Palm Sunday
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 21:1-11
The Triumphal Entry
21:1-9pp – Mk 11:1-10; Lk 19:29-38 21:4-9pp - Jn 12:12-15
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to the Daughter of Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Introduction:
Corrie ten Boom was once asked if it were difficult for her to remain humble. Her reply was simple. “When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments onto the road, and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?” She continued, “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”
What we see in Matthew 21 is a spectacle of sorts; when I say spectacle I mean it in the most respectable way.
Up to this time, Jesus had cautioned people not to tell who He was, and He had deliberately avoided public scenes.
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy Mark 1:44
Jesus heals the blind and the mute. Mt. 9:30
Many other areas. ; Mt. 12:16; Mark 5:43; 7:36; Luke 4:41
We usually do not associate the lowly donkey with kingship, but this was the royal animal of Jewish monarchs.
“It is assumed that our Lord was displaying His meekness by riding upon this little donkey.
In the ancient Middle Eastern world, leaders rode horses if they rode to war, but donkeys if they came in peace. First Kings 1:33 mentions Solomon riding a donkey on the day he was recognized as the new king of Israel. Other instances of leaders riding donkeys are Judges 5:10; 10:4; 12:14; and 2 Samuel 16:2.
The mention of a donkey in Zechariah 9:9-10 fits the description of a king who would be “righteous and having salvation, gentle.” Rather than riding to conquer, this king would enter in peace.
This little animal was ridden by kings.
In our day it would be like riding into town in a Rolls Royce.
The donkey was the animal of peace while the horse was the animal of war.
When Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on this little animal of peace, He was offering Himself as King.
In spite of the fact that He was doing that, the prophet says that He was humble.
There were actually two animals involved, the mother and the colt (foal). Jesus sat on the colt with the mother walking beside.
Rejoicing
I don’t believe that Jesus was rejoicing as He entered Jerusalem.
Warren Wiersbe says in his commentary of this passage “By comparing Matthew’s quotation with the original prophecy in Zechariah, we discover some interesting facts. Zechariah’s prophecy opens with “Rejoice greatly,” but Matthew omitted this phrase. When Jesus approached the city, He wept! How could He (or the people) rejoice when judgment was coming?”
Luke records in Luke 19:41 that “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it” NIV
You see Jesus knew what was to happen at the end of that week.
He would be offered up as a sacrifice for the sins of this world.
It’s important to see that these same people that are rejoicing that their king is here; will be the same people that yell crucify him in just a short week.
On April 9, 2003, just three weeks into the invasion of Iraq, U.S. forces pulled down a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad’s Firdos Square, symbolizing the end of the Iraqi president’s long, often brutal reign, and a major early victory for the United States.
Dramatic images of the toppled statue and celebrating citizens were instantly beamed around the world. With Hussein in hiding and much of the city now under U.S. control, the day’s events later became known as the Fall of Baghdad.
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said in a Pentagon briefing.”Saddam Hussein is now taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, in the pantheon of failed brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people are well on their way to freedom,”
There was a second reason for this public presentation:
It forced the Jewish leaders to act. When they saw the spontaneous demonstration of the people, they concluded that Jesus had to be destroyed (see John 12:19).
The prophetic Scriptures required that the Lamb of God be crucified on Passover.
This demonstration of Christ’s popularity incited the rulers to act.
The people acclaimed Jesus as their King both by their words and their deeds.
They shouted Hosanna, which means, “Save now!”
They were quoting from Psalm 118:25–26, and this psalm is definitely messianic in character.
Later that week, Jesus Himself would refer to this psalm and apply it to Himself (Ps. 118:22–23; Matt. 21:42).
Ps. 118:22–23
22The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Matt. 21:42
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Conclusion: As we go through this week I encourage you to Think daily about the procession of the week. Read these accounts in the gospels.
Jesus performed two acts of judgment: He cleansed the temple, and He cursed a fig tree.
On Tuesday of Passover week, our Lord’s enemies tried to trap Him by using a series of “loaded” questions.
On Wednesday Jesus continues to preach in the temple.
On Thursday passover meal; Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane; and Jesus is arrested.
On Thursday and Friday we have the trials and the crucifixtion.
Saturday Jesus is in the tomb.
Sunday RESURRECTION “HE IS ALIVE.”
Wiersbe, Warren W.. Be Loyal (Matthew): Following the King of Kings (The BE Series Commentary) (p. 199). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.