The Messiah's Mission
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today is Palm Sunday. A day we recognize Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
The story of the triumphal entry is one of the few incidents in the life of Jesus which appears in all four Gospel accounts. (, , , )
Putting the four accounts together, it becomes clear that the triumphal entry was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus’ day, but to Christians throughout history.
We celebrate Palm Sunday to remember that momentous occasion.
Today we’ll be reading from Luke’s account. ()
After correcting His disciples and followers as to the true nature of His Kingdom and mission, Jesus enters Jerusalem for what would be the last week of His life.
Knowing full well what awaited Him, that He would have to die on the Cross to establish His eternal Kingdom, Jesus went!
Example: Driving from Springfield to Branson - all the billboards.
Biblical scholars agree that when Jesus came riding in on the foal of a donkey it was like using a giant billboard or public address system to proclaim His title as Messiah.
Zechariah (520 years before)
9 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.
Isaiah (700 years before this event)
11 The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’ ”
The Jews failed to recognize their own King even though He came to them exactly as prophesied in Zechariah and Isaiah.
JESUS IS THE MESSIAH!
Don’t miss what Jesus is doing in all of this!
Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
JESUS IS THE MESSIAH!
The Triumphal Entry is really The Triumphal Exit!
(, , )
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Luke 19.
3 things to understand about
our part in “The Messiah’s Mission”
1. Go Where He Sends You.
1. Go Where He Sends You.
Knowing full well what awaited Him, that He would have to die on the Cross to establish His eternal Kingdom, Jesus went!
30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
Two things we see Jesus say repeatedly in scripture: “Come and follow me” and “Go, I am sending you.”
The donkey’s job was to lift Jesus up to be seen by the people, and we have the same job!
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
After His resurrection Jesus gave His disciples this instruction:
After His resurrection Jesus gave His disciples this instruction:
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Paul better clarifies our message:
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 cor 5.14-
2. Do What He Tells You.
2. Do What He Tells You.
30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.
matt 21.2
We won’t always understand what Jesus is doing or what He’s asking us to do.
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
Jesus doesn’t always show up in the ways we expect him to!
According to and such an animal was qualified to perform a sacred task.
You might say: “I don’t feel qualified!”
21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
If we live in obedience to His direction, it will always direct people to Jesus.
A king would ride a donkey on occasion but more often a war horse. Donkey were a sign of peace.
The people where expecting a concurring King but Jesus showed up on the colt of a donkey. (Sign of peace)
Jesus doesn’t always show up in the ways we expect him to!
Jesus doesn’t always show up in the ways we expect him to!
The people where expecting a concurring King but Jesus showed up on the colt of a donkey. (Sign of peace)
If we live in obedience to His direction, it will always direct people to Jesus.
We won’t always understand what Jesus is doing or what He’s asking us to do.
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
3. Always Give Glory to Him.
3. Always Give Glory to Him.
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke
Luke 3. Jesus Enters the City to a Humble Display of Praise and Honor (35–40)
The idea of creation itself praising God may seem strange, but the Bible speaks about it in a few places—trees, hills, oceans, rivers, mountains, valleys, cattle and creeping things, birds and fields all give praise to God (Psalm 148:7–13, Psalm 96:11–12).
Luke 3. Jesus Enters the City to a Humble Display of Praise and Honor (35–40)
Why did Jesus want to receive such praise? It was not for His sake. It wasn’t that Jesus had a self-esteem problem and needed affirmation. Jesus wants to be praised because we need to praise Him. God will get His praise, and He invites us to be a part of it.
The people praised him with whatever they had. (Cloaks &
Palm branches)
Luke 3. Jesus Enters the City to a Humble Display of Praise and Honor (35–40)
“An d yet, I suppose, those disciples had their trials as we have ours. There might have been a sick wife at home, or a child withering with disease.” (Spurgeon) Yet they all praised Him!
Jesus does not need great things to give him honor. You may feel like you don’t have a great voice, or talent, or very many resources, but give it to Him and praise Him with what you have.
Ex: Moses (What’s that in your hands?), David (the least valued in his family), The widow who gave her last coin.
Luke 3. Jesus Enters the City to a Humble Display of Praise and Honor (35–40)
“An d yet, I suppose, those disciples had their trials as we have ours. There might have been a sick wife at home, or a child withering with disease.” (Spurgeon) Yet they all praised Him!
Closing
Closing
*Invite the team to return
During the most hopeless time in history the God of hope steps onto the scene.
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Things change when Jesus enters the scene!
Things change when Jesus enters the scene!
9 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.
11 The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’ ”
Additional things to study:
9 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.
Palm branches