Palm Sunday 2021, Luke 19:28-44

Palm Sunday 2021, Luke 19:28-44, ROUGH DRAFT

Title - Who is this King? - What Kind of King is Jesus?

Read Luke 19:28-44

Intro - Think of the most crowded event you have ever been in.

Maybe it was a big concert, busy amusement park, Large City during a holiday.

I was at 6 Flags one July, decades back. It was so crowded that all day I got to ride 6 rides. Lines were super long. I swore I would never go back to 6 Flags ever again.

When I think of a crowd I think of what Centennial Park in Atlanta would be like if the Olympics or the World Cup would be held there.

Imagine the area around Sanford stadium if the UGA played for the National Title in their home stadium.

A massive draw of people. Lots of energy. Noise. People glad they are there. They came to enjoy the experience.

The passover in Jerusalem was like this, but busier - the largest yearly gathering of Jewish people. It was a slam packed event. Pause

-Passover, was an 8 day celebration of when Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt after being in slavery for 400 years. Passover in the Old Testament was a big holiday - like our Christmas. It is the largest yearly holiday. All jewish people around the world would celebrate.

The most focused celebration happened in Jerusalem.

Normally without passover Jerusalem would be full at about 80,000 people inside its walls.

-Jerusalem could comfortably bring in enough food, water, supply beds for and handle the sewage for 80,000.

During the passover it is estimated that well over 1 million entered the city.

Some people from hundreds of miles away would make a special pilgrimage.

The city has swollen and was bursting to handle this huge influx of people.

The population undoubtedly would spill over into surrounding towns and villages like Bethpage and Bethany.

How could the city handle so many? The people of Jerusalem considered it a great honor to host the Passover.

The residents of the city open their homes and courtyards for people to sleep in. Jerusalem residence would allow strangers into their home for a week. The city square was open for people to sleep.

-There were huge public ovens that were brought into the streets and alley ways for people to cook in.

Every square foot of the city is utilized. It was slam packed.

-If you are claustrophobic or hate crowds of people - this is not a place you want to be.

-If you like energy, people, spontaneity, and celebration - you’d love this.

In this Passover celebration today is when the Messiah King is announced.

The Savior is announced.

Transition - In this announcement Jesus paints a picture about himself. Jesus gives signs - he gives signals to who he was. The first sign that Jesus give is that ....

vs. 30-35, My king is - A King of Peace

How do we know this? How did Jesus communicate this?

Zechariah 9:9-10??? Jesus did not come in on a war horse as a mighty military King, He came in on a colt a donkey.

Why a donkey? Why would a king ride such a wimpy animal. I know very few things a donkey is good for.

In Bible times when a king was entering a city in wartime - to wage a battle - he would ride on a war horse. However, when a king rode into a city during peace time, he always chose a donkey.

This Donkey would be a signal to the city that a King came in peace.

Planning all this ahead of time - He knew many would see him as a king that would help them overthrow Rome - a King of war - A King of Jewish domination over Rome.

Jesus intentionally chose a donkey to giving a clear sign. He was making it clear who He was.

He was a Messiah intentionally who intentionally chose peace.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace

Ephesians 2:17–19 ESV

17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

What was this peace that Jesus brings? ...

Jesus brings peace in the relationship between God and those who followed Him. Between those who he would save.

-If you are a Christ Follower. Jesus has brought peace between you and God the Father. The Father sent Jesus to pay the price for sin on the cross.

In this Your King - Jesus has brought peace to you.

He has chosen to not hold sin against you.

He paid for your peace on the cross.

And so today, right now, to those who do not know Jesus. Jesus offers you peace ...

He is the King of Peace.

He not only brings peace in salvation, but he brings peace in life.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We have peace in chaos because we know that God is in control and that He is working.

-When life is hard, hurtful, and humbling - God is at work.

-He works for His children with the motivation of love. Pause

Transition - Not only is Jesus the King of Peace, but he is “A King worthy of my worship”

vs. 35-37, My King Is - A King worthy of my worship.

We see in verses 35-37 that Jesus gave a big signal of who He was.

It would get your attention.

Read vs. 35-37

Illustration - I saw a video recently of a fireworks show in San Diego that was supposed to last 20 minutes, but because of a computer error it all went up at the same time. 20 minutes fireworks went of in 40 seconds.

Could you image being an airline pilot flying and seeing something almost as bright as the sun for 40 seconds?

In our passage today - The King of Peace receives his donkey to ride. The people do something very humbling. They give up their outer garment.

In Bible times they wore 3 pieces of clothing. 1) Undergarment, 2) the basic robe that covered them, 3) outer garment that partially covered the rob, but was like a knee length jacket or vest.

The people were taking off this long outer jackets - Making a saddle out of them and also laying them on the nasty animal trodden ground to honor the King of Peace.

-It was their way of rolling out the red carpet.

-There way of honoring this king coming into the city.

Most people were poor in Bible times.

The average person did not have, a pair of work shoes and nice shoes, no work pants and dress pants.

Just 1 set of clothes.

Clothes were very expensive.

These poor people happily gave out of their poverty to a King who had done so much for them.

What had He done? vs. 37 - “Might Works”,

Healing the sick, casting out demons, calmed storms, walked on water, made the blind to see, raised the dead,

-They loved Jesus.

-They worshiped Jesus through giving the best they had with them.

-They literally gave the only shirt off their back by placing it in the stinky mud on the ground.

Question - I wonder if you love Jesus so much, and are so thankful for what He has done for you that you would give Him whatever would honor Him.

Why? Because He has given you so much and blessed you so greatly.

-The challenge for you and I is to worship Jesus with what we have.

-Be generous to others.

-Give of your love, give of your time, give of your possessions.

Transition - The people not only worshiped through what they gave, they also worshiped through what they said.

vs. 37, Says they proclaimed with a loud voice.

Luke 19:38 ESV

38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

When you have encountered Jesus you will speak up about Him.

Illustration - In my office I have a yellow golf flag, from the Augusta National with the year 2010 on it. It was when my brother and I went to the National together on a Sunday and watched Phil Mickelson win.

-Someone I knew had extra tickets they gave us for the day.

-He bought that flag at the pro shop, had it framed & gave it to me.

-When he went back to Tallahassee he told all his friends about going to the National.

-Why? For a golf lover it was a great experience.

-He was so happy to make his golf buddies jealous.

-We proclaim what and who has impacted us.

When your life has been changed by Jesus you will worship Him and you won’t be shy about telling others about Him.

-It is appropriate for your worship of Jesus to be expressive.

-It is appropriate for your worship to be celebratory.

So picture this, Jesus is not traveling on a donkey toward Jerusalem, several thousand people are around him, walking with Him, shouting, clothing is being laid on the ground, palm fronds are being pulled off trees and waived in the air.

If you are in Jerusalem or the surrounding villages will you hear this, see this, or at least hear about it from your neighbor?

Will it be part of the buz in the city?

Answer - Yes -

This is a sign - a signal, This is all the fireworks going off at the same time.

This is God the Father saying, Hey everybody - look over here - I’m telling you something really special.

My Son is King!!! He is worthy of your worship!

Question - Does Jesus have your attention?

Is He special? Does He have your worship?

Do you outwardly praise Him or do you keep Him private?

QUESTION FOR JONATHAN -WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE STONES CRYING OUT???

Hosanna - A praise of salvation

Transition, Not only is My King a King of peace, a King worthy of worship, but he is ...

vs. 37-40, My King is - An Eternal King

Read 37-40

Enter illustration - After Susan and I first got married we looked back at our dating and were asking questions and telling stories. I told her, “I had no idea at first if you liked me or not. You didn’t flirt or give me any signals. She says, What? I gave you all kinds of signals and flirts - you didn’t see them. We still laugh about it now. Signals and signs given & signals and signs missed.

-There was a signal that most of the Jewish people missed.

-The signal that Jesus was not an earthly King, but an eternal spiritual King.

-Rome had conquered the Jewish people. Rome had bound them up and hemmed in their leaders, controlled them. Almost all Jews believed that Rome was their biggest problem.

-Every Jew would pointed their finger at Rome and say, “That’s my biggest problem.”

-They weren’t willing to admit that their biggest problem is the constricting nature of sin and selfishness. That our biggest problem is on the inside.

I have met the enemy and he is me.

Jesus did not come as a political revolutionary.

Jesus came to revolutionize your heart and life.

Jesus did not come to disrupt Roman rule.

Jesus came to disrupt the suffocating nature of self rule.

Jesus came to be King. He came to be King of your heart and life.

He came to free you from the curse of self and sin.

He came as an eternal King.

Look at how wise and loving your God’s timing is?

Jesus showed up in Jerusalem as a King on Sunday and a Savior on Good Friday when the most people would be influenced by Him.

-He came when Jerusalem would be filled and overflowing.

-The most would have an opportunity to see him crucified and hear of his resurrection.

-The most would experience darkness in the middle of the day when he gave up his life.

-The most would be in the temple and find out about the curtain inside the temple being miraculously torn in 2.

Jesus did came to bring spiritual salvation that would last forever.

Daniel says this about the Kingdom of God and the signs of God.

Daniel 4:3 ESV

3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

We’ve seen that Jesus is King of Peace, a King Worthy to be Worshiped, and an eternal King.

Transition - We finally see that Jesus is a brokenhearted King

41-44, A Broken Hearted King

A King Who’s heart Breaks Over the Lost.

read vs 41-44

-Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by Emporer Titus, where thousands would lose their lives.

-Jesus weeps, not just for the lives of those who would die in this rebellion, but for the lives in Jerusalem that would be lost forever into a Christless eternity.

Gospel - A Sacrificial King,

Jesus came into the city during the Passover celebration.

Passover provided a picture of his purpose.

The Passover Celebration focused on the 10th plague that caused the Hebrew slaves to go free. It was the plague of the first born. Where most firstborns died.

Story tell - Back in the book of Exodus, 2nd book of the Bible, God told Moses that:

1- The death angel was coming to kill all first borns in Egypt both human and animal.

2 - For protection the Hebrews had to take a sacrificial lamb, kill it, drain it’s blood into a bowl, paint the blood of a lamb on their doorposts (including the top - door head).

3 - The death angel would “Pass Over” those homes who had the lambs blood on the door and not kill the first borns in that home.

-God’s people (Hebrews) followed this instruction.

-The Egyptians did not.

-The entire Egyptian nation lost all of their first born people (Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters) as well as their first born animals.

-This finally broke the Egyptians and they freed the Hebrew slaves.

This passover points to Jesus.

-The death angel points us to the judgement of hell.

-The Egyptians points us to the bondage to sin.

-The sacrificial lamb is Christ.

-The blood is the payment for sin.

-The placing of the blood on the doorpost points us to faith.

Those who have placed their faith in Christ’s payment of blood for sin, escape eternal judgement.

-They are also freed from slavery to sin.

-They are kept safe and are part of God’s great family of peace.

-They follow and worship the Eternal King.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday being carried on the back of a Donkey.

On Good Friday the very same week, The Cross is carried on the back of Jesus.

Why? To make payment for your sins.

He is the Savior King.

-When Susan and I were starting to date I missed the signs/signals from her. It is now a laughing matter.

-Jesus right now is giving you a sign.

-Christian, Will you worship Him out loud an d proclaim Him?

-Will you worship him by giving your time, your love, your possessions?

If you are not a follower of Jesus,

-Will you come to Him in Faith right now.

He reaches out to you now.

Don’t wait another day.