The Beginning of the End (2022)

Introduction

Every Thanksgiving, millions of people flock to New York City and on average 44 million more tune in through TV to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. From high school marching bands, large floats, and hundreds of balloons, this parade captivates the eyes of the world as we prepare our stomachs to feast upon our Thanksgiving food to enjoy a few hours later. Why is this parade such a big deal? Why do so many gather in person, tune in online, and on TV? In part it is the history of the parade, but to a deeper part, it has to do with our human desire to be entertained, have fun, and recognize those in the parade itself. In a parade you often are celebrating something - either a date such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July, or a birthday or you are celebrating a person like a king, president, leader, or warrior. Parades get people to come together and we often look back at them with fond memories - especially if you have ever been involved in a float or band.

In Scripture we read of several such marches and parades through key towns. We read of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and there being quite a procession following that occasion in 2 Samuel 6. We read of kings riding into town to be praised by their loyal subjects. We read in the book of Joshua how Joshua and the Israelites marched around Jericho. So often, these events involve celebrating a victorious leader and this is what we celebrate on Palm Sunday - the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem… But why exactly is Jesus celebrated as He enters this city? Has he accomplished a military victory over the Romans? No. Has He arrived into town with a massive army with swords? No. Has He come to town to engage in philosophical arguments with the religious elite of the day? No. Yet, He enters the city to a warm celebration worthy of a victorious king… This is Jesus… The King. This is Jesus, the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His life for His sheep. This is Jesus, the King of creation who dies for His creation. Not the touchdown Jesus who athletes pray to before a game in order to jump higher and run faster. Not the Starbucks Jesus who promises everyone happiness and loves deep conversations. Not the pocket Jesus who you can whip out whenever you need something. Not the good example Jesus who wants you to become the best version of you so that you can unlock your best life now. This is Jesus, the donkey riding Savior who has flipped the power structure of the world upside down, not by lifting a sword, but by preaching the Gospel and raising the dead back to life. The 3 years of ministry are coming to a conclusion and it culminates with this entrance into the city where the kings of Israel ruled from.

Matthew devotes 1/3 of his book to the final week of Jesus’ life… Today, as we celebrate Palm Sunday, we look back some 2000 years at this final week before Jesus’ death. We can’t cover everything that happened in this final week but we see that it included His triumphant entry, teaching His disciples and other Jewish leaders, instituting the Lord’s Supper, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and eventually being betrayed and crucified. As we look at this final week before His death, we see the close of one chapter. We see the beginning of the end as the King of glory enters the city of His death to the cheer of the people who in 5 days will cry for His death. We see the King of glory who lays aside His rights and bore our sin and shame on the cross.

Matthew 21:1–11 CSB

1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Entrance of the King (21:1-11)

Following the conclusion of the ancient olympic games, winners would arrive back to their respective towns and villages to the applause of their neighbors and family members. They would receive their olive wreath crown and they would be praised by their countrymen for their accomplishments. Some even had statues built in their honor! Why would people do this? They would do this to celebrate the person.

Look in Matthew 21 and we find that Jesus is entering Jerusalem to the applause of his fellow Jews as they cry out “Hosanna!” which originally meant “God save us” and is likely used here as a shout of praise to God! They are rejoicing that Jesus has entered the city but many of them don’t know who exactly their are celebrating. Jesus quotes from Zechariah 9 and fulfills this prophecy

Zechariah 9:9 CSB

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Some share that Jesus is simply a prophet or a revolutionary of His time. They think that He is a good leader with wise sayings… But He is so much more. As Jesus quotes from Zechariah 9, He does so to share exactly who He is… Look at that verse once again, Look your King is coming to you… riding on a donkey. Whenever kings would return from war and enter their city, they would enter on a war horse. They would enter with the spoils of their victory and demonstrate their power in the manner in which they entered the city. Contrast that with Jesus’ triumphal entry. Here He comes, Not on a mighty horse… But a lowly donkey. Not a proud stallion but a borrowed beast. He enters the city to fanfare and shouts of Hosanna - the whole town is in uproar and celebrating the entry of Jesus Christ just like we would welcome a celebrity.

Back in 2005 the St. Louis Cardinals moved their AA minor league team from Tennessee to Springfield, Missouri and named them the Springfield Cardinals. Growing up in Springfield as a little boy and being a big baseball fan, I thought this was just about the coolest thing in the whole world! To kick off this new team and this new season, the St. Louis Cardinals sent their team to play against the Springfield team. Names like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Christ Carpenter, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds, people that I had watched on TV and in St. Louis for years and years suddenly were in my hometown playing in Springfield for a weekend. If you were there, you’d never forget the sound that the 13,000 fans made whenever those players entered the stadium. They were welcomed like kings in the ancient world as people stood to their feet and raised their ball caps and the best part was that cell phones weren’t a big thing back then so you didn’t have 13,000 people trying to capture the best picture and raising their arms left and right. Wherever these players went, a crowd went as well. Thousands of people came to Hammons field simply to watch famous people play baseball.

Back in Jerusalem 2000 years ago people heard that Jesus was going to come into the city to celebrate Passover and they were ready to welcome him! They didn’t all know who exactly they were welcoming, but they wanted to all be there! Have you ever seen a crowd forming and you’re not exactly sure what’s going on but you naturally follow your friends to see what’s going on? That’s what some of these people were doing - sure, there were Jesus’ disciples in the crowd but there were also people who had followed Jesus off and on during his 3 years of ministry, and Luke talks about how there were even some of the religious leaders who didn’t like Jesus who were there keeping tabs on what He was doing. But who did the crowd think this man was?

We find this at the end of our opening text: the consensus was that this man was a prophet from Nazareth. Many expected Him to be the One to liberate them from Roman rule and set up an earthly kingdom immediately. The people didn’t understand who Jesus was and what His Kingdom was really like. Though they initially cried out Hosanna, in 5 days time they would cry out, “Crucify Him.” In Luke’s account of the triumphal entry we see that Jesus weeps in Luke 19:41 over the city for their unbelief and stiffneckedness as Stephen talks about in Acts 7.

Think this morning about this: Who do you believe that Jesus Christ is? The Jews believed that He was a prophet, a wise teacher, or a false prophet. The Romans saw Him as a revolutionary who had the nation on the brink of civil unrest and war. Historians since have been equally divided on who Jesus is. He was a nice guy, a smart counselor, a cool teacher, or a power hungry carpenter. People in the 21st century believe that Jesus has some helpful advice and wise sayings but He’s nothing more. He’s clearly not a king. After all, look at what He rode into town - a donkey!

Who do you believe that Jesus Christ was? Better yet, what does the Bible say about who Jesus was? Zechariah 9 shares with us that Jesus is the King. Jesus Himself claimed this title as well. This was their King and though they welcomed Him with open arms and celebration, they would quickly sing a different tune whenever He didn’t do what they expected Him to do. People today do the same thing with Jesus. They celebrate Jesus when it’s popular and easy, but the moment Jesus does something they don’t understand or like, they want nothing to do with Him. Friend, understand today that it’s not about gathering and celebrating Jesus, it’s about knowing Him and following Him.

Let’s keep reading from Matthew’s Gospel about the week leading up to Jesus’ death and look at His prayer in Gethsemane on Thursday night

Matthew 26:36–46 CSB

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. 44 After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

The Prayer of the King (26:36-46)

In Matthew 6, we read about the model prayer from Jesus Christ. In the Lord’s Prayer we see Jesus implore His followers to to pray that God’s Kingdom come and God’s will be done. Here, in the Garden of Gethsemane we see Jesus practice what He preaches. He prays, if possible, for the cup to pass from Him… Not as He desires, but as God wills. He prays for God’s will to come. Can you imagine the thoughts racing through Jesus’ brain here? We have to be careful whenever we try to put ourselves into Jesus’ shoes because He’s the God-man and we’re just man. But try to think about what’s going on here. Why did Jesus come to the earth? We know that He came to die on the cross.

Isaiah 53:5 CSB

5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.

This is why He came! To be crushed and die for our sins. Paul addresses this in Romans 3

Romans 3:23–25 CSB

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.

Jesus knows what is coming - the cross. What is the big deal about the cross? Not only physical pain and death but the fact that God is going to place His wrath against sin upon His Son. Romans 3:25 shares that Jesus is the propitiation for sin. Our God is a holy God and He is a just God. As a result, God cannot let sin go unpunished because of His justness. Likewise, He cannot stand in the sight of sin because of His holiness. Therefore, His wrath against sin must be satisfied. The cup of God’s wrath must be emptied. This is the cup that Jesus prays for God, if possible, to pass from Him. Jesus was not a coward while praying. He wasn’t primarily afraid of Roman soldiers and the nails and the cross… He was about to face divine wrath against sin. With this moment coming in mere hours, what does Jesus go and do? He does what He often does, He retreats from the large crowd and goes off in a small group/by Himself to pray… To spend time with His Father.

When the stakes were highest, He prayed. When His hours were running out, He prayed. When the pain was in sight, He prayed. Not only did He pray in the typical American way of telling God what to do… He prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.” Think about how often our prayer is “Not your will, God, but mine.” In the pain, in the stress, in the disaster, that’s what Jesus was enduring and He continued to trust and submit to His Father. Friends, this must be our response as well.

DA Carson shares this, “In the first garden “Not your will but mine” changed Paradise to desert and brought man from Eden to Gethsemane. Now “Not my will but yours” brings anguish to the man who prays it but transforms the desert into the kingdom and brings man from Gethsemane to the gates of glory.”

As Jesus prays, His disciples, the men who knew Him the best, the men who spent years with Him, the men who followed Him left and right, in the moment where He needed them were asleep. Have you ever fallen asleep when you’ve prayed? We’ve probably all done that a time or two at night - this isn’t to shame you or anything of the sort… Evaluate your prayer life for a moment, though. Whenever things get hard, how do you pray? Whenever your flesh is weak, how do you pray? Consider the example of Jesus - consider what is coming His way and consider His focus on glorifying God and submitting to God’s will above all else.

Matthew 27:45–54 CSB

45 From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink. 49 But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

The Death of the King (27:45-53)

Jesus entered the city on Sunday to the shouts of celebration and He died on Friday to the shouts of crucifixion. Significance of Jesus’ death - why this matters so much to us today: The One who never sinned, died in the place of sinners, as our substitute. He drank the wrath of God. He came for us. He bled for us. He died for us.

Look at what happened whenever Jesus died:

Darkness came over the land from 12-3 which isn’t normal unless there’s a storm. If light symbolizes God, darkness often symbolizes everything anti-God. This is a sign of God’s judgment.

The veil in the temple is torn from top to bottom

The veil separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple. The veil was 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and it would have taken a significant rift to tear the veil at the bottom… But to tear from the top down and to open up the Holy of Holies demonstrates that all people now have direct access to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:20). Meaning that there is no longer a need for the sacrificial system of old as the preacher of Hebrews will argue in Hebrews 10.

Earthquake, rocks split, dead are raised

Given the darkness and the veil tearing, maybe an earthquake and rocks splitting isn’t that hard to believe… But what about people who were dead being raised and walking around in the city? In the original language, this reads as though the resurrection of the dead and their subsequent appearing to others follows the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, this is not ordinary stuff happening and it coincides with the death of Jesus Christ.

Look at the anguish from Jesus in verse 46 as He shouts out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned/forsaken me?”

The eternal Son of God who never once sinned found Himself on the cross, bearing the weight of our sin, as our substitute, and in that moment He experienced the curse of God as Galatians 3:13 shares

Galatians 3:13 CSB

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.

What does it mean that in His death He was forsaken by God? Does it mean that He was separated from God in substance? No. As Trinitarians, we believe that God the Father, Son and Spirit are 1 in being/substance and 3 in person. So Jesus doesn’t have a different substance than God the Father. Rather, here we see that Jesus accomplished His mission

Matthew 20:28 CSB

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus is put to death. His humanity experiences the full weight of humanities sins. But even in the moment of forsakenness, there is an intimacy as Jesus says, “My God.”

On the cross we see the greatest display of love and justice in human history. We see the love of God as Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:8) and we also see the justice and holiness of God as someone had to pay the price for our sins.

Who Is This King? (27:54)

Some say that Jesus was not a historical person. They claim that He was a mere myth. The accounts in Matthew 21-28 shine a light against such a notion as we find historical events that took place nearly 2000 years ago that have historical relevance and secular support to prove that Jesus truly did exist.

It’s been said that Jesus was either a Liar, a Lunatic, or Lord. On one hand, maybe He deceived thousands of people with a clever presentation and faked His role to perfection to get other to believe a lie. On the other hand, maybe Jesus was a confused person who believed that He was more than He truly was. Maybe He was a lunatic who was confused and amassed a large following. Or maybe he was the Lord that He claimed to be throughout His ministry.

Who do you say that Jesus is? Is He just a nice guy or a person who grants your every wish in life? If that’s who you believe that Jesus is, you’re sorely mistaken. The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The Savior. The Messiah. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He Himself says that He is the only way to the Father in John 14:6. Finally, after His death, we read in verse 54 that people finally realized that He truly was the Son of God.

Whenever I was a student growing up there was an emphasis on knowing what you were going to do whenever you grew up. Now in high schools there are different tracks that you can take in order to graduate with a skill set that will help you become that type of person. In college you go to school and declare a major and pursue a degree in order to do whatever it is that you want to do. Billions of people are trying to discover who they want to be whenever they grow up and they believe that that is the most significant thing in their entire life. The most important question that you can ask yourself is not what you want to be whenever you grow up. It’s not discovering your true self or even about asking how you can best make a living. The most important question you can ask yourself is who are you living for?

Are you living for yourself or are you living for God? Are you trying to do what is right in your own eyes or are you looking instead to what He says is right and wrong? Are you serving yourself or are you serving Him?

In CS Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe we find a conversation between Susan and Mr. Beaver as Mr. Beaver starts talking about the great lion, Aslan. Susan is taken aback and says this, "I thought he was a man. Is he safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

Jesus Christ isn’t safe… But He’s good… He’s the King. Following Jesus Christ won’t be safe… But it’ll be for your God because He’s the King of Kings and He has a perfect plan for your life. Friend, look at what Jesus did for you and me on the cross. Don’t just give Him lip service this Easter season, don’t be confused about who He is… Repent of your sins, trust in Jesus, place your faith in Him, and watch Him transform you into a new creation.