Sermon Tone Analysis

Our inadequacy release God’s sufficiency

Don’t know what you don’t know

But when you realize you don’t know… and allow yourself to be taught

There is a

It’s time

Finally Jesus arrives at Jerusalem… Palm Sunday… it’s been a long time coming… from now until Easter we will be walking through Luke’s record of the final week of Jesus’s life.

But if you have been a part of the church for very long at all, you know that the story of Easter begins right here with a text that all four gospels record as Jesus’s Triumphant entry, But the reality is, it’s not that triumphant which we will see in a moment.

Passover… Town filled with thousands of visitors… 4th of July in Rock Hall

But let’s get back into the text...

The parade fit for a King

Spoiler alert… Luke gives it up right here

I don’t think it is accidental that these two towns are mentioned here.

The fig tree was always representative of God’s blessing on Israel.

One of the covenant promises God made with Israel was that when they were obedient to Him, he would bring them peace and prosperity.

This was symbolized by “each man having his own vine and his own fig tree” (1 Kings 4:25; cf. also Hos 9:10; Isa 36:16).

Jesus has just told a parable about how he wants his servants to be productive while he is away.

And now, in Luke 19:29, Luke mentions both Bethphage—House of Unripe Figs, and Bethany—House of Many Figs, and the question in the reader’s mind then was, “When Jesus enters Jerusalem, which of the two will he find the Jews to be?”

Jesus doesn’t just enter Jerusalem, He sets the stage for his parade.

I’ve never had a parade… I’ve been in them… I even remember building parade floats out of chicken wire in High School… but those parades weren’t about me.

Here Jesus decides he is going to have a parade.

Up until now Jesus has been doing ministry and telling people not to talk about who he is… Whether it was in talking to his disciples, or the people he healed, he didn’t disclose who he was, and if they knew it, he would tell them not to tell others

But not things are different.

Going to get a particular young un-ridden donkey may not mean much to you or I today, but in Jesus’s world, it was a very clear statement for someone of importance.

The interesting thing, however, is that most often, the royal emissary found the most beautiful and proud stallion in the city to ride in on.

This would show victory and conquest.

But the donkey colt was just the opposite.

It shows humility and peace.

Christ did not want to enter Jerusalem riding a horse, or driving a chariot.

He did not wear a crown, or carry a sword as most royal persons would have done.

Donkeys were used occasionally, but when they were, like for King Solomon in 1 Kings, it was for civil, not military processions.

This is all important because we’re going to see that the people thought they were getting a military Messiah.

Someone who was going to judge and fight and rule.

Christ wanted them to see Him differently.

So when He rides in on a donkey, this was His way of saying, “I come in peace.”

He came not to destroy, but to create.

Not to condemn, but to help.

Not in the might of arms, but in the strength of love.

Jesus was definitely making a claim.

The multitudes recognized a claim—but not the one Christ was trying to make.

The Levitical law taught that it was the blood of an un-ridden heifer that was used to purify the temple.

And an un-ridden colt was the only animal worthy to carry the ark of the covenant under the mosaic law

The prophet Zechariah even foretold this very event

Jesus sent his disciples after the donkey and they found it just just as Jesus told them

Obedience fit for a king

I’ve often wondered about this… the two who went ahead, what were they expecting to find?

When the found it, what did they think, how did they react… what did it do to their faith to find it just as he described.

This might seem strange, but it was actually a fairly common practice in that day.

When a royal emissary arrived in town, they would often commandeer a mount to ride into town on.

It was considered a privilege to have your mount used by the king or prince or general or famous teacher who was riding into town.

++++

It must have been accepted as a privilege, because all that was said is “The Lord Needs it”.

That was enough for the owner to give it up.

This must of been a disciple, a serious follower of Jesus because who else would have done such a thing.

Think about it, think about the last time the Lord spoke to you to give something away while you had other plans.

Maybe it was a tax refund you had plans for a trip, but the Lord said give it to a family in need.

Or it was a Christmas bonus from work that you wrestled with being generous with.

Why is it that that we don’t we see things like this person… when the Lord asks to share or give something, we see it as sacrifice… instead of a reason to celebrate… to willingly offer what we have, honored that the King would use us and ours for his purpose.

This alone is what made the parade.

Look how the people responded to Jesus’s parade plans

Praise for a King

No doubt, people had heard the rumors of Jesus by now.

The blind see, lepers are healed, the dead have come to life.

JEsus may not have wanted it talked about till now, but people talk… and not just in Rock Hall.

Word has gotten around by now, we can’t be for sure, but they were pretty sure that Jesus is the one they had been waiting for since Moses had delivered them from captivity in Egypt.

And what a perfect time to show up, on Passover week - without a doubt the most celebrated holiday.

So with excitement in the air, when Jesus shows up on the colt, they respond as people had responded in the past, they roll out the red carpet as it were… they paved the way with their coats… Luke doesn’t talk about the palm branches, but we know they are there as well.

Cheering as he went along.

Get the picture of what’s happening here.

Passover is coming up.

Jerusalem is filled with people from all over.

It’s said that for every resident, there are 3 pilgrims.

Excitement is in the air.

The tradition is that as you go up the hill into Jerusalem, you would sing portions of the Psalms… Songs of Assent they were called.

They began at Psalm 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, and would end at 118.

Everyone knew the words to the songs, everyone was proud to be a Jew, everyone was excited to be in Jerusalem for Passover.

Add into the mix a pretty healthy rumor that the promised Messiah was showing up and you can imagine the scene.

Vs 38 is a reference to Psalm 118…

Reading Psalm 118, you’d think they figured out what Jesus was claiming here… as His followers are singing and shouting

But look again… Matthew and Mark record that they were shouting Hosanna… “Save us.”

The disciples led the declaration of Jesus as King - finally.

But look closely to what the people were singing.

They changed the words to the song… Psalm 118 reads “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord...

They’ve been waiting a thousand years for this… they are suffering… they are desperate… and it’s so close now they can taste it… and they begin to shout… save us, we want a better life...

But for the last few months or so Jesus has been teaching about this new kingdom he was bringiing in.

A kingdom that was about what the changes he makes in you not for you… yet they shout

Bring us a better life!!! Bring us a better life!!!

Expecting it as though they deserved it…

I’ll be honest, often times when I am in need, I too cry out to God help me… save me… as though like the Jews, I deserve it.

then what happens when you don’t get it?

What does it do to your faith when God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you know he should?

WE need to remember this… Jesus isn’t obligated to our expectations

Jesus isn’t obligated to our expectations

Jesus isn’t obligated to our expectations.

Just because you need it, want it, are desperate for it.

Even though you deserve it after all you have done.

That doesn’t obligate him to come through for you.

Psalm 127 2 “2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

The only thing that obligates God is God.

He blesses us because he wills it, because it brings him glory… as a father to bless his children...

Their proclamations… Help us, save us… continued because they knew Jesus was becoming the king they so desperately wanted…

About this time you may be wondering… where are the pharisees in the story?