Palm Sunday 2020
Where is our King?
Matthew 21:1–11 (ESV)
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.
8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
This is Palm Sunday!
"Many churches celebrate Palm Sunday, which is always the Sunday before Easter, sometimes churches have children waving palm branches to help them connect to the story. But while this is a triumphal entry, it is Jesus’ first step toward His death.
This is a very important day in history when Jesus began His journey towards the cross.
Yet maybe in the midst of the craziness of the issues we are facing today, Lockdowns, and virus updates, the real meaning of it may, even unintentionally, get missed.
His Word reveals such great truths in every part of this story. Truths that draw us closer towards Christ, reminding us that He alone is King...
Here are 5 things about Palm Sunday that remind us Jesus is King!
1. Goodness and Victory!
8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
· In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness, well-being, grandeur, steadfastness, and victory.
· They were often depicted on coins and important buildings.
· King Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple:
· The people cut palm branches and waved them in the air, laid them out on the ground before Jesus as He rode into the city.
· The palm branch represented goodness and victory and was symbolic of the final victory He would soon fulfill over death.
2. The Prince of Peace!
2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
· Jesus chose to ride in on a donkey, which directly fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zech. 9:9.
· In Biblical times, it was common for kings or important people to arrive by a procession riding on a donkey.
· The donkey symbolized peace, so those who chose to ride them showed that they came with peaceful intentions.
· Jesus even then reminded us that He is the Prince of Peace.
· And like a donkey, Jesus was the beast of burden
o Donkeys are smart, stubborn and purposeful
o They are wise, and gentle, are very protective
· Jesus rode the donkey to show the world He did not come to make war on this world, but to fight for us all where He reigns king, in heaven!
3. They wanted a king!
9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
· Many Christians assume hosanna was always a Jewish word of praise to God, but in the Old Testament—in Psalm 118:25—the root was more like an urgent cry for help that would, in context, lead to the nation prospering and not being destroyed.
· When Jesus came to Jerusalem for His final presentation of Himself to Israel, the expression came easy to Passover crowds.
· In one sense, it was a desperate cry—much like a drowning person would yell out for rescue.
· But it was even more than that; it was an oppressed people’s petition for freedom.
· When the people shouted "Hosanna!" they were hailing Christ as King.
· That word actually means "save now," and though in their own minds they waited for an earthly king
· God had a different way in mind of bringing true salvation to all who would trust in Him.
· The “true” King was right before them
· And they were blinded by the right now need
· God sees things differently than we do
4. And Jesus Wept
Luke 19:41–44 (NLT)
41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.
42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.
43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side.
44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
· Matthew says that Jesus wept for Jerusalem.
· In the midst of the praise of the moment, He knew in His heart that it wouldn't be long that these same people would turn their backs on Him, betray Him, and crucify Him.
· His heart broke with the reality of how much they needed a Savior.
· In the minds of the people Jesus was not the messiah, they wanted an earthly king to save them right now, to wage war on Rome, not save them from themselves, and reconcile them to God the Father!
5. Reminder for us all
10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
· Palm Sunday reminds us that the reign of Christ is far greater than any the mind of man could ever conceive or plan.
· Man looked for someone to fight their battles in the present-day world.
· Yet God had the ultimate plan of sending His Son to fight the final battle over death.
· This is the greatness of why we celebrate this week.
· Because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, we can be set free of death.
But God sent the one true king!
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (ESV)
54 “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will return
Revelation 19:11–14 (ESV)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.
14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.
Jerusalem was looking for a KING, not a Savior!
Right now, more than ever we need a King, a Savior! We are learning that death is inevitable for us all, that our time on this earth is limited! So let's take this week to celebrate!
· Celebrate Jesus' victory over death
· Celebrate the Gift of salvation that Jesus died for
· And let’s share that gift with everyone we know!
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