Palm Sunday Sermon

Sermon Series: PALM (PASSION) SUNDAY 2022

Sermon: THIS IS JESUS

Matthew 21:2-11/ John 12:14-16

Date: 10 April 2022

MATTHEW: 21:1(NIV) As they approached Jerusalem and came to

Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,

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.

3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he

will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them

for Jesus to sit on.

8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut

branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]

“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who

is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

JOHN 12:14-16

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;

see, your king is coming,

seated on a donkey’s colt.”[f]

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.

2

INTRODUCTION. Today is a day of remembrance. Today is a day of

celebration.

Today is a day of great connections.

As I reflected on this passage of Scripture of the crowds, I was reminded

of my wedding day a day I remember, a day I celebrate, and a day I made a

great connection

Picture it, No Sicily 2002, but South Hill, 2002.

Sun shining, sparkling light upon the mundane shores of Earth.

Church packed from the front to back. Families and friends gathered.

Two preachers facing the crowd. Yet, there I was standing next to the

preachers waiting for my bride.

Groomsmen cheering me on, Bridesmaids waiting in anticipation.

As Kenneth Spruill sang, Wedding Song by John P. Kee, The door

opened, and my eyes saw something special, amazing, and lovely.

I saw my bride making her down the aisle. Filled with emotion, I

had my eyes fixed on her beauty. I could hear those in the room gasping

for air.

Smiles brighter than the rainbow adorned their faces.

As we stood next to each other, said our vows, and embraced in a kiss,

we faced the crowd.

Echoing across the church, we heard the preacher make a public

announcement. He stated I present unto you. THIS IS Mr. and Mrs. Curtis

Lamont Thomas.

We heard the congregation cheered.

We held each other’s hand tightly, and jumped the broom, sealing our

union and life together as a couple.

3

As we walked down the aisle, people greeted us.

People were clapping. People were in jubilee and exuberant joy.

They celebrated our love.

They celebrate who we were as a couple. They celebrated what would

be, could be, and yet to come.

They could have been anywhere else, but they chose to come and

celebrate this moment with us.

I believe they knew that our Lord and Saviour could give us a future that

“Eyes Hath Not Seen, Ears Hath Not Heard, Neither entered into the heart

of man of What God Had in Store for Us.” I think this is a reason why some

celebrated.

Yes, you and I know how to celebrate.

When a baby is about to come into the world, we have a celebration

called, a Baby Shower, now called Gender Reveal.

Even in November, we gather family and friends, cut a Turkey, sin by

eating too much pork, and lay on the couch saying you full, celebration.

Turning a year older puts you in a mood of celebrating life, celebrating

you and your day.

You travel, go out to eat, have a birthday cake, blow out candles,

and hopefully, thank God for allowing you to celebrate another year

around the Sun.

Celebration.

Coming up on July 4, it’ll be a time when this country will celebrate its

independence.

Fireworks exploded, songs of freedom filled the atmosphere, and the

American Flag unfurl to every breeze, From dawn to setting sun.

4

It is a time of celebration. Have you ever celebrated anything?

But I come to let you know that today, is no different.

Today, the Son of the Living God is to be celebrated and

championed as a King, Christ, and Redeemer.

Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday is a reminder to the nation and world that

we have a risen Saviour that redeemed us from the grip of hell, death, and the

grave.

He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

While today is a day of celebration, my emotions are balanced with

sadness.

Ukrainians stare into the eyes of death day to day; thousands of

children starve in war-torn nations, and many do not know Christ as

their Savior.

With busy schedules, prior commitments, and demonic distractions,

many people celebrate occasions, but not Jesus.

Holidays, Birthdays, Graduations, and Anniversaries. Many celebrate

without thanking Jesus or thinking about Jesus Christ.

Yes, We ought to celebrate those things, but nothing should trump

or triumph over the celebration of Jesus Christ.

Many of you all watched the Grammys and Oscars. You hear many will

thank God, but rarely will you hear anyone thank Jesus Christ.

You and I know when we say God, we are talking about God the Father,

God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Triune God.

But, the world does not think like that. The world has universal

thinking about a higher being named God, but when you mention Jesus

(God the Son), they want you to be silent.

5

Many don’t’ believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Many don’t believe in

Jesus. Many don’t want to hear the name of Jesus.

Like the Disney movie Encanto(Spanish for Charm), they have a song

that says, “we do not talk about Bruno, No No NO, “We don’t talk about

Bruno, No, No, NO. Why because he has a gift of the future.

HE tells the truth. People did not want to hear the truth, but he is vital to

carry on the family.

Most people do not want you to talk about Jesus, No, No, No.

Yet, I know the Word says, that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and Life and

No Man, Woman, Boy, or Girl will come to the Father unless it is through Jesus

Christ.

For the Bible says in Phil 2:9, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted

him and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name

of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,

and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

So today, we will talk about Jesus, Yes, Yes, Yes.

We will celebrate and champion him. He is worthy to be praised.

INTO THE TEXT| So in this text, as Matthew puts pen to paper, quill to

parchment, we find that a Colt was Untied, Crowds are cheering, and Christ is

being Celebrated and Championed.

After Lazarus was raised from the dead, blinded eyes were opened,

and the lame began to walk, we find out that a Colt was Untied, Crowds

are cheering, and Christ is being Celebrated and Championed.

6

After the 5000 were fed, after many Demons fled, and the Disciples were

given power, we find out that a Colt was Untied, Crowds are cheering, and

Christ is being Celebrated and Championed.

After dinner with Martha, after Mary’s act of love by cleaning Jesus'

feet with expensive perfume, and after Judas' attitude toward Mary, we

find out that a Colt was Untied, Crowds are cheering, and Christ is being

Celebrated and Championed.

I am moving on, but I want you all to get it. A Colt was Untied, Crowds

are cheering, and Christ is being Celebrated and Championed.

POINT (1)A COLT WAS UNTIED. Jesus told his disciples in verse 2 of Matthew

21, “ “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!”

Untie the Colt//that has never been ridden before, never had a burden,

never had an opportunity to face trials.

The Colt is a humble creature, able to carry heavy loads, and by

tradition. When it is scared, unlike horses, the donkey does not run away.

Remember that Jesus is a King. It seems counter-culture for kings

and high officials to ride on donkeys. But in the Bible, the donkey

represented peace and not war from the days of kings.

If the king rode in on a horse, it meant that he was bringing the war to

the lands, but if he rode a donkey, it means that peace is being providentially

assigned to you presently. Whatever//had you in bondage, whatever//

had you on the run, whatever// has shaken you, the king says, untie the colt,

but I am bringing peace to you.

7

There are some things that have tricked, trampled, and tied us up.

They have bamboozled you and you are confounded by what you are

going through.

We find out that sickness and grief visited our bodies and home. People

tell you to praise your way through it and you will be alright.

We throw oil on it, get hands laid on us, and ask all to pray for us.

They tell you to Praise Him at church and it’ll go away. It’ll be

alright.

Yet, we have allowed praise to become an opioid to mask and cover

up the real issue.

We become so addicted to praise that we go back to the same place of

struggle.

Tell a grieving mother to praise her way through it. Tell someone who

experiences a divorce to praise their way through it.

Tell someone who has been diagnosed with cancer to praise their way

through it.

WE TELL PEOPLE TO DO THE THINGS WE ARE NOT WILLING TO DO

OURSELVES.

I am not saying, not to praise, but I am saying that your praise

should be rooted in the Word of God.

Have you// prayed about it? Do you// have a true relationship

with Christ? I am not talking about a superficial one THAT HAS A little

prayer here and there//VISTING THE CHURCH THAT YOU ARE A

MEMBER OF//PUT COINS IN THE OFFERING CALL IT CHRISTIAN.

You need a relationship with Christ.

8

You will experience life's struggles AND LIFE HAS A WAY OF KNOCKING

THE LIFE OUT OF YOU AND TIE YOU UP!

When you fail to have a relationship with Jesus, struggles seem

unrelenting and you feel tied up.

Listening to the News //will tie you up.

Believing you need their praise and affirmation// will tie you up;

Thinking that you cannot be happy when they leave, will tie you up;

Thinking your sins cannot be forgiven, will tie you up;

Thinking that you don’t have the education to serve, will tie you up.

Yet, I have good news, Christ has risen// Jesus redeemed you// and He

is King that reigns, so that you can be released from what tied you up.

He has declared that you are released. The devil is a liar. You are

made whole. You are the head and not the tail.

You need to declare today that I am free. Bought with a Price. He

declared that you were free when you were in your mother’s womb.

You were broken, but you still wear a smile.

You got high blood pressure, but you still put up with them that did you

wrong.

My steps may be short and my eyesight might be the best, but I still

lift up my eyes unto the Hills from where my help comes.

All of my help comes from the Lord. <4 SEC PAUSE>

REMINDER | BROTHERS, AND SISTERS OF CALVARY, DID I MENTION…A

Colt was Untied, Crowds are cheering, and Christ is being Celebrated and

Championed.

POINT (2) |CROWDS ARE CHEERING. In verse 9 of Matthew 21, it reads, “And

the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna

9

to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;

Hosanna in the highest.”

Can you see it? Pom Poms, Cheering and Waving of Palm Leaves. I can

hear the crowd now, Go, Jesus, Go, Jesus, Go. Go, Jesus, Go, Jesus, Go!

As all stood to watch on the side, some going in front of and some

following, they were all singing.

What is amazing to me is that they are unified, in a moment of

Koinonia, One strong body of believers, and they were all of one accord.

They were saying Hosanna. This arrested me because we are so used to

hearing Hallelujah, but here we find out in the text, that they shouted,

Hosanna, what is the difference.

Let's Do Some Work!

Hallelujah literally means Praise Yahweh. Praise Yahweh. (YHWH).

Yahweh is the personal name of God. It signifies intimacy with God.

When you call someone by their name instead of title, it shows a

connection with them.

HALLELUJAH! It is the shout of thanksgiving. A shout of praise.

When you declare victory over the enemy, you shout Hallelujah!

But the People did not shout Praise Yahweh,

They shouted, HOSANNA.

Hosanna literally means, “Save, We Pray.” “Save, We Pray.”.

In Jewish liturgy, this word is used during a cycle of prayers sung during

the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot).

The feast of Tabernacles (Booths) is one of 3 celebrations.

PASSOVER(Start of the Exodus from Egypt, 8-day celebration),

PENTECOST (7 weeks and 1 day after Passover, Exodus and Mt. Sinai,

10

50th day, Gen 19), AND TABERNACLES (week-long, palm branches,

rejoicing, for priests, male, female, widows, orphan, slaves, all)

The purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles was to remember the giving of

the Law and to renew the covenant made between Israel and the LORD.

Once a day during the feast of Tabernacles, worshipers would walk

around the altar and repeat Psalm 118:25, “Save now, we beseech thee, O

Lord! We beseech thee, O Lord, send now prosperity!” (Psa 118:25)

On the seventh day, it was repeated seven times; this seventh day is

called the Hoshana Rabbah.

“The hosanna ritual //combines the ideas //of praising// realized

victories over the nations //and //sympathetic prayers for salvation.”

They wanted the victory of their oppressors called political parties, I

mean the Romans.

During the Feast of Tabernacles, when the priest reached a certain point

in the ceremony, a trumpet sounded and all the people waved branches of

palms, myrtles, willows, etc.

Because this word was used during a time of celebration, it become

associated with rejoicing, as evidenced by its use in the Gospels.

Beloved, follow me. This was not during the feast of Tabernacles that

they shouted Hosanna, but during Passover Season it was a time of

celebration.

They shout Hosanna to the King who had come to Save Them on this

Palm Sunday Celebration.

A Week later They would shout Hallelujah to the Risen Savior.

Yet, between Hosanna and Hallelujah, there was a Good Friday.

11

One day they saw Jesus hanging on the cross. A day when they thought

it was over for them. Today, I think you and I can relate.

We live between a Hosanna and a Hallelujah.

Maybe you are facing a trial, tribulation, or going through a season

where no one wants to support you, trust you, or “study” you.

You struggle mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Yes, you too may Cry Out, Hosanna, Save Me, I Pray!

Yes, this might be your plea. Yes, this might be your prayer. Save Us

Now!

Yes, I come to let you know that if you are having a Hosanna moment,

where you need God to show up, to Save You, to Rescue You, be of good cheer

because Sunday is coming. A Hallelujah is Coming. He will Save You.

You do not have to conform to their expectations of you.

You have the ability to rise through challenges, wade through trials, and

push through your pain. The Bible says, Weeping May Endure for a Night,

but Joy comes into the morning.

You too can Cheer for Jesus! He is your Hosanna. He will save You.

He may not come when you want He is on Time;

He is a bridge over troubled water;

A doctor in a Sickroom;

He is a waymaker; a Heart Regulator.

A lawyer in a Courtroom;

My lily of the valley, the Bright and Morning Star.

My God will Save You! <4sec paus>

12

REMINDER | BROTHERS, AND SISTERS OF CALVARY, DID I MENTION…A

Colt was Untied, Crowds are cheering, and Christ is being Celebrated and

Championed.

POINT (3) CHRIST IS BEING CELEBRATED AND CHAMPIONED

In verse 9, we have the crowds cheering Jesus on, but someone had to

ask the real question in verse 10. It states, “10 When Jesus entered

Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”11 The

crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” I

like this conversation because it was a CROWD ANSWERING A CROWD. IT

WAS NOT ONE PERSON, BUT THERE WERE SOME CHURCH FOLKS WHO

KNEW WHO WAS COMING. The World asked the question, the Church gave

the Answer.

It is in this man Name Jesus who will do it for us. Can you hear the

crowd?

I Baritmatious and the woman with the issue of Blood. Saying, This is

Jesus.

I love the boldness of this crowd. They did not care who was listening,

but they proclaim it is Jesus!

ILLUSTRATION: Corrie ten Boom, a survivor of a Nazi German concentration

camp who helped people to live, was once asked if it were difficult for her to

remain humble.

Her reply was simple. “When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm

Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches

and throwing garments onto the road, and singing praises, do you think

that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of

that was for him?”

13

She continued, “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in

his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”

That is why we have hope. He has already done it.

Everything that God will do for you has already been declared. He

knows your ending from the beginning.

For the Bible says, I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper

you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

THE CHURCH CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE SILENT ABOUT JESUS!

THEN WHY IT IS HARD FOR ME TO KNOW THIS? IT IS BECAUSE YOU

HAVE TO KNOW JESUS AND ABOUT HIM.

YOU CAN’T MAKE ME DOUBT HIM. I KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT HIM.

THE CROWD ASK WHO WAS HE? THE RESPONSE WAS THIS IS JESUS!

IF YOU DON’T KNOW, THEN LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS JESUS.

His name is not Senator, or Governor. It is not General or Commander in

Chief.

He does not have the Handle called Hog Head, or the Nickname of

Pookey.

HE IS NOT CALLED THE BIG GUY IN THE SKY OR THE MAN UPSTAIRS!

BUT HIS NAME IS JESUS. CALL HIS NAME

THIS IS JESUS!

For the Bible says in John 1, In the beginning, was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything

made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

14

John 1:14 states the Word became flesh and dealt Among Us.

THIS IS JESUS.

The one who can give you everlasting life, for Bible says in

John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have

everlasting life.

THIS IS JESUS!

The Gentiles misused him. The Pharisees mislabeled him; Since they

don’t know me, Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew 16, Who Do You Say I

am. Peter rose up and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

DO YOU KNOW THIS JESUS?

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the

Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?

there is no searching for his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he

increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall

utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall

mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they

shall walk, and not faint.

THIS IS JESUS. WHO IS THIS? No name was mentioned of them who

asked the question or the names of them that responded to the question, but

there was a name given to answer the question.

THE NAME WAS JESUS! HE WAS THE One that my grandmama

taught me about. When he spoke, the light begin to flash, the

15

thunder begin to roll, the deer began to DANCE, the SHARKS begin to

swim, and the Eagles began to elevate.

It was the King of Glory who was being Celebrated and championed.

THERE IS OLE SONG THAT SAYS, IT JESUS, Oh it is Jesus, Yes it is

Jesus, It is Jesus In my Soul, For I Have Touch the Hem of His Garment,

and His Blood Has Made Me Whole.

DO YOU KNOW THIS JESUS!

Kool and the Gang Celebrating Good Times!

Celebrate good times, come on! (Let's celebrate)

There's a party goin' on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times, and your laughter too

We gonna celebrate your party with you

Come on now

Celebration

Let's all celebrate and have a good time

Celebration

We gonna celebrate and have a good time

It's time to come together

It's up to you, what's your pleasure

Everyone around the world

Come on!

Yahoo! It's a celebration

Yahoo!

(stop here)

16

Celebrate good times, come on!

It's a celebration

Celebrate good times, come on!

Let's celebrate