Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Dad sayings: “No…,” “Ask your mother…,” “Don’t tell your mom…,” “You stink…,” “Do you think I’m made of money?” “When I was your age…,” “Were you raised in a barn?””I’m not going to tell you again...” “If I tell you to jump, you ask, ‘how high?” “I know what’s best for you… I know what you really need.”

Isn’t it true that we all think we know what we need?

You’ve thought, “If I had.... my life would be better.”

Or, “If this circumstance would change, my life would be better...”

You may think you know what you need, but God knows better.

He knows what you really need.

The question: will you

From the very beginning, God knew what we needed: a King, a Savior, who would deliver us from our rebellion against God.

As soon as Adam and Eve rebelled against God, God made a promise that He would crush their enemy.

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Mark’s Gospel - the story of the One who was promised to Adam and Eve in the garden, and now, in , Jesus unmistakably makes it known to the masses that He is the promised King.

But, the crowd that worships Jesus in will ultimately reject Jesus as King because He’s not the King that they think they need.

I don’t want us to miss what the crowd in Jerusalem missed on Palm Sunday some 2,000 years ago.

I want you to see three unmistakable truths the crowd missed.

We need a King who is in complete control.

For three years, Jesus performed miracles and taught with authority.

People questioned His identity.

Was He John the Baptist reincarnated?

Elijah?

A prophet?

After three years of ministry, this is the day, and what a day!

Jesus had healed blind Bartimaeus, the man who had the spiritual eyesight to see that Jesus was the long awaited Son of David.

In John’s Gospel, right before triumphal entry, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

Spoke to a dead man, and he came out of the grave!

People are going crazy!

More and more convinced that Jesus is the Messiah.

A great crowd with him - Bartimaeus in crowd, Lazarus, Zaccheus - telling people, “You won’t believe...” (John 12:17)

On the Mt. of Olives with disciples - clearly see the Golden Gate from Mt. of Olives - leading to the temple - the throne of God on earth.

Now it’s time for the Son of God to enter Jerusalem for the last week of His life.

Not a triumphal entry, but a death march that will begin a series of events that will lead to the crucifixion and ultimately the resurrection - The course of human history is about to change, and people are oblivious.

Passion Week so important to Mark it makes up 1/3 of his Gospel.

Sends two disciples to get a young colt no one had sat on.

An unused colt was used for religious purposes.

(, )

Disciples go to next town open to “borrow” a donkey.

Disciples on way - “Someone’s going to let us borrow their donkey?”

But, they say, “The Lord has need of it...” Owner releases donkey...

Brings colt to Jesus - put cloaks on the donkey - Jesus begins to ride to Jerusalem.

Interesting to note - 6 of 11 verse in this story are about Jesus retrieving a donkey!

Why? Need to know that Jesus is in complete control of the situation.

He is choosing to set in motion the events that will lead to His death.

He is choosing the time.

(Passover - maybe as many as 3 million people in Jerusalem - celebrating the first Passover when God delivered form Egypt - On Good Friday, Jesus would be the ultimate Passover Lamb.)

He is choosing the animal (we’ll see significance in a moment).

He is choosing how to get the animal.

He’s in control of it all.

Jesus’ life was not taken from Him.

He freely gave it away according to His will.

This is all a part of HIS plan.

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.

I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

This charge I have received from my Father.”

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This is the kind of You need - a King who is in complete control!

Because He is in control:

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.

I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

This charge I have received from my Father.”

(John 10:17-18)

Frees you from worrying about things you cannot control!

How much time do you waste worrying about things beyond your control?

(How your children are going to turn out, if you’re going to get in the school you want to get into, politics, health insurance, etc.) Jesus is in control of every detail of your life, and He loves you.

He is always going to do what’s ultimately best for you and His Kingdom.

He knows - who is going to be in office in 4 years, how He’s going to provide for your family, how He’s going to bring you through trials, etc.

Frees you to focus on what matters.

Because Jesus is in control of all things, I can focus on doing what I know He wants me to do.

I can focus on growing in Him, serving Him, loving others, being on mission, etc.

If you do not see Jesus as the King who is in control, you’ll always try to take control!

You’ll be frustrated, full of worry, etc.

The King you need is a King who is in complete control.

We need a King who gives real peace.

Colt = a young donkey.

If you were a Jew, this probably wasn’t the scene you expected.

You wanted a king who would overthrow Rome and deliver you from oppression - you wanted a King who rode a stallion, with a sword on his side, ready for battle - not a roaming rabbi riding a baby donkey!

If you were a Jew, this probably wasn’t the scene you expected.

You wanted a king who would overthrow Rome and deliver you from oppression - you wanted a King who rode a stallion, with a sword on his side, ready for battle - not a roaming rabbi riding a baby donkey!

But the crowd makes the connection.

() This fulfilled .

The Jews knew their OT, and when they saw this, they immediately made the connection.

Jesus was the Messiah!

The crowd goes wild!

But, why a baby donkey?

Not uncommon for a king to ride a donkey - David did it and so did Solomon.

Kings riding donkeys symbolized times of peace, and that’s what Jesus was ushering in.

A humble King who came to make peace with people not war with people.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

()

A humble King who came to make peace with people not war with people.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

()

Peace is what you need - the Jews knew it - but they thought they needed peace from Rome.

What they really needed was peace with God.

It’s what you need as well.

“If I could just have peace at home, peace at work, etc.” That’s not your greatest need.

You need a King that gives you more than a peaceful night at home.

You need a King who gives you peace with God.

Peace with God - Without Jesus, you are an enemy of God destined for an eternal hell.

() - Every sinful decision is a direct assault on a holy, loving God.

Yet, Jesus has come to make peace.

Peace with others - () It is not possible to have peace with God and NOT desire peace with others.

We are peacemakers.

(Matthew 5:9)