Abundant Praise
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INTRO
INTRO
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
3 Reasons for Abundant Praise
3 Reasons for Abundant Praise
1) Jesus is Mighty to Save to the Utmost!
1) Jesus is Mighty to Save to the Utmost!
“Hosanna!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
Hosanna means “Save! We pray.”
“Hosanna in the highest” means “Save to the utmost! We pray.”
It was customary for people to greet travelers as they entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, but Jesus’ greeting was unique.
Their greeting was one of requested salvation!
Their idea of salvation was more about political and governmental deliverance from Rome
The crowds shouted Hosanna to Jesus, because of the events that had led up to his arrival in Jerusalem
His reputation had grown with his travel.
He was recognized as having great power to perform mighty miracles.
His latest miracle was raising Lazarus from the dead after 4 days.
The Roman army was strong, but how do you defeat an adversary who’s leader can heal mortal wounds in an instant or raise the dead just by speaking?
While the crowds had in mind an earthly derived salvation they were correct in recognizing that Jesus could save all the way!
The salvation that Jesus brings is greater than temporary relief in this world.
Jesus brings eternal relief and restoration!
Jesus rescues and saves us from our own rebellion and sinfulness!
The Sheep in the Steep Ditch
- Shepherd works hard and tirelessly to free a sheep from a long, narrow, deep ditch.
- Once freed the sheep runs and jumps head first right back into the narrow, deep ditch.
This is what happens if we only seek Jesus to save us from our circumstances….we go right back into what we were rescued from.
Jesus, however, saves us from much more than our circumstances. He saves us from our own sin and rebellion. He saves from our own nature. He saves us to turn us around so we don’t just jump back into the same ditch from which we are saved from.
We have Abundant Praise in our hearts for Jesus because He saves us to the Utmost!
2) Jesus is God’s Favor!
2) Jesus is God’s Favor!
When travelers were greeted as they entered Jerusalem for passover it wasn’t uncommon for the expression of Blessing to come to those who entered.
Blessed here is eulogeō. This is different from makarios that Jesus uses in the Beattitudes.
Makarios means “happy, content”
Eulogeō means “favored, approved”
Favored and approved is the one who comes for the Lord’s purposes.
As a traveler would approach Jerusalem for the passover, they were greeted with approval and favor for being there to celebrate and remember God’s rescue of His Chosen people out of Egypt.
It was a quote from one of the Hillel Psalms
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. 29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
While those who cried out this Psalm were remembering and honoring God’s work in Egypt, God’s eternal purpose was being carried our right in their midst!
Jesus is what all of God’s purposes pointed to.
Jesus is the Gate of Righteousness
Jesus is Our Salvation
He is the stone the builders rejected who became the foundation for the whole structure.
He is the Light that shines upon us and illuminates us to God’s glory.
He is the Festal Sacrifice that brings salvation to all.
He is worthy of all Exaltation
He is God
He is Good
His Steadfast Love endures forever!
He is the very embodiment of God’s Favor
We have Abundant Praise in our hearts because we enjoy God’s favor when we have Jesus!
3) Jesus is King Forever!
3) Jesus is King Forever!
While “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” was common for traveler to hear when they entered to Jerusalem what they said next was not.
With their cloaks laid upon the ground and waiving Palm branches, they shouted “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
This is a next level proclamation!
This is not just celebrating the arrival of a traveler. This was celebrating the arrival of a Special King!
You only see this imagery two places in the OT:
13 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
In 2 Kings they laid their cloaks on the ground to show that Jehu was the new anointed King of Israel, instead of Joram son of Ahab
Zechariah was a promised future ruler who would rescue the people from their long embedded, surrounding enemies.
This declaration for Jesus’ arrival proclaims that He is King Forever!
The nations of this world rise and fall.
The rulers and governments of this world are limited in their authority by time.
But there is a Kingdom that is in this world, but not of this world.
There is a Kingdom that was ushered in by a King who holds righteousness and salvation in His hands.
There is a King of this of this Kingdom who once rode humbly on a donkey as He entered Jerusalem.
That same King is an powerful King
He is a King that sin and death can’t handle
He is a King that sits on His throne
He is a King that is getting an itch to stand and return.
He is a King that when He returns, it ain’t gonna be humbly on a donkey
He is a King who is going to return on a Might and Power Steed
He is a King who will return on a brilliantly white war horse
He is a King who will return wearing a brilliantly white rob dipped in blood
He is a King who’s hair will be brilliantly pure and white
He is a King who’s eyes will be ablaze
He is a King who opens His mouth and will pierce evil to it’s core like a sharp two edged sword.
He is a King who upon His return will put an end to all temporal nations
He is King who will eliminate Republicans
He is a King who will eliminate Democrats
He is a King who will eliminate the Global Elite
He is a King who will end all worthless religion
He is a King who will cause all war to cease
He is a King who will judge the living and the dead
He is a King who will destroy sin and death forever
He is a King who will destroy all of His enemies
He is a King who will usher in a New Heaven and a New Earth
He is a King whose Kingdom knows no end
He is King Jesus and He is King Forever!
You and I should be filled with Abundant Praise for King Jesus!
CALL TO RESPOND
CALL TO RESPOND
He is Mighty to Save to the Utmost
He is God’s Favor Upon Us
He is King Forever