Journey Arrival

Journey Arrival

ILL- Lake Wister- seemed to be on the way- detour back 15 miles.

The destination was the beginning of the detour.

Arrival that appeared to be a detour.

What they see is not what they get.

READ

John 12:12–19 ESV

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

PRAY

5 Truths Concerning Jesus’ Arrival

He Arrives as King (12-13)

Palm branches were traditionally used fro Jewish heroes. It was used to honor Maccabeus 200 years earlier.

"He who comes"= used in reference to the coming of the Messiah and the Messianic age.

Crowd was proclaiming him king- Jesus was King but they did not understand what that meant.

Hosanna= salvation now

They wanted political salvation.

Jesus came to give spiritual salvation/ eternal salvation.

They didn’t need to be saved from the Romans as much as they needed spiritual salvation.

He Arrives in Humility (14-15)

Compare to Roman Triumphal Entry in Rome

Any time a Roman General's army killed 5,000 enemies and gained new territory they received a parade.

He would parade his trophies from war and the enemy leaders.

Parade ended in the Colosseum where some of the captives entertained by fighting wild beasts.

(verse 15)

The crowd wanted triumph but not humility.

Romans would have used chariots and horses- maybe a camel.

6 was used in their praise to Jesus.

They missed

Psalm 118:22 ESV

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Jesus’ example of humility is a great example for us to follow.

He had the right to a big parade and fancy horses.

He chose to humble himself.

He Arrives to Fulfill (16)

"They remembered these things were written about him."

At the time they were confused- why a donkey?

Holy Spirit gives understanding when it is time.

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 15:26 ESV

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

Luke 21:12–15 ESV

But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

Once they received the Holy Spirit they began to understand what Jesus had been saying to them as well as an understanding of the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

There was a bigger picture at work than anyone besides Jesus understood.

God had prepared for this time from the beginning.

Jesus was coming to die- not to bring a political revolt.

Prophecies of God are not maybes. They are absolute!

He Arrives with Expectation (17-18)

What will Jesus do next?

Raised Lazarus from the dead.

It seems that the crowds were higher for these celebrations because Jesus, the celebrity, was going to be there. Don’t miss what he will do next.

Looking for a sign caused them to miss Jesus the Messiah who was soon to die for their sins.

Signs of end times- Don’t miss Jesus.

He Arrives with Anxiety (19)

The fear of the Pharisees was not a fear of God.

They had a fear of the change of the status quo.

They were about to lose control and there was no telling what the Romans would do about it. They would be the first to die.

Fear of the Romans was greater than their fear of God.

Paul becomes the opposite of this.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Revelation 2:10 ESV

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Do not fear persecution. Do not fear our changing nation.

If God is for us, who can be against us.

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

CONCLUSION

Our journey is not always as it appears.

When we travel with Jesus the journey is hard.

What matters is whether the journey is taking you to the right destination.

Where is your journey leading you?