INTRODUCTION
1. Open your bibles please to Matt. 20:17&ff.
2. Do we have anyone present that has ever ridden a donkey?
(1) Maybe Heather Walton! Or maybe Joshua or Caleb or Paul? I think that they are the only ones that own donkeys.
(2) Misty used to ride a barrel racing horse. Most of you have ridden a horse, but our main interest this morning has to do with someone who has ridden a donkey.
3. How does Matt. 20:17&ff and someone riding a donkey have any connection?
(1) Matt. 20:17&ff begin to inform us of things happening about 9 or 10 days before Jesus was crucified and about 12 or 13 days before Jesus was resurrected. Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday.
(2) The religious world, majority speaking, considers next Sunday being the Sunday Jesus was resurrected approximately 2,100 years ago.
(3) The events we read about in Matt. 20:17&ff may have started happening on a Wednesday or Thursday the week before Jesus was crucified on a Friday.
4. There is no scripture in the bible that teaches just which Sunday of the year Christ was resurrected.
(1) The bible does teach that Christ was resurrected on the 1st day of the week – on what we call Sunday.
(2) The bible does not teach Christians to celebrate the resurrection of Christ on one particular Sunday each year.
(3) The bible does teach Christians to have the Lord’s Supper as a memorial for the death of Christ on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7, Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:23-29). 52 times each year!
5. As we read Matt. 17&ff and other passages of Jesus doing things during the few days right ahead of Christ’s crucifixion we will be impressed with Christ’ courage and love.
6. We will find out that Christ knew ahead of time that he was going to soon be crucified.
(1) Christ’s knowledge of the soon to experience crucifixion did not cause Christ to start thinking only of Himself and His personal problems.
(2) In spite of Christ’s soon to be experienced crucifixion Christ repeatedly showed love and extended help to others.
7. In this lesson we will discuss some of the ways that Christ demonstrated His love and concern for others and yet at a time when He could have exercised self pity!
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, MATT. 20:17-19 REPORT THAT JESUS PREDICTED HIS OWN DEATH FOR THE THIRD TIME DURING HIS EARTHLY MINSISTRY.
1. Let’s read Matt. 20:17-19, “17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
2. Jesus was the Son of God, but Jesus also had the fears of the pain of the cross that He knew that he was going to have to face in nine or ten days.
3. Do you appreciate Christ for the courage He had, when at the same time He knew and understood the horrible pain that He was going to have to undergo and yet He calmly taught and went on toward the city of Jerusalem, knowing there would soon be the horrible and painful death on the cross?
4. Christ’s love for mankind is what gave him the strength to put one foot before the other and walk on toward the city of Jerusalem. We sing the song, “Oh, How I Love Jesus”.
II. SECOND, MATT. 20:20-28 REPORT THAT JESUS TAUGHT A MOTHER AND HER TWO SONS THAT GREATNESS COMES BY SERVING!
1. For the sake of time I will quickly paraphrase Matt. 20:20-28, “20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
2. Do you admire Jesus, when you know that during the time that He had the terrifying burden of making the trip to Jerusalem to be crucified, that He took the time and patience to gently explain to Zebedee’s wife and her two sons the importance of them serving , if they were going to become great in His kingdom?
3. Do you appreciate the great servant that Jesus was and is to others?
4. Do you understand that you must, among other things, serve others to gain a place in Christ’s kingdom?
III. THRID, MATT. 20:29-34 REPORT THAT IN SPITE OF JESUS HAVING HIS SOON TO EXPERIENCE CRUCIFIXION ON HIS MIND TOOK TIME TO SHOW MERCY AND HEAL TWO BLIND MEN!
1. Let’s read Matt. 20:29-34, “29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” [a term that showed that they believed that Christ was the promised Messiah- that Christ was truly deity and the Son of God] 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” 32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.”
2. The crowd thought of the two blind men as being a bother, but Christ, in spite of the heavy load about the soon to experience crucifixion, showed mercy and compassion!
3. Does Jesus provide us an example of the importance of not becoming too self centered and only thinking of our personal problems?
IV. FOURTH, TURN TO LUKE 19:1-10. LUKE 19:1-10 REPORT JESUS AGAIN REFUSING TO LET HIS UNCOMING AND PAINFUL CRUCIFIXION KEEP HIM FROM EXTENDING HELP TO ANOTHER.
1. Let’s read Luke 19:1-10, “ 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
2. Do Christians need to put forth the effort to “seek and save the lost” even when we have burdensome and troubling things on our mind?
3. Years ago I read the statement, “action cures worry”. The lesson from that statement is for a person to get busy and stay busy when things start to worry them and then they won’t worry!
4. Do Jesus’ examples show us over and over again that He understood that “action cures worry”?
5. Was the crucifixion a huge enough problem that Jesus could have let it cause to Him disobey God, if He had not kept Himself busy doing good things?
V. FIFTH, LUKE 19:11-27 REPORT JESUS TEACHING A PARABLE TO REFUTE THE FALSE IDEA THAT AN EARTHLY KINGDOM WAS TO APPEAR IMMEDIATELY!
1. Let’s read Luke 19:11-27, “11 Now as they [“They” probably refers to those that would have been in the house with Zacchaeus and Jesus] heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.”
(1) At the time of Jesus the majority of the Jews and even today over 90% of all religious denominations believe that Jesus came in the first century and then when He comes again, it will be to establish an earthly kingdom.
(2) The bible does not teach that false teaching. Jesus’ kingdom is spiritual and as the parable will go ahead and teach, Jesus’ citizens of His spiritual kingdom are to serve and obey him faithfully.
(3) Anyone that does not serve and obey Christ will be considered as His enemy and will be punished on judgment day. [Due to time restraints we’ll move on to #6 point].
VERSE12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas” [“minas” or KJV “pounds” was measurement for money which was equivalent to about 3 months wages], and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ [the spiritual application is that most of the people of the world refuse to have Christ reign over their life] 15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ 20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’”
2. Do you make an effort to try and use what you are blessed with? You may not have as much as the next person, but Jesus wants you to use and do the best with whatever you are blessed with.
3. Does that make sense? Do you realize that you will be considered an enemy of Jesus if you don’t?
4. Do we see that Jesus didn’t begin to offer excuses to the Father in heaven as the time for suffering on the cross got closer? Did Jesus remain obedient all the way through?
IV. SIXTH, TURN TO JOHN 11:55-57. JOHN 11:55-57 REPORT THAT THE CHIEF PRIEST AND THE JEWISH LEADERS HAD MADE IT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAD INTENTIONS TO TAKE AND CRUCIFY JESUS WHEN HE CAME TO JERUSALEM FOR THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION.
1. Let’s read John 11:55-57, “55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.”
2. Talk was circulating among the Jews that the Jewish leaders were going to crucify Jesus.Don’t you imagine some of Jesus’ friends were telling Jesus what they were hearing?
3. Did that cause Jesus to lose his courage and begin to try and avoid going to Jerusalem?
VII. SEVENTH, JOHN 12:1-8 REPORT THAT ON SUNDAY BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION ON FRIDAY JESUS WAS INVITED TO A SUPPER AND JESUS WAS ALSO ANOINTED WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE OINTMENT.
1. Let’s read John 12:1, “1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. [“the Passover” was on a Friday. The events of John 12 were six days ahead of the Passover, on which Jesus was crucified. These events were on what the religious world call Palm Sunday. All Jewish days started at 6 pm in the evenings. Jesus probably arrived in Bethany on what we call Saturday evening shortly after 6 pm, on the beginning of the Jewish Sunday before the Passover. This would make Jesus’ arrival at the beginning of the first day of the week or on our Sunday. Sunday through Friday is six days.]
[Bethany, and Bethphage which will be mentioned in our next passage, were two villages located very close together and they were located about 1.5 to 2 miles S. E. of Jerusalem and on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives.]
Verse 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. [Matthew and Mark also say that Mary put the ointment upon Jesus’ head.] 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. [Matthew says that
some of the other disciples also complained, along with Judas.] 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
2. From Jesus’ statement does it appear that Mary had an understanding that Jesus was going to be crucified?
3. Does Jesus’ comment about the poor being with them always and the fact that He would not be with the disciples always teach that Christians need to keep their priorities in order?
4. Both Matthew and Mark report Jesus complimenting Mary by saying, “V. 6 “She has done a good work for Me. V.8, “She has done what she could.” “V. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
5. Should you, should I follow the example of Mary and do what we can and do good works and bring glory to Christ?
6. Mary’s good works are being spoken of 2,000 years later. Will you have any good works that will be spoken of 2,000 years down the road?
VIII. EIGHTH, JOHN 12:9-11 REPORT THAT MANY JEWS VISITED THE HOUSE WHERE JESUS AND LAZARUS WERE AND THAT THE CHIEF PRIEST INTENDED TO ALSO KILL LAZARUS.
1. Let’s read John 12:9-11, “9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.”
2. Do you suppose there was a lot of pressure on both Lazarus and Jesus?
3. Do you suppose that both Lazarus and Jesus knew that they were both subjects to be killed at any moment?
4. Can we again admire the courage of Jesus and Lazarus?
IX. NINTH, TURN TO MATTHEW 21:1-11. MATT. 21:1-11 REPORT THAT ON SUNDAY BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION ON FRIDAY THAT JESUS COURAGEOUSLY RODE A COLT OF A DONKEY INTO JERUSALEM, WHICH WAS SYMBOLIC OF JESUS BEING THE SPIRITUAL KING OF ISRAEL.
1. Let’s read Matt. 21:1-11, “ 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, [about 1.5 to 2 miles S. E. of Jerusalem] at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “ Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘ Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.[John 12:13 speaks of Palm branches. The is why the religious world calls the triumphal entry of Jesus Palm Sunday.] Verse 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “ Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
2. “Hosanna” means “save us”! The people were confused and thought Jesus was going to become their earthly king and save them from the Roman Empire.
(1) They were mistaken!
(2) However, just six days after that triumphal entry on the back of that donkey Jesus courageously and lovingly died on the cross so that all people of the world would have the opportunity to be saved spiritually!
3. Do you understand how courageous and loving Jesus has shown Himself for us?
CONCLUSION
1. Revelation 1:5 declares, “…unto Jesus who loved us and washed us from our sins by his blood”.
2. Acts 22:16 teaches us when the cleansing blood of Jesus will wash our sins away. In the context of Acts 22:16 we learn that Saul (later called the apostle Paul) believed in Christ.
1) Saul also was expressing repentance and change from the sinful things that he had been doing.
2) Saul had verbally confessed Jesus as Lord.
3) Ananias told Saul the believing, repentant, confessing person, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Not a verbal calling of prayer, but the active obedience expressed by belief, repentance, confession and obedience to the command of baptism.
3. If you need to respond to the gospel, please come to the front as we stand and sing!
