Triumphant Entry

Palm Sunday

Matthew 21: 1-11 When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. "If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: "SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.'" The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee."

Mark 11: 1-11 As they *approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He *sent two of His disciples, and *said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. "If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you say, 'The Lord has need of it'; and immediately he will send it back here." They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they *untied it. Some of the bystanders were saying to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission. They *brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

Luke 19:28-40 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. "If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say, 'The Lord has need of it.'" So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said, "The Lord has need of it." They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: "BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"

John 12:12-19 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him."

John chapter 12 we start the final week of Jesus’ life on earth, there are 21 chapters in John, so almost half of John is dedicated to the last week. 2/5 of Matthew, 3/5 of Mark, and 1/3 of Luke is devoted to that final week. That tells us the importance the Gospel writers put on what is called the Passion week. 89 chapters total in the four Gospels, 4 chapters are about the first 30 years of Jesus’ life, 85 cover the last 3 and 1/2 years and out of those, 29 cover the last week. We begin the week with an event that is recorded in all four Gospels,

John 12:12-19 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel." Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him."

Pray

It is hard to have a Palm Sunday sermon, the triumph entry., without the donkey. Jesus rides in on a colt of a donkey., in the fashion of a King wanting peace. It occurs on the 10 day of Nisan, it was the day on which the Jewish families would select the Lamb to be sacrificed on the 14th day of Nisan. Jesus is riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, presenting Himself to the nation.

By our calendar it would be April 6 32 AD.

As wok look at this donkey ride, I would like to point to three thoughts that come to mind.

I. Jesus is more appealing than religion John 12:12-13 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.

A. Who is the crowd - religious people here for a religious festival, the passover. There were three festivals that the Jews were expected to attend, if they lived within a certain distance, Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

This was of course the Passover, it marked the exodus of the people from Egypt and was a turning point in their history. But it was the same every year, the same route to get to Jerusalem, the same sacrifices, the same rituals, the same prayers.

B. The people ran to Jesus, He was a breath of fresh air, and what did they say, Hosanna - Please God save us now, give us success They were looking for something that religion could not give them

C. Mark 12: 37 b and the common people heard Him gladly (NKJV) The large crowd listened to him with delight. (NIV)

D. They had heard heard Him tell parable after parable, story after story and even had conflict with the religious elite, and they listened to Him gladly. Jesus was more appealing than the hollowed religion.

E. People today want their religion real, authentic, vibrant. They do not want makeshift ceremonial stuff. Matthew 15: 1-9 Then some Pharisees and scribes *came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? "For God said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.' "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God," he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'" That is why the tax collectors, prostitutes and murderers found it easy to follow Jesus. His words of love and forgiveness went to the low people of society, while His scathing words wen to the religious people. Matthew 23 he says several times, whoa to you hypocrites, and the common people heard Him gladly

F. Why the appeal, Why Jesus?

Religion emphasizes the outward, Jesus the inward, he was always more concerned with what was going on in the persons heart.

Religion is about what you can’t do, Jesus is about what you can do. If you spend a life not doing things, then you did not do what needed done.

Religion is about putting up barriers, Jesus tears them down. The temple, a court for genitals, for women, for Jews, for priests - religion is good at keeping people out, Jesus says, xcome unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden.

Religion you have to work your way, Jesus says He is the way

II. Scripture is more dependable than opinion John 12:14-16 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY'S COLT." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

A. If the internet states it, it must be true. There are a lot of opinions out there, and it seems most people have their opinion of who Jesus is,

Mark 8:27-28 Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, "Who do people say that I am?" They told Him, saying, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets."

John actually quotes to verses from the old testament saying who Jesus is - one is blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord Psalms 118 :26 and Zechariah 9:9 riding on a donkey

B. if the Bible states it, then it is true

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

351 prophesies fulfilled by Jesus

C. The people, including the disciples, as we know were prepared for a physical King, but Zechariah tells us He will be a spiritual king, the disciples did not realize this until Jesus was glorified, that was at the point of resurrection.

III. Following is more important than observation John 12:16-19 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him."

A. Four groups

Disciples - form vs 16, They did not get it that day, but continued to follow, they were eventual able to understand.

Those that were witnessed to the resurrection of Lazarus

Those that heard about the resurrection of Lazarus.

Pharisees

B. Observe

It is good to observe, or in our case read

Observation without action is useless, knowledge without wisdom, at some point you have to follow Jesus. Ephesians 5 says we are to be imitators, disciples of God

Bob Fernu

Conclusion

The Donkey

By G. K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked

And figs grew upon thorn,

Some moment when the moon was blood

Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry

And ears like errant wings,

The devil’s walking parody

On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,

Of ancient crooked will;

Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,

I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:

There was a shout about my ears,

And palms before my feet.

The same God that engineered this Donkey, the times and dates of these events that Jesus fulfilled, is capable of dealing with your life, your struggles, your problems. We have oppotunity to observe God, through life around us and through the Bible, is He worth following?