PALM SUNDAY: Have It Your Way?

Memorial Drive 4/14/19 PALM SUNDAY: Have it Your Way? Matthew 21:1-11, Psalm 118 BURGER KING AND AN AMERICAN 21ST CENTURY CREDO … You can have it your way! You SHOULD have it your way! You DESERVE to have it your way1 OUR TEXT … The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:6-9 “PALM SUNDAY’S” BACKGROUND … Palm Sunday shows us that we can’t “have it our way”! A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GATHERING CROWDS: Some Wanted Christ as … • A Teacher • A Conformist • A Revolutionist Others wanted Jesus as a DISCIPLINARIAN! A WONDERWORKER! As a ________ ! A CLOSER LOOK AT AN EXUBERANT RESPONSE TO CHRIST’S ENTRY … • Entrance On a Donkey “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ “ (Matt. 21:4-5, Zech. 9:9) • The Scattering of the Palm Fronds Leviticus 23 – Build and live in temporary booths as an expression of trusting in the faithfulness of God always! • The Exuberant Words of Praise Why are these words of praise so powerful? What’s “behind the words”? Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” Smaller portions of Scripture brought to mind the larger texts they were from! These “Palm Sunday Praises” were from the Hallel Psalms! So what’s the significance of the crowd’s use of these words? “Hosanna” – “I pray, I beseech” … to be open, wide, free” “Hosanna” Literally: “God save us! These words were being directed toward Jesus! Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; The righteous will enter through it. I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:19-21) “Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar!” (Vs. 27) “THIS IS THE DAY that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24) “If you had known IN THIS DAY even the things which make for peace.” (Luke 19:41-42) “You did not recognize the door of your visitation.” (Luke 19:44) A CLOSER LOOK AT CHRIST AS HE IS … What Are Some Lessons from Palm Sunday? ◦ Sin Can’t Be Overlooked ◦ Sacrifice Can’t Be Avoided The “cup of God’s wrath” is Christ’s to drink! I can’t accept Jesus as mere teacher, rescuer to make life easier, One who came to make me prosperous, or to save me from discomfort. ◦ Service Can’t Be Skirted “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24) “Whoever wishes to SAVE his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it!” (Matt. 16:25) How different is this truth from our world’s insistence that “You CAN have it your way! You SHOULD have it your way! You DESERVE to have it your way!” Don’t miss the day of His visitation! What is our Lord saying to you today?