It’s Only The Prelude
Easter2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Luke 19:29-40 - It’s Only The Prelude
Sunday school is over, and people are visiting with friends in the foyer and hallways. The first note of the keyboard is played. You immediately know, you have about five minutes before the service starts but the visiting keeps going. The next thing you know, the minister is calling the church to worship, and you still have not found your seat. You scramble to get to your chair just in time to open your Bible or look up to see the first words pop up on the screen. Maybe this scene sounds familiar and maybe this scene describes you.
I wonder if we ever really pause to consider what the purpose of the prelude is? Often it is done with music, but there are other ways as well. It is on in the background, but we really don’t pay much attention to its substance. It fills in the void between our visiting with each other and our moving between one task to another. While we are doing what we think is right to do, the music played during the prelude serves a purpose. It is the sound that reminds us something wonderful is about to happen and we must prepare ourselves for that something.
On this day we call Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey. He came to celebrate the ancient Passover with his fellow Jews. This was a dangerous move. There were those who hated Him and wanted Him dead. His own men argued with Him about the wisdom of the trip. But Jesus was determined, and He set “His face for the journey to Jerusalem.” And to do so in a humble, lowly manner.
It’s almost funny to see a man many were calling King riding into town on a donkey! With no saddle, just coats for a cushion. This is not the President of the U.S. riding in a bulletproof limo accompanied by 26 other vehicles. This isn’t a Roman general on a prancing white stallion.
This is the long-awaited Messiah who knew the old prophecy, “Your king comes to you humble on a donkey’s colt.” His kingdom is hard for us to see, easy for us to miss, because God comes humbly. But when we get a glimpse of Him and understands why He came during this season, we understand too It’s Only The Prelude! What do people do during the prelude? How are people to behave during the prelude? How are people to respond during the prelude? Well before us are some things in these verses that can help during our prelude moments.
35-36 – Proclaim God’s Best is Coming. 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.I want you to notice the crowd. They recognized something special about Jesus, and so they placed their garments in front of the colt as Jesus made his way into the city (v. 36). Such an act was a common way to honor a famous civic or military leader. The other gospels record that some placed branches in front of the Lord as well, with John ch. 12 telling us they were palm branches - thus we get the name for Palm Sunday. These palm branches were a symbol of joy and victory and were placed on graves as a sign of eternal life. Since they often grew out in the desert near water, palm trees were a sign that life-giving activity was near. By laying palm branches on the road, the people were confirming the proclamation that Jesus was the victorious King who gives eternal life to those out wandering in the desert of life. Proclaim God’s Best is Coming.
37 – Get excited. “whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.” There comes a time when you just have to get excited about what is about to take place. There comes a time when the things that seem to get you down, are drowned out by your loud rejoicing and praising. There comes a time when the world becomes so hard that you have to believe as a child of God, this is only the prelude. Something is about to happen and it is going to be BIG because we serve a BIG God! Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! God will enlighten your mind as you get more excited about who He is and what He came to do for you. Proclaim God’s Best is Coming, Get excited.
38 – Have the right Expectation. “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Today is Palm Sunday. Today is the day we commemorate our Lord's triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. For the disciples of Jesus, this was a day of great excitement and joy. However, for our Lord, it was a day of disappointment and heartbreak. You see, this was the day that Jesus made it clear to all who saw Him just Who He was.
All through His life and public ministry Jesus had proven Himself to be the Messiah. He had fulfilled the prophecies, performed the miracles and He had told the Jews repeatedly that He was the Savior that they had been anticipating. They, however, had steadfastly refused to believe His claims. This was the day when Jesus drew the line in the sand. When He appeared on the donkey, riding down from the Mount of Olives, there was no doubt as to what He was doing. He was revealing Himself as the Messiah of Israel.
At this great event, you will notice that the multitudes are shouting and lifting their voices in praise of the Lord. They know what He is doing and they are certain that He has come to deliver Israel from the bondage of Rome. Therefore, they cheer Him and shout praises to God because of Him.
Sadly, they missed the entire significance of this event. It is true that Jesus came in fulfillment of the prophecy of the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 9:9). And, He also did this to force the hand of the Jewish leaders, (Matt. 26:1-5), they planned to kill Jesus after the Passover. However, the reason Jesus came into Jerusalem was for the sole purpose of going to Calvary. Somebody say It’s Only the Prelude! These people missed it all! This man was headed to the cross! It was the sole purpose in his existence - Isa. 50:7 ““For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.” John 18:37 “Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”” Matt. 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
There are many who enjoy the miracles, the message and the Messiah of the church, but they miss the fact that salvation does not come through anything else but a personal relationship with the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come solely to heal, to feed, to bless, to teach, or to fulfill a bunch of dusty, old prophecies to the people of Israel. And this is why my friends, It’s Only the Prelude. Jesus came for the sole purpose of going to the cross and dying for the sins of man. He came to be the Savior of the world! Until you know Him in that relationship, you don't know Him at all! Proclaim God’s Best is Coming, Get excited, Have the right Expectation.
39-40 – Don’t let crowd noise still your shout. 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.” There will always be crowd noise. They shouted at His Entrance to Jerusalem, but they didn't understand this was Only the Prelude. Those who know Him know that there is a reason to shout and to praise His name! They know He is worthy of honor and praise.