Perplexed on Palm Sunday

 Perplexed on Palm Sunday

Opening Statement:

Palm Sunday marks the start to “Passion Week”. Palm Sunday is significant in the life of the Christian because it the day that marks the moment that Jesus turns His eyes towards the cross. The cross that He would be affixed, tortured, and murdered. 

Try to think what it must have been like to be there, in that crowd, as Jesus entered Jerusalem. Imagine what it must have been like to be a Jew living under the tyranny and oppression of Roman rule. You have prayed for your entire life that God set you and your people free from the Romans your entire life. You have prayed for a King to crush Caesar. You have asked God to send a mighty army to overthrow Rome. You have begged God for freedom. 

You have been working in the market. You have been hearing rumors of a rabble rousing Rabbi. People say that He can raise the dead, make the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the mute to speak. You have heard that He heals all manner of diseases. He feeds the poor and spends times with people just like you. Sinners. 

There is a stir in the air today in the market. People are talking. They are saying that He is here. Jesus is here. He has come. Suddenly you hear someone yell “Hosanna”. “Lord save”! The singular shout turns to shouts from the crowd. You hear men yelling with delight, women are crying, you see children running with smiles on their faces. Jesus is here. He has come to save us. 

From a distance you see palm branches swaying in the air. The crowd begins to part down the middle. You have never seen this “Jesus” but if He really is a man of power an authority, His coming is going to be quite the sight. As the parade approaches, you see not a conquering a King but one man riding a donkey. Is this really Him? “There is not much to this King”, you think to yourself. Not much to look at here. 

Kings rode on horses.  This King rode on a donkey.  

Kings were adorned in royal apparel.  This King wore the clothes of a humble peasant. 

Kings were accompanied by an entourage of fighting men.  This King rode in alone, followed only by a few friends.  

Kings had many servants. People have told you that this King came not to be served but to serve.

Kings ruled over the people. This King seem to minister to the people.

Kings feasted on sumptuous foods prepared for them.  This King multiplied fish and loaves to feed others.

Kings wore crowns of gold and precious gems.  This King wore the clothing of a common man. A peasant. He was not rich. He was poor.

Kings made loud proclamations and the people were silent.  This King was quiet. He never even raised His hand to the people. In fact there was nothing auspicious or audacious about this King. So “regular” was this King that you might pass Him in the street and not thing anything about it. 

Kings were protected at all costs.  There were not body guards. No armies. No armed elite looking after Him. He was being touched by strangers. Men laid palm branches in front of him, women touched His garments, and He reached out His hands, touching the heads of children as He rode.

Who is this Jesus?

Point:

Brothers and sisters, we know the rest of the story don’t we. Jesus would enter Jerusalem with cheering but it would not last long. The same crowd that welcomed Him with joy will jeer Him in just 6 short days. The same crowd that hailed Him as King will cry out for Him to be crucified. When we read this passage of Scripture and then superimpose it upon the crucifixion story, we see the fickleness of people. The same people that wanted the blessings of Jesus would condemn Him to beatings, bruisings, blistering, and death. 

Point:

Fill in today’s thought, this journey of Jesus will start with joy but it will end with jeers! 

Today’s Thought:

This Journey of Jesus Will Start With Joy But It Will End With Jeers!

Background and Context:

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where he would be crucified five days later. According to the Gospels, Jesus rode into town on a donkey as exuberant crowds hailed him as the Messiah and spread out palm branches and cloaks in his path.

The event commemorated on Palm Sunday is told in all four gospels (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12). 

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, an especially solemn and important week in the Christian calendar that focuses on the last days of Jesus' life and anticipates Easter, the most important holiday in Christianity.

So, let’s read the story about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. I will be reading from God’s Word, Matthew 21:1-11. I will be reading from the New Living Translation. As we read this morning, we will discover 4 important revelations about Jesus. 

Today’s Scripture:

Matthew 21:1-11 NLT

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
    ‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”

10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Point:

At the heart of the story of God and his love for the world, we find the cross. We see Jesus willingly going to his death for the sake of the world. We see an innocent person die the death of a criminal. The question we come back to when looking at the horror of the cross is, “Why did Jesus have to die?” Why was Jesus crucified? Why did Jesus suffer like he did? As you read through the story of the crucifixion of Jesus, you may ask yourself, “Why did Jesus do this for me?” 

Some pastors might say that the reason Jesus died for us was love. He loved us and that’s why He died. Read John 3:16. That’s what it says. God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes will not perish. True. Love for His image bearers, humanity, was the driving force behind the motivation for Jesus’ death. However, I will say that there was something else that drove Jesus to that cross. Something equally as powerful as love. 

Justice! 

Romans 6:23 tells us that there is a wage for our sin, a price for our transgressions. That cost is death. The payment of our sin is death. The only way for sin to be stricken is for something to die. Without Jesus, God’s wrath and anger over our sin would have never been appeased or paid. Without Jesus we are left holding the bag. Without Jesus we bear the full weight of God’s righteous punishment. Our punishment for sin would be an everlasting and eternal endeavor. Never ending. Hell forever. 

But thanks be to Jesus! “For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus the Lord.” 

Palm Sunday puts our sin for sale. It opens the door for Jesus to pay the price for our sin. There can be no cross without Palm Sunday. Jesus knew that He was going to die. He knew that He would have to die in order for God’s justice to be fulfilled. Listen to His words in Luke 13:33. 

“In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—

for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!”

-Jesus in Luke 13:33 NIV

Point:

Clearly there was a plan to Palm Sunday. There are several revelations about Christ that we can garner from the telling of this story. Let’s look at a few of those points this morning. Jesus’ Palm Sunday plan revealed His supremacy. 

Jesus’ Palm Sunday Plan Revealed…

I. Supremacy vs. 2-3

Matthew 21:2-3 NLT

2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

Point:

I love to read about Jesus. I especially love to read of the wonderful miracles He performed. One of the abilities Jesus had that we do not have was the ability to know about things before they would happen. One time Jesus predicted Peter would find a piece of money in the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:24-27). Another time, as Jesus ate with His apostles, He predicted Judas would betray Him (John 13:18-26). He then predicted that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed (John 13:36-38). All of these things happened just as Jesus said they would. Jesus could foretell many things.

Point:

Jesus does it again here in Matthew 21:2-3. He is oddly specific to the disciples about what they are to do, what they will encounter, and how they are to speak to people that they have not even met. Why did Matthew think to include this detail in the telling of the events of Palm Sunday? I think it is pretty clear that Matthew is wanting us to know that Jesus is not just a talented man, a gifted Rabbi, or some Jewish Nostradamus. Matthew is wanting us to know that Jesus is God, that He knows all things, sees all things, and that He is aware of future events. 

Point:

Now why is this significant for you today? Why does it matter that Matthew relay to you and me that Jesus knows that a there is particular donkey in Jerusalem with a very specific owner and that the disciples will have a certain conversation with this owner. This seems like a very small detail. That’s the point. If Jesus knows the smallest of details, He knows the biggest of circumstances. Friends, you can rest easy, nothing that happens in your life ever takes Jesus by surprise. 

Your divorce was a surprise to you, not Jesus. Jesus has you in the palm of His hand and He will protect you.

That job loss came out of no where. Jesus knew about it and has a plan for you. 

That cancer that you just found out about is devastating news. You didn’t see it coming. Jesus did and He will strengthen you. 

You are not forgotten about, Jesus is aware, and He knows. 

Point:

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines supreme as “highest in rank or authority” or “highest in degree or quality.” In essence, there is none better. The supreme of something is its ultimate. Jesus is the ultimate in power, glory, authority, and importance.

Point:

Colossians 1:15-23 is labeled “The Supremacy of Christ” in some Bibles. In this passage, Paul makes it plain that Jesus is over all things. Christ is called “the image of the invisible God” and “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). The word firstborn may seem confusing. It does not imply that Christ was created (as in the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses). Instead, the term firstborn refers to a position of authority. To be “firstborn” was to hold an honored position. Paul immediately goes on to explain Jesus’ role in creation: “For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). This means that Jesus is not created but is Creator. He is God.

Paul goes on to say, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:17-18). Paul highlights multiple areas in which Christ has authority—over creation, over the Church, over death, and finally “in everything.” Christ is both before all things and encompasses all things (“in Him all things hold together”). Therefore, Christ is supreme.

This doctrine is essential to our view of and worship of Christ. The supremacy of Christ affirms that Jesus is fully God. He is not simply a man greater than the rest but is truly above all creation, as only God can be.

Point:

Palm Sunday reveals the supremacy of Christ. He is supreme over every detail of our lives. 

Colossians 1:18 NIV

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Jesus’ Palm Sunday Plan Revealed…

I. Supremacy vs. 2-3

II. Prophecy vs. 4-5

Matthew 21:4-5 NLT

4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
    ‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

Point:

So, in verses 2 and 3, Matthew helps us understand the supremacy of Jesus Christ. He is above time, not just predicting future events, but knowing events to a certainty. Now we see revealed in the story of Palm Sunday the prophecy of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. 

Point:

There are actually two prophecies in the text. The first comes from Isaiah 62:11, “The Lord has sent this message to every land, ’Tell the people of Israel, Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.” The second comes from Zechariah 9:9. “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey-riding on a donkey’s colt.”

I know what you are thinking, “big deal Preacher, so what that Jesus fulfilled 2 prophecies”. “Anyone could do that, it doesn’t prove anything, it’s not that special”.

Taken in a vacuum, I would agree with you. But Jesus did not just fulfill those two prophecies. He fulfilled way more than 2. He fulfilled more than 3. More than 5. More than 10. In fact, Jesus fulfilled 48 specific prophecies specific to Him being the promised Messiah. On top of that, Jesus also fulfilled 324 Old Testament prophecies about His life, His teachings, His miracles, His birth, specific events that took place to Him and His family, and His eventual death on the cross. 

Point:

Mathematician Peter Stoner counted the probability of one person fulfilling even a small number of them. And he concluded, the chance of a single man fulfilling “just” 48 of the prophecies found in the Old Testament would be 1 in 10 to the 157th power! In other words, that is 1 followed by 157 zeros. 

Point:

Friends, make no mistake, the Old Testament points time and time to Jesus. It was prophesied that Jesus would be born of the seed of Abraham, Jesse, and David. The Old Testament says that He would be born of a virgin, that He would be called Emmanuel, and that He would be born in Bethlehem. 

Great persons would come to adore Him, there would be the killing of children in Bethlehem. He would be called out of Egypt. He would be preceded by a forerunner. He would be anointed with the Holy Spirit. He'd be a prophet like Moses, a priest after the order is now Melchizedek. He would be entering into His public ministry in Galilee. He would be entering publicly into Jerusalem and come into the temple. He would live in poverty and meekness, tenderness, and compassion. He would be without the deceit, He'd be full of zeal, preaching with parables, working miracles, bearing reproach. He would be rejected by His own Jewish brethren. The Jews and Gentiles would combined together against Him. He would be betrayed by a friend. His disciples would forsake Him. He would be sold for thirty pieces of silver. At that price would be given for a potter's field.

He would die with intense suffering yet be silent under that suffering. He would be struck on the cheek, His visage would be marred. He would be spit upon and scarred. His hands and His feet would be nailed to the cross. He would be forsaken by God, He would cry out, "My God My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He would be mocked. Gal and vinegar would be offered to Him. His garments would be parted. Lots would be cast for His clothing. He would be numbered among the transgressors. He would intercede for His murderers. He would die but not a bone of His body would be broken. He would be pierced long before crucifixion would even ever be invented. He would be buried with the rich. His flesh would not see corruption. He would be raised from the dead. He would ascend back to the right hand of God the Father.

Why is important that Matthew includes Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy? It is important because it reveals the divinity of Jesus, that He is God, and that we should put our faith in Him. 

Zechariah 9:9 NLT

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt. 

Jesus’ Palm Sunday Plan Revealed…

I. Supremacy vs. 2-3

II. Prophecy vs. 4-5

III. Legitimacy vs. 8-9

Matthew 21: 8-9 NLT

8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”

Point:

Palm Sunday reveals the supremacy of Christ, that we can believe in Him as God because of the hundreds of prophecies He fulfilled, and it also points to Him being the legitimate King not just of the Jews, but the King of the Universe.

Point:

Generally speaking, Americans don’t like Kings. We had a King a long time ago, and we really didn’t care for it. When we hear the word “king” two images are conjured:

The first image is of a distant tyrant across the ocean who mistreats people and over taxes them on their tea. The second image is that of a now meaningless figure head, a historical office held over from the past that no longer welds any real power. 

Point:

But when we speak of Jesus Christ as our King, we are not alluding to either a tyrant or a figurehead—or even a benevolent king who rules for a season. We are instead speaking of a perfect, righteous, and loving King; one who is absolutely sovereign in His authority and eternal in His reign.

In both the Old and New Testaments we find explicit reference to Jesus—the Messiah—as being a king. The angel Gabriel, when he announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, said in Luke 1:32-33:

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

This passage speaks of Jesus being of the lineage of King David, appointed to the throne by God the Father to reign over an eternal kingdom.

Elsewhere Jesus is referred to as the King of the Jews (Matthew 1:2), the King of Israel (Mark 15:32), the “the blessed and only Sovereign” (I Timothy 6:15) the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). Even this term Lord, used so often of Jesus, speaks of His supreme power and authority.

Ephesians 1:20-22 tells us that Jesus is now seated at [God’s] right hand in the heavenly places, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

We have a legitimate King, and His name is Jesus. And He is not just A king but The king—the King of Kings, with authority and dominion over all things.

Point:

If Jesus is our legitimate King, then where is His Kingdom? Good question. His Kingdom is right here, in this room. Look around folks and youll see it. Do you see it? His Kingdom is sitting right next to you. It you were to hold up a mirror, you’d see God’s Kingdom staring right back at you. God’s Kingdom exists in us and we are in the process of bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. 

Do you remember the Lord’s prayer? 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Thy Kingdom come! As His followers, we are waiting with expectant hearts for His Kingdom to arrive but until that day comes, we are God’s Kingdom living in the world, sharing the Good News of the Gospel. 

Point:

So, what is the application for this point? If Jesus is King, and we are in the process of bringing His Kingdom to earth, what does that mean? If Jesus is King, then Stuart is not. If Jesus is in control, then I am not. Everything I do, I do for Him. It means that this world is not my home. It means that I take up daily the cross that Jesus has for me and I boldly proclaim my allegiance to Him above all else. 

Brothers and sisters, have you made Jesus your King? Listen to the words of Mark. 

Mark 15:32 ESV

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

Jesus’ Palm Sunday Plan Revealed…

I. Supremacy vs. 2-3

II. Prophecy vs. 4-5

III. Legitimacy vs. 8-9

IV. Inconsistency vs. 10-11

Matthew 21:10-11 NLT

10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Point:

Palm Sunday revealed the supremacy of Christ, that He came fulfilling prophecy, that He is the legit King of the world, and it also revealed something interesting about the crowd. 2 things actually about the crowd. Palm Sunday reveals that people are incredibly hungry for Jesus. Palm Sunday also reveals that people are very inconsistent on their view of Jesus. 

Point:

Illustration:

A British TV show called "Primeval," surveyed 3,000 people asking them which dead person they would most like to meet.

The #1 pick got 33% of the vote.

So, who did one third of those polled choose?  Jesus.  

When Americans were asked by the Gallup pollsters what historical figure they would most like to spend a day with, nearly two out of three chose Jesus, including 37 percent of those who claimed no church affiliation or religious commitment. Jesus still intrigues folks.

Point:

Jesus is the most interesting, captivating person in history.  Some 2000 years after His death, people would love to talk to Him and ask Him questions.  They would love to be in His presence.  

Isn’t is strange that people who do not even confess Christ as Savior and Lord would still want to talk to Him.  They still want to meet Him.

Point:

The crowd in Jerusalem sure did show up in droves to see Jesus.  After all, why not?  Who wouldn’t want to see the man who had made the deaf to hear, the sick well, the dead alive, the blind to see, the disabled…abled.  Jesus did it all.  Jesus was even able to feed thousands with meager portions.  Jesus was both the magic pill cure all and a free meal ticket.  

Imagine the amount of sick and disabled people who were in that crowd hoping that Jesus would touch them and heal them from their diseases.  Imagine the poor starving children that found themselves in the crowd hoping that Jesus would bless them with their next meal.  Imagine the disappointed Jewish man who was sick of being subservient to Rome thinking that Jesus had finally shown up to set them free.  The crowd wanted Jesus.  They wanted Him now.  

Jesus is the singular human being in history.  

Time itself is split by His birthday.  

There has never been anyone more influential on human history than Jesus Christ.  

Every aspect of our lives have been touched by His fingertips.  

Medicine.  

Education.

Social Policies.

Politics.

Law.

Art.

Even our interpersonal relationships are governed in part by His Words.  Do we not operate under the Golden Rule that was delivered to us by Jesus.  

Matthew 7:12 ESV

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Point:

Friends, Palm Sunday proves that people are hungry for Jesus.  They want Him.  They may not know why, but no one can say that Jesus is not special.  Jesus is unique.  He is unusual.  

Quote:

Even liberal leaning Huffington Post says this about Jesus.  

“He’s a man with a ton of titles — Prince of Peace, Son of God, Shepherd of Souls — but now Jesus has one more: the biggest name in human history. Ever.”

Point:

Whether people like him or detest him, they can't help calling his name. Almost every movie made in America, except the G-rated ones, profanes the holy name of Jesus. Think of it...no pagan, secular script writer can produce a manuscript without including the name of Jesus. People either worship him or curse him, but it seems that no one can ignore him.

Is it any wonder that the book about Jesus continues to be the # 1 best-seller? Jesus had such charisma that people would sit three days straight, without food, just to hear his riveting words. Today no one will wait that long, except maybe for tickets to the Super Bowl or some rock concert.

Jesus was a fascinating, unpredictable character. He displayed a wide range of emotions: compassion for a dying leper, exuberance over his disciples' success, a warm hospitality that callously disregarded racial and cultural boundaries. But he could burn with anger toward cold-hearted legalists. Jesus had inexhaustible patience with individuals but no patience at all with institutions or injustice. No wonder he still mystifies and intrigues people across the world.

John 1:18 ESV

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Point:

For the record, this is not the first time that people misunderstood Jesus.  Not by a long shot.  Go back to Matthew 16:13-14.  

Matthew 16:13-14 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 

People have been trying for centuries to fit Jesus into their anthropomorphic idol that won’t challenge their beliefs or conflict with their politics. The hard part about Jesus is accepting Him the way that He is, not trying to sanitize Him so that He meets the sensibilities of our worldliness. Listen to what James 4:4 says, 

James 4:4 GNT

Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy.

Point:

Even today people cannot seem to quite figure Him out.  For some, it seems that we are trying to make the name of Jesus palatable, or domesticated.  We want to tame Him or make Him look like us, sound like us.  We want to turn Jesus into an American as if Jesus would affiliate Himself with anything other than His own Kingdom.  

For some of us, Jesus is a 1960’s hippy. We have made Him our homeboy. He waves the peace sign and would not hurt anything or anyone.  But, you know, Jesus was not crucified for saying, "Let the little children come unto me." No, some of his most dangerous enemies hated him because he physically assaulted the money-changers in the temple, saying, "Get out of here, you bunch of crooks."

Hollywood’s portrayal of Jesus is often very interesting and misguided.  Jesus has an English accent. Jesus has blue eyes.  For some reason Jesus, although living in the mid east and spent an incredible amount of time outside, looks like a pale weak ghost.  In reality, Jesus was utterly exuberant and frighteningly courageous. He enjoyed parties and loved to hang out with children.

Friends, the crowds were wrong and continue to be wrong about Jesus and the purpose for His arrival to planet Earth. 

Jesus did not come to make us rich, famous, politically viable, successful, happy, or healthy.  His was not a social Gospel.  His teaching was not the Prosperity Gospel.  He did not come to be the spokesperson for the Republican or Democrat Party.  He did not come to be trotted onstage or give a blessing to anyone’s agenda or company’s mission statement.  

Jesus came to establish God’s Kingdom.  He came displaying total obedience to the Father.  He came to seek and save that which was lost.  He came to tell us the truth about salvation. 

John 18:37 ESV

“Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Point:

Friends, the crowd missed it.  Don’t you miss Him. 

Jesus came to do something different, something unexpected.  He came not to bring sanctuary to our sin but salvation to our hearts.  This is a violent act against our humanity.  Our dead souls rebel against Jesus’ life giving breath. Jesus questions the authority of our flesh and this altercation harms our view of our own sovereignty, our own thoughts and our chosen direction for life.  Jesus is a dream shatterer.  He turns our world’s upside-down.  He sets fire to the things that we deem important.  He casts out our idols and re-shifts our priorities.  Jesus sheds light on the lie that stuff, material possessions, earthy connections set us free.  Rather, they are shackles and distractions that turn our eyes away from life towards death.  

Friend, meeting Jesus is the most difficult gut wrenching thing that we can ever do.  It is horrible and beautiful at the same time.  I went back this week and reread some stories of when Jesus met new people.  Each story, Jesus table flipped their lives.  For the person meeting Jesus, it was an experience that they can never forget.  

Jesus met this crowd and He tabled flipped them in a week.  

How many of you still want to meet Him?  Braves ones like me say “yes”.  

Why?  Because Jesus loves us.  He cares for us and shows us mercy.  Praise God.  He wants to know you, have a relationship with you. He wants to enter your heart the same way that He entered Jerusalem, as a King. Why not let Him in today? 

How Will You Pursue Jesus This Palm Sunday?