Blessed is the King Who Comes...

Moments that Jesus shows up. I’ve been involved in special moments when the Spirit has fallen over a crowd, a place, and my heart.

There are moments whenever Jesus shows up in a big and powerful way. It doesn’t mean that He is honking a horn or screaming out His name. His quiet presence is powerful.

He has bring a shift to a room.

I know people who have seen various holy moments that could only be explained that “Jesus just showed up”.

When was the last moment that Jesus showed up in your life?

Today is Palm Sunday. A day that we as churches come together to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week. The day that Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

It has an interesting start doesn’t it?

What was Jersualem like when Jesus showed up?

Troubled by Roman authority

Divided spiritually

Authorities were looking for Jesus in hopes to arrest and kill Him.

In other words, it is silly for any of us to think that the world hasn’t gone through times of trouble.

Jesus, the King of Kings, came to dispel all trouble away from His people.

On this Palm Sunday, I encourage you to join me in focusing on the power of Jesus Christ as He engaged the crowds on His arrival into Jerusalem.

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What Happens When Jesus Enters a Place?

1. Jesus does not enter impulsively.

Jesus had a careful plan in place before He entered Jerusalem.

Bethphage and Bethany was on the outskirts of Jersualem within walking distance.

Mount of Olives is a location that has prophetic emphasis. Identified as the place where God will take His stand in battle against those who attack His people.

Jesus brought instructions to His disciples to get a colt (a young donkey) in the nearby village.

Arrangements were already made for what to say if anyone questioned them.

No one had ever ridden the colt before.

Plans were made. Nothing was being done sporadically. The timing was exactly right.

Spirit lead people are not walking at random even though circumstances point to random behavior.

Jesus never sends His people in places that He hasn’t already been. There is no place, circumstance, or person the Holy Spirit hasn’t already made plans for.

Why do Christians act impulsively?

People struggle with patience.

People struggle with patience.

We aren’t walking in step with the Lord.

His timing is too fast or slow for us to want to follow.

What you’re facing is not random or out of the norm in the eyes of a living God.

God has perfect timing. When we are willing to walk in His timing, we will find clarity of mind and power.

2. Jesus doesn’t hide. He’s courageous.

According to , there was a price on Jesus’ head in that time already. It would seem natural that Jesus would have hidden His entrance into Jerusalem.

Instead, Jesus sat upon the colt and came into the city publicly. He took the role of an outlaw, deliberately riding into the city in such a way that every eye was fixed upon him.

They put their clothes on the colt as a type of saddle.

Jesus had the courage of a warrior and wasn’t ashamed to enter the city even though He knew would bear the shame of our sin and death.

Dodgeball

We serve a King who is not ashamed of Himself. He did not allow the fear of man to enter Him. He knew who He was and was comfortable with the situation at hand.

Too many Christians hide without realizing it.

When walking God’s timing, we don’t have to be uncomfortable to be open about who we are. Even when confusion and scorn is coming our way.

Jesus was a marked man who wasn’t running from anyone. Man had nothing on Him. He was walking in faithfulness to God.

You must accept who you are in Christ so that you too, can realize your full potential.

Don’t hide who you are. Be open and accept what this recognition brings.

Don’t hide from Jesus when He is walking into your life.

3. Jesus intentionally expressed His kingship.

As Jesus road into Jerusalem on the back of the young donkey, he deliberately fulfilled the picture in .

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (NASB)

The language of the crowd here is very grand, intended to express a burst of admiration far wider and deeper than ever had been witnessed before.

“Blessed be the King” - Other translations say “Hosanna” which literally means “save us now.”.

- “Lord save us! Lord, please grant us success! He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.”

Instead of receiving the praise of all the Jews, Jesus entered Jerusalem to the joy of his disciples and Galilean peasants spreading out their clothes to pay homage to a king.

When a Roman king entered a city in war time, he would ride a horse to symbolize being ready for battle.

A king of victory to implement peace time would ride a donkey to convey a kingdom of peace.

Everything about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem told people that He knew exactly who He was.

A policeman wearing a uniform but refusing to acknowledge that he is a policeman.

Jesus has entered your life with the intent to rule your life. Do not be mistaken. He is your savior and loves you in relationship, but He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

He didn’t enter your life to change your behavior and he didn’t enter this world to be popular. He entered to take over.

He’s not mistaken in what He intends to do.

People are often mistaken on what they want to allow Him to do in their lives though. He is not ok with being your friend, financial advisor, blessing giver, or whatever you’ve created Him to be, He is here to be your king.

There is a courageousness to His willingness to be in your life. He is intentional and removes any other possibility.

Is He your king or not?

Does He rule the way you feel about your own sin, your decisions, the way you treat others, etc?

If He doesn’t, He’s not your king.

Conclusion

Jesus ends verse 40 with an appeal.

“I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”

“Even now, will you not take me as your king?” Before Jesus was engulfed with human hatred, once again he confronted people with love’s invitation.

Praising is a problem for people. We will shout like crazy at a sporting event, concert, or other large gathering, but we will find ourselves bothered when someone expresses unbridled praise before the Lord.

Jesus is speaking to us today. Do we understand who He is and are we willing to let Him rule our hearts?