MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER
RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK
(REVISED: 2016)
(Powerpoints used with this message are available for free. Just email me at mnewland@sstelco.com and request #273.)
TEXT: Matthew 21:1 11; Luke 19:39 40; John 12:19; Mark 15:25 32
A. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, but since so much happened during His last week, we're going to look at Palm Sunday today. Then next week we'll consider the Garden at Gethsemane.
So with that in mind, travel back with me to that day nearly 1,986 years ago. The Sabbath is over; a new week has begun, & Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. Matthew tells us about it in Matthew 21:1 11.
"As they approached Jerusalem & 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, & 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 & riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'
"The disciples went & 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 & 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 & asked, 'Who is this?' The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.'"
Luke 19:39 40 describes this same scene & adds: "Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 'I tell you,' He replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'"
And John 12:19 tells us: "So the Pharisees said to one another, 'See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!'"
What an exciting day it was! Jesus could have proclaimed the start of His kingdom right then & there, & thousands would have flocked to His side to proclaim Him their King.
But as you know, that was not God's plan. His kingdom was not to be an earthly one, but heavenly, not temporary, but eternal. So when He refused the crown, the people began to turn against Him.
And just a few days later some who had shouted "Hosanna!" were crying "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Oh how fickle people can be!
B. Now listen to these familiar words found in Mark 15:25 32. You'll recognize the scene. "It was the third hour when they crucified Him. The written notice of the charge against Him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.
"Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, `So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!'
"In the same way the chief priests & the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. 'He saved others,' they said, 'but He can't save Himself!
'Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.' Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him."
C. Scientists tell us that self preservation is a very basic instinct, that whenever we encounter danger, we automatically seek to protect ourselves.
ILL. If we stumble we put our hands out to break the fall. If we're riding in an automobile, & suddenly it appears that we're going to crash, we automatically brace ourselves. And even though experts say that is not the wisest thing to do, we automatically do it because self preservation is a basic instinct in man.
So it is quite natural for the enemies of Jesus to stand around the cross & reason logically that Jesus would want to save His own life.
They reasoned this way: "If He really is the Son of God, then He has the power to come down from the cross. And if He has the power to come down, then He will come down because that's the natural thing to do."
Therefore, when Jesus did not come down from the cross, they assumed that He did not have the power, & therefore He was not the Son of God.
Their conclusion was this: "He saved others, but He can’t save himself!" That was their conclusion, a logical conclusion, but a false conclusion.
PROP: You see, Jesus could have saved Himself.
I. BY NOT GOING TO JERUSALEM
A. He could have saved Himself by not going to Jerusalem. He could have stayed in Galilee, if He had wanted. His ministry had gone well there. It was in Galilee that He had preached the Sermon on the Mount & thousands had come to listen.
It was in Galilee that He had fed the 5,000, & they had tried to make Him their king. They said that He did not speak as their scribes & Pharisees, but as one having authority.
It was in Galilee that He walked on the water. It was in Galilee that He stilled the storm, & caused the waves to be calm again.
He could have stayed in Galilee if He had wanted to! There was plenty of work still to be done there. Not all of the sick had been healed. Not all of the hungry had been fed. Not all of the sinners had been changed.
B. Oh, there were a few problems, to be sure. The Pharisees had appointed a committee that agitated Him a little, here & there. His home town people didn't actually receive Him with open arms. Once they even tried to throw Him over a cliff. But other than that, things had been going well in Galilee! His life really was not in danger there.
He could have stayed in Galilee. But the Scripture states that "He set His face steadfastly towards Jerusalem." And with resolute steps He made His way to the Holy City.
You see, He could have saved Himself by staying away from Jerusalem. But He could not have saved Himself, & us too, for our salvation depends upon His sacrifice for our sins.
II. BY ESCAPING FROM THE GARDEN AT GETHSEMANE
A. Even while He was in Jerusalem He could have saved Himself by escaping from the Garden at Gethsemane.
In that day before street lights & neon signs that light up the sky it would have been so easy for Him to have slipped off through the trees, behind the rocks, & made His way carefully to the other side of the hill & escaped.
He could have gone to the home of Lazarus, Mary & Martha, & they would have gladly helped Him escape out of the area around Jerusalem.
He certainly had adequate warning. He knew that the soldiers were coming. He could see their torches in the night sky as they left the temple gates, & made their way toward the Garden at Gethsemane, crossing the Kidron Valley. He could have escaped easily!
B. Maybe it is a little bit revolting to think of Jesus escaping. But it shouldn't be. Others have escaped from dangerous situations, & we don't think badly of them.
ILL. The Apostle Paul was lowered in a basket down a wall to escape from his enemies. During the Cold War we rejoiced with those who escaped from behind the iron curtain. We didn't think badly of them for trying to escape from Communist control.
Yet, when we think of Jesus trying to escape, it just doesn't seem to fit His character. He could have justified it, to be sure. He could have said, "The Chief Priests & rulers are evil men, making false accusations against me. I haven't done anything wrong, & to submit to them would not be right."
So, perhaps He could have escaped that night & we would not have thought any the less of Him. But He didn't! He allowed the soldiers to arrest Him.
You see, He could have saved Himself in the Garden at Gethsemane. But He could not have saved Himself & us, too.
III. WHEN HE WAS IN PILATE'S JUDGMENT HALL
A. Jesus could have saved Himself when He was in Pilate's judgment hall. I don't think Pilate felt threatened by the words of Jesus about His kingdom that was not of this world. Time & again Pilate said, "I find no fault in this man." I believe that Pilate really wanted to release Him.
I think Pilate would have jumped at the opportunity to let Jesus go, & be rid of all the hassle & problem & worry. If Jesus had only pled His case, I'm convinced that Pilate would have released Him.
B. Jesus certainly could have pled His case. He had done nothing wrong. Jesus had not done anything worthy of crucifixion!
He could have stood before Pilate & said, "Pilate, you know me. I'm the one who told them to go the 2nd mile, to carry the Roman soldier's pack even farther than the law requires. I'm the one who discouraged revolution by the sword.
"I'm the one who told them to turn the other cheek. I'm the one who told them to forgive 70 times 7. I'm the one who told them to have meekness & understanding & peace in their lives. Pilate, you know that I'm not guilty."
Perhaps he could have swayed Pilate's thinking, & Pilate would have told the leaders, "Away with you, I am releasing Jesus!"
But Jesus didn't say a word on His own behalf. "Like a lamb before his shearers is dumb..." Jesus spoke not a word to save himself.
You see, He could have saved Himself in Pilate’s judgment hall. But He could not have saved Himself & us, too.
SUM. So, soon we find Pilate standing before the crowd of people. He asks them, "Who would you have me release, Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called 'The Christ'?" They cry out, "Release Barabbas! We want Barabbas!"
IV. WHEN HE STOOD BEFORE THE CROWD
A. Jesus could even have saved Himself when He stood before the crowd! He knew how to speak to crowds of people. He had done that on many occasions. He could have held up His hands & they would have been quiet. He could have held them under the sway of His eloquence & the power of His words.
He could have turned that crowd in His favor if He had wanted to. He could have said, "Don't forget. I'm the one who came into Jerusalem just last Sunday, & you all came with palm branches & cried ‘Hosanna!' & wanted to make me your king.”
"I was a national hero on Sunday. Have you forgotten so soon? Have you forgotten all the things that I have done?"
B. The greatest of leaders have always stood on their accomplishments. It would have been easy for Jesus to stand there & say, "Have you forgotten Bartimaeus - what I did for him? He was blind, but I touched his eyes & now he can see.
"And you over there, you were lame, but I told you to take up your bed & walk. Have you forgotten already?"
"Have you forgotten my miracles? How many of you were there when I fed the multitudes? Have you forgotten who I am & what I have done?"
"I'll tell you what. Take away the cross & I will establish my kingdom. I'll let you put a crown on my head, & I'll rule over this land. I'll take away all the disease. I'll take away all the poverty. I'll make sure that everybody has plenty to eat. Just take away the cross!"
You see, Jesus could have saved Himself by speaking to the crowds. But He could not have saved Himself & us, too.
V. WHEN HE WAS ON THE CROSS
A. Even when He was on the cross, He could have saved Himself. We see Him carrying His cross toward Calvary. In mockery, a purple robe has been placed on His shoulders - a robe that is stained with his blood.
We watch Him as He falls beneath the load, & we think, "Lord, why don't you do something? You're the King of this Universe. You have created everything & you have dominion over it all. Why don't you do something?"
We see Simon being forced to pick up the cross & carry it for Him to Calvary. We watch as Jesus is nailed to that cross & we feel so helpless.
We cry out, "Lord, you healed the sick. You calmed the storm. Lord, you could take that cross & turn it into a twig. You could take the nails & turn them into blades of grass if you wanted."
B. Then the cross is lifted & dropped into the hole that has been dug for it. We hear the taunts & jeers of some of those who are standing by.
"Lord, why don't you call down legions of angels to stand between you & the Roman soldiers & those who are mocking you? Why don't you show them who you really are? Why don't you reveal your power?"
"Lord, you are praying. "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." Why are you praying for them? They have never done anything for you."
"They plotted against you. They arrested you, & put you through the agony of unjust, illegal night-time trials. They lied about you, condemned you, & shouted 'Crucify Him!' when Pilate was wanting to set you free."
"Maybe you ought to come down from the cross. Then let them look into your fiery eyes & see your mighty power. Then they would know who you really are. Come down from the cross!"
SUM. He could have! He could have saved Himself by coming down from the cross. But He could not have saved Himself & us, too.
There is no greater love than that, "...that a man lay down his life for his friend."
CONCL. This is an old story, isn’t it? It has been told by a lot of different people in many different ways. Maybe sometimes it loses its impact because we know it so well.
But I trust this morning that God can take this old, old story & touch your heart, & help you realize the great sacrifice that has been made, & the hope that we have because of Jesus.
INVITATION
