follow Jesus

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King (

The Reaction of the Crowd (vs. 12-15)

The crowd were responding to an anticipated new King

Palm Branches - used as symbols of welcome for Jewish heroes returning from battle or at unusual periods of rejoicing.

Hosanna - a cry for “salvation now”

Quoting “Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.”

 “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.”

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

Quoting  “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.”

righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

By riding a donkey, Jesus entered in humility not in strength

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

In writing “Do not be Afraid” John knew that the road to salvation would be a traumatic experience…not one the crowd expected but it was meant to encourage them.

The Reaction of the Disciples (vs 16)

As human beings…we often deny the whole truth in favor of what we want to claim as truth.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

The Reaction of the Pharisees (vs. 17-19)

- the plot to kill Jesus

They acknowledged the miracles, but feared more for the loss of their temple and nation - church, culture, and identity.

The Reaction of the Greeks (12:20-22)

These could have been nontraditional / non-Jewish persons who became intrigued by Jesus and wanted to become involved with him.

Confirms 12:19 “Look how the whole world has gone after him.”

More importantly - this represented a turning point in the ministry of Jesus that would eventually lead to , “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus Responds to the Reactions of the Crowd, Disciples, Pharisees, and the Greeks

New International Version (NIV)

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

How are the events that took place on Palm Sunday speak to us today?

The King is Recognized by the Miracles of Resurrected Lives of New Believers...

The King is Recognized by the Miracles of Resurrected Lives of New Believers...

You will face Pharisees in your life - - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Juan 10:10  “El ladrón no viene sino para hurtar y matar y destruir; yo he venido para que tengan vida, y para que la tengan en abundancia.”

You will be tempted by the Crowds - “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

You will be tempted by the Crowds - “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

Examina la senda de tus pies, Y todos tus caminos sean rectos.

Proverbios 4:26-27 “Examina la senda de tus pies, Y todos tus caminos sean rectos. 27 No te desvíes a la derecha ni a la izquierda; Aparta tu pie del mal.”

27 No te desvíes a la derecha ni a la izquierda; Aparta tu pie del mal.

sss

Your Disciples might not understand - “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.”

Filipenses 3:15 (Nueva Traducción Viviente) 15 Que todos los que son espiritualmente maduros estén de acuerdo en estas cosas. Si ustedes difieren en algún punto, estoy seguro de que Dios se lo hará entender;

Filipenses 3:15 (Nueva Traducción Viviente) 15 Que todos los que son espiritualmente maduros estén de acuerdo en estas cosas. Si ustedes difieren en algún punto, estoy seguro de que Dios se lo hará entender;

Filipenses 3:15 Nueva Traducción Viviente (NTV)

15 Que todos los que son espiritualmente maduros estén de acuerdo en estas cosas. Si ustedes difieren en algún punto, estoy seguro de que Dios se lo hará entender;

Your Faithfulness will Encourage others - “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Por tanto, id, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo;

Mateo 28:19 “Por tanto, id, y haced discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo;”

In this Story, Jesus had many voice around him…but He never deviated from the Mission…In fact, it was these voices that reinforced His resolve to ENTER Jerusalem on a Donkey as the King of the Jews.