MESSAGES
Something many people enjoy doing is to watch a parade pass by. Every New Year's Day I sit with my wife and watch the Rose Parade. It's not that I enjoy it that much, but actually I have ulterior motives. I figure if I sit down and watch the Rose Parade with her in the morning, then she won't fuss when I sit down later and watch the Rose Bowl Game in the afternoon.
I want to talk about a parade that took place some 2000 years ago, only this parade was not filled with all sorts of beautiful floats and marching bands. In fact, this parade had only one float, and it wasn't power-driven. Instead it was donkey-driven. It wasn't filled with all kinds of famous people, but with only one Man who most people did not even know. This parade didn't end with a football game. Rather it would end with a trial and a crucifixion.
This particular parade occurred on what is known as Palm Sunday. On this day we commemorate our Lord's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem as He came to partake of the Passover Feast that was to take place just a few days later.
Palm Sunday was a very meaningful event in the life of Jesus. In fact, it is vitally important to His messianic mission. Up until this time, Jesus had refused to allow any public acknowledgement of His being the Messiah. He had always conducted His ministry outside of Jerusalem because He wanted to avoid intensifying any further conflict with the Jewish religious leaders. Now however, it was time to make Himself known.
Luke's account of the story is as follows (19:28-41). "When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose him and bring him here. And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'"
So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of him." Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.
And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: " 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
"And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it…"
When a Roman general was victorious on foreign soil killing at least 5000 of the enemy and gaining new territory, he was given a "Roman Triumph" when he returned to the city. It would be equivalent to today's Ticker-Tape Parade, only with much more splendor. Compared to the Roman Triumph or a Ticker-tape Parade, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was nothing. And yet, it meant everything.
Perhaps you're wondering to yourself, what significance this event has that would justify including it on the Christian calendar? Why is this day so noteworthy?
As I mentioned earlier, Jesus was coming to Jerusalem in order to partake of the Passover with the Jews as they remembered how God had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. However, this Passover would be different. This Passover would be the "Passover of all Passovers" for Jesus Himself would soon become the Passover Lamb as He allowed Himself to be sacrificed for the sin of all the world.
A few days earlier many of these people had observed Jesus perform a remarkable miracle as He raised Lazarus from the dead after being dead for four days. The word of this miracle spread far and wide, and therefore the people wanted to get a glimpse of this Man. Many were wondering if He might be the Messiah.
As Jesus traveled along the road we read that garments were being spread in the way, and that branches were broken off nearby trees and then strewn on the path. In just a few days Jesus would shed His own garment as He allowed His body to hang broken on a tree as He paid the penalty for the sins of these people.
Think with me for a moment. Just as these people were willing to give their garments to the Lord, so we as His children should gladly be willing to give to His service whatever He has need of, whatever it might be. We should gladly throw down before Him that which is our best. Be it our possessions, our time, our talents, in every area of our life. Nothing is too costly for the pathway of our King.
The combination of the approaching Passover feast, and the coming of who they thought would be their new king to deliver them from the Roman authority created a festive mood as the procession took place. People broke out in song—Hosanna! Matthew tells us they sang, 'Hosanna (save now; a cry for help) to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!"
Little did they know He would first come as a suffering servant. Little did they know that the only crown their King would wear would be, not a crown of gold, but a crown of thorns.
I'm certain there were many weeping that wiped away their tears that day, and there were many people in mourning who began to rejoice, once again, when they saw this "One Man Parade" coming their way. Sadly, when they realized that Jesus' agenda was different from theirs, they soon stopped shouting—Hosanna. And within days many began shouting—Crucify Him!
Things haven't changed much since that day. We still see people who are willing to stand along the parade path rejoicing as Jesus passes by, but they're not willing to stand at the foot of His cross when things don't go their way.
As we read of this procession we see that it went from Bethany, over the Mt. of Olives, through the Kidrom Valley, and into the city of Jerusalem, a distance of less than two miles. Luke tells us that as Jesus drew near to the city He wept over it (vs. 41). Why? Luke tells us that Jesus, as He looked down upon the city, said, "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation" (19:43-44; emphasis added). Fifty years later that very prophecy came to pass.
Jesus was weeping out of sorrow and sympathy for this city because He knew one day it would be destroyed because the people would not accept Him, or His message. While the people were crying out—Hosanna, Jesus was weeping. Jesus Christ the Deliverer was weeping over the city that He knew was too late to deliver. Jesus Christ the King, was prophesying the utter ruin of the nation, which He came to rule.
Here was Jerusalem the city of peace, and here were the people hoping Jesus would bring them the peace they needed. And here was Jesus telling them it wouldn't happen. At least not now, and not the way they thought. Jesus wept because He saw what lay ahead for the nation and people He loved. He saw war, and suffering, and destruction, and a scattered people.
As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem the streets were opened to Him. Like a King He ascended to His palace and took possession of it. Only His palace was not a castle, rather it was a temple. And the first thing He did there was, He cleaned it out.
Matthew tells us, "Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves" (21:12; emphasis added). The religious leaders were using the house of God for political and financial gain.
Today we see many churches more involved in mobilizing for political causes than for spiritual. They love to shout about changing the government and changing the economy, but they remain silent when it comes to preaching about changing a heart. They would rather teach a "social" gospel than a "saving" gospel. They have no love for Jesus Christ, and therefore no desire to follow Him and be obedient to His Word. They would rather please men than please God. These are the types of churches where Christ wants to clean house on.
The remainder of my message will be spent focusing on what I believe are the two most important things of this story. First, how Jesus came on this Palm Sunday. Second, why Jesus came on this Palm Sunday.
How did Jesus enter Jerusalem on this Palm Sunday? He came riding a donkey. Zechariah tells us, "Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey" (9:9; emphasis added).
The fact that He rode a donkey is very significant to the story because it demonstrates many things in the life of Christ. Let me share with you four facts about donkeys.
First, donkeys are humble animals, or at least back then they were. According to Rabbinical teaching, when Messiah came He would ride into Jerusalem on a white horse. But here came the King of kings, not in a chariot and not on a charging stallion. Instead He rode in on a donkey. An animal that is approachable.
At this time Israel wasn't ready for Messiah the King, so Jesus would ride a donkey, showing Himself coming as a servant. Paul says of Jesus, "…who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8; emphasis added).
Jesus said, "…the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve…" (Matthew 20:28). How did He serve? "By giving His life as a ransom for many."
There will be a day when Jesus will come as King riding His white horse, and judging all the earth. That day will be at His Second Coming (Revelation 19).
Second, the fact that the donkey had never been ridden before shows the omnipotence of Jesus over the natural world.
Third, a donkey is a burden bearing animal. They were used, not for status, but for service. Not for battle, but for burdens. The donkey was used to carry the load, or the burdens of the person. Think with me here a moment. Jesus came to bear our load, and to carry our burdens. Jesus says, "Come to Me all who are burdened and heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Whatever is weighing us down from following Christ and being obedient to Him, He wants us to give it over to Him. He wants to take the weight off our shoulders, and He wants us to put the weight on His. Don't allow the weight of a relationship, or a job, or money, or sin of any kind, to keep you from following Jesus. You need to give it over to Him, and let Him carry it for you.
Fourth, the donkey was borrowed. Everything Jesus had on earth was borrowed, from the manger He was born in, to the tomb He was buried in.
This King who was soon be crucified would be stripped of His clothes, and would die totally exposed and naked. Though Jesus was poor on this earth, He is King of this world, and of all creation. Someone said, "He owned all things but possessed nothing. We possess all things but own nothing."
As we can see, the choice of this animal was just a little detail in this story. But it was a perfect choice for it was beautiful description of our King.
Why did Jesus Christ enter Jerusalem as He did on this Palm Sunday? Let me give you four reasons.
First, Jesus entered Jerusalem in order to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. Zechariah says, "Rejoice, greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey" (9:9; emphasis added). Jesus was announcing that He was the coming Messiah.
Second, Jesus entered Jerusalem in order to die. He wasn't entering Jerusalem in order to win people over, but rather to prod the religious leaders into action and actually precipitate the events that He knew awaited Him.
Jesus' purpose for living was for dying. Jesus Himself said, "I lay down my life…No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself" (John 10:17-18). Mark tells us that Jesus, "began to teach them (His disciples) that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priest and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again" (8:31).
Jesus their King was first a "Servant-King" riding in this parade to keep His appointment with death by first suffering on the cross.
Third, Jesus entered Jerusalem in order to become our Passover lamb. As the lambs were being taken up to Jerusalem, Jesus entered the city openly. As the bleating lambs were being inspected for spot and blemish prior to being sacrificed for the sins of a nation, in came the Lamb of God who Himself would be inspected as the Jews would hurl all kinds of questions at Him. Hoping to ensnare Him and find fault in Him.
After all the questioning, the verdict was given by Pilate, "I find no fault in this Man" (Luke 23:4; emphasis added). Jesus Christ was indeed the Passover Lamb, and He passed the inspection of His enemies perfectly. He was indeed, "The Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Think with me for a moment. Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God had to have been surrounded by literally thousands of little lambs as He came through the streets of Jerusalem. Jesus was presenting Himself to the people at the very time the Jews were selecting a Passover lamb for themselves.
As always, everything God does He does perfectly and at just the right time. Four days later at the very moment the little lambs were being slain for the Passover, so was God's Lamb. Tragically, the people as they were searching for their own Passover lamb were passing by God's Passover Lamb.
Things haven't changed any since then. People today are still trying to find their own lamb that will help them deal with the sin issue in their life. They choose the lamb of religion, the lamb of morality, the lamb of good works, and any other lamb they can think of. The Bible says, "There's a way (lamb) that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
Fourth, Jesus entered Jerusalem in order to bring peace. The donkey was a symbol of peace. In peacetime the rulers would often ride donkeys, while horses were reserved for wartime. Jesus by coming on this humble mode of transport makes it clear that He was coming as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and not as a warrior to defeat Rome as the Jews had hoped.
Jesus came to bring peace with God. The Bible says, "…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1; emphasis added). Peace is something that everyone is seeking. We are all looking for world peace and inner peace. But true peace doesn't come by signing a Peace Treaty in ink. It comes by signing our life over to the Lamb of God in blood. His blood!
The Bible says, "…having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20). Only as our sin is covered by the blood of the Lamb do we receive the peace of God. And let me also say that peace only comes as we meet Christ at the cross. Not at the manger, not in a parade on the streets of Jerusalem, not in the temple, not in the garden, not in a book, not even in a church. Peace only comes when we meet Jesus at the cross, and only the cross.
For it was there at the cross that Jesus, the spotless and unblemished "Passover Lamb of God" sacrificed Himself as He shed His blood for you. And in doing so He has provided the way that you and I can have peace with God.
We are only able to experience that peace with God as we recognize that through Christ we receive the forgiveness of sin and the assurance of heaven when we die. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
If we reject Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God and the Prince of Peace, we will one day have to face Him as Judge as He sentences us to eternal separation from Him instead of eternal life with Him.
The problem with the Palm Sunday crowd was one of misunderstanding. They failed to understand who Jesus was. They failed to understand His claims for Himself. They failed to understand why He was coming. They failed to understand what He was doing. They thought Christ was someone He wasn't because they didn't know who He was.
Just as the people did not know the time of God's visitation then, it's no different today. Just as they were ignorant of the Scripture then, it's no different today. People today will look at Jesus as a good Man or a good Teacher, but they fail to see Him as the true Lamb of God who has come to take away the sin of the world.
Do you understand who Jesus Christ is? He is the Savior of the world who loves you, and who has demonstrated His love for you by becoming the sacrificial Lamb of God.
He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday some 2000 years ago with the specific purpose of going to the cross of Calvary and paying the penalty for our sin—death. Why? That we might receive the forgiveness of God and the assurance of heaven as we place our faith and trust in Him. Have you done that? If not, perhaps it's time you did.
What must you? The Bible says you need to recognize the fact that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. You then need to confess your sin before God, and repent of your ways. Lastly you need to, by faith, invite Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord.
As you do, the Bible says you become a child of God, that you have your sins forgiven, and that you have the assurance of heaven. I pray you'll make the decision to follow Jesus, the true Lamb of God, and that you'll walk with Him from this day forward.
God bless you,
Pastor Steve |
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Attention Juanita
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