Come Alive- Above and Beyond

Introduction –

Transition –

Today we celebrate God going above and beyond Humanities wildest imaginations. Today we celebrate the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Today we celebrate Jesus entering Jerusalem as Israel’s King, Messiah, and Savior.

But as is often the case with Jesus, He takes us way Above and Beyond the expectations of the cheering crowd.

The mighty warrior has come but not as we had expected.

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The King Riding on a Donkey?

Turn with me to

Matthew 21:1–7 NLT

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’ ” The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

The King is riding on a donkey?

· When we think of a King riding into the city to be set on the throne as King, we would probably imagine him riding a beautiful, white, muscular horse.

· From the time of Saul, Israel’s kings would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey.

· In an ironic twist, the donkey showed that the most powerful man in Israel was to lead with humility and obedience towards their God.

Don’t worry we were not the only ones who had wrong expectations.

· Israel imagined a Messiah who would destroy the occupying force of Rome.

· They imagined a Messiah who would sit on the Throne of David and rule the world with an iron rod.

· They imagined a Messiah who would make Israel the empire of all empires.

· They had begun imagining the Messiah to make Israel, just like Rome.

Yet God left clues to the people that He was going to go ABOVE and BEYOND building a national empire.

Zechariah 9:9–11 NLT

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt. I will remove the battle chariots from Israel and the warhorses from Jerusalem. I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. Because of the covenant I made with you, sealed with blood, I will free your prisoners from death in a waterless dungeon.

JESUS CAME TO GO ABOVE

· He came to bring us PEACE.

o Peace with God

Romans 5:10 NLT

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

o Peace with the world-wide family of Christ.

Ephesians 2:14 NLT

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

o Even Peace with ourselves

Hebrews 9:14 NLT

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

· He came to be King over all humanity.

John 3:16 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

· He came to free us from the pits that we suffer in.

Colossians 1:13–14 NLT

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

o Addictions

o Depression

o Anxiety

o Fear

o Lusts

o Unforgiveness

o He came to rescue us from all our sinfulness.

Jesus Went BEYOND our wildest dreams.

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How Did Jesus Do This? – This is where the palm branches come into it.

Matthew 21:8–11 NLT

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked. And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Expectations of the Messiah –

Psalm 118:19–29 NLT

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord. These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there. I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory! The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

· To ride into Jerusalem

· To ride to the Temple and to make a sacrifice that would be bound by chords made of branches to the horns of the alter.

JESUS CAME TO GO BEYOND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING!

· He came to bring the SACRIFICE.

· He came to BE the sacrifice

· He came to go ABOVE and BEYOND our wildest expectations.

Hebrews 10:11–14 NLT

Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

Jesus is the Triumphant Messiah

But he came for more than to create a national empire.

He came for more than to make another Rome.

Jesus came to set all humanity free.

Jesus came to bring us peace

Jesus came to set us free from the pits of sin and death.

He came to bring the sacrifice that was needed.

He came to be the sacrifice.

Jesus came to go ABOVE and BEYOND.