Tunstall Apo Am Sunday 9th April 2006.

Place: TUNSTALL APO.      Date: AM SUNDAY 9TH APRIL 2006.

Text: MATTHEW 21:10.      Theme: PALM SUNDAY.

Introduction:                          Reading: LUKE 19:28-44.

          “And when He had come into Jerusalem, the entire city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

Here on this first “Palm Sunday” is an “open deliberate declaration of Jesus' Messiah ship and Kingship,” the hour was approaching when Jesus would be rejected and the issue must now be made plain. For even Pilate said, “Behold, your king!”

          Jesus purpose was not to overthrow Rome, but the breaking of the power of sin; He came seated on a donkey, symbolic of humility and peace, rather then mounted on a horse, a symbol of conquest. For He came to liberate people from sin's oppression!

          It was only three years earlier that John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29. Now on this Palm Sunday Jesus began His last week of His ministry to fulfil John' prophecy. Now the time had come, to let the people proclaim Him as King.

1ST POINT: A DAY OF TRIUMPH.

A. The preparation for the Day! Verses 28-34.

          After breakfast with friends, Jesus and His disciples left Bethany for Jerusalem. By the time they reached Bethpage (bethfa-je), the road was crowed with pilgrims making their way for the Feast of Passover. Jesus sent two disciples ahead of Him to prepare His entry into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey.

B. The procession on the Day! Verses 35-38.

          Jesus as He sat seated upon the donkey allowed for the first and the only time, the people to “openly worship Him” as He rode towards the city. The language used by the Gospel writers is very grand; it is intended to express a burst of admiration far wider and deeper than ever had been witnessed before.

          The question is asked, “Who is this?” The answer is quickly given, “It is Jesus, who comes in the name of the Lord.” The shouting of the crowd was infections, as soon as someone cried “Hosanna,” others took up the cry. Soon the roadway echoed with shouts of praise, for they rejoiced and praised God for the Messiah had come. They hailed Jesus as the coming One, the King possessed of divine authority.

On this one occasion Jesus seems to yield His whole being to the deep acclaim of the people, for this was His last time He was to enter into Jerusalem. They sang from the psalms as the pilgrims of old ascended towards Jerusalem Psalm 118:25-26, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”

          Caught up in the emotion of the hour, some spread their garments in the way and others placed palm branches in the path. The spreading of garments was the custom observed in token or honour and welcome for a king in 2 Kings 9:13. The branches of palm trees were a symbol of joy (Leviticus 23:40) and victory (Revelation 7:9).

          Soon the summit of the Mount of Olives was reached. There in the morning light and splendour was the city of Jerusalem The City of Zion, (we often used to sing on whit Sunday “we are matching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion, we matching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God”), with the mighty towering Temple of God in the skyline.

C. The proclamation on the Day! Verses 39-40.

          Those on the outskirts of the city joined the crowds about the Lord. The whole valley rang with cries of “Hosanna.” Some wanted Jesus to still the cries of worship, but Jesus replied that if the people held their voices the stones would cry out. Then they said, “Behold, the world is gone after Him” John 12:19. For ALL heaven declares the GLORY of GOD!

D. The passion on the Day! Verses 41-44.

          What a contrast to the immediately preceding profound joy! For in the midst of all this shouting for joy, there was One who wept. While the people shouted “Hosanna,” Jesus' heart was broken and He was moved to weep for the city and the people. He cried, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those that who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” Matthew 23:37.

CONCLUSION:

“Who is this? It is Jesus!”

Ask Moses, and he shall answer you, “He is the seed of woman.”

Ask David, and he shall answer you, “He is the King of glory.”

Ask Isaiah, and he shall answer you, “He is Emmanuel, God with us.”

Ask John, and he shall answer you, “He is the Lamb of God.”

Ask the Father, and He shall answer you, “He is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”