“That’s My King!”
Palm Sunday
April 9, 2006
Introduction: Today is commonly referred to as Palm Sunday. It is the day we traditionally recognize the arrival of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover celebration and ultimately for his death. Did you ever ask the question: “What is all the commotion about?” Why a celebration upon his arrival? Was there anything to celebrate knowing that in just a few days Jesus would be crucified?
Today we want to look at the events of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem not from simply an historic approach, but from an approach that asks the question “Is there anything to celebrate?”
I. The Entry
One of the great questions about this event in the life of Christ is where did the party come for? I mean, who started this whole deal where a huge crowd welcomes Jesus into the city?
The entry to Jerusalem is a significant event in the gospels. It is a story that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all record in their records of the life of Christ. Today, we are going to look at Mark’s account of the entry.
“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ’Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ’The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ “They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.” Mark 11:1-6 (NIV)
In the Old Testament world of Jesus, there are some amazing things that need to be noted about processions like this.
Triumphant processions of this kind were commonplace after a great battle had occurred. They were in honor of the triumph of a god and the triumph of a human king. Religion and warfare were intricately woven into the fabric of society. It was not only significant that your human king won the battle, but the representation was that your god had won the battle. There was in that time a five step sequence to the triumphal process.
1) A god battled against an enemy god. (Battle between God and the gods of Egypt.)
2) There was victory.
3) The victorious god was enthroned as king.
4) The people built the king a house. (Temple)
5) There was a banquet of celebration.
The procession was in essence a victory parade.
Jesus is going into the Holy City during the time of incredible celebration. It was the time of Passover and the Feast of Unleavend Bread. It is the time when the nation of Israel is celebrating the victory of Yahwah over the gods of Egypt.
Can you begin to see some images come to life? Are you beginning to think that maybe there is more going on here than you originally thought?
II. The Reaction
The people in Jerusalem respond in this incredible way. They literally take to the streets hailing Jesus as a conquering hero.
“When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.” Mark 11:7-11 (NIV)
1) Jesus enters like a king.
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zech. 9:9 (NIV)
2) Jesus is viewed as the next Jewish king.
He is greeted with the same shouts of praise used in Jewish worship.
“O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” Psalm 118:25-26 (NIV)
It is the same response given to other Jewish kings in scripture.
“They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!" 2 Kings 9:13 (NIV)
The perspective of the Jewish people was that Jesus would be the one to deliver them from the hands of the Roman government and turn Israel back into a societal and governmental power.
3) Jesus goes directly to the temple.
“Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple.” Mark 11:11 (NIV)
Are all kinds of bells and whistles going off for you? Are you beginning to see what the people had in mind? Can you see that the entry into Jerusalem and the response of the people is one of enthroning a king?
The people see Jesus as the Messiah.
Why? They had heard about what Jesus had done, they knew the prophecies about the coming messiah and Jesus matched what they knew.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. [2] He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.”
Isaiah 61:1-2 (NLT)
They were looking for a king who would meet all of their desires. They were looking for the God that led them in the Passover out of Egypt.
III. The Problem
So, why didn’t Jesus simply take over? I mean if he is God and if he is the messiah, why not just simply establish your rule?
Why, in the midst of such overwhelming support did Jesus allow himself to be taken to the cross?
The people were looking to Jesus with a view on temporary things.
They wanted a messiah who would feed them and clothe them and overthrow the government.
Don’t we look at God in the exact same way? Don’t we think of God as being the God who meets all of our wishes and all of our desires? Don’t we have a “Genie in the Lamp” attitude toward God sometimes?
God’s plan and God’s design is always more than what we imagine.
"My kingdom," said Jesus, "doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king." John 18:36 (The Message)
Jesus didn’t come to overthrow a government, but to establish eternity in the hearts of man. Jesus didn’t come only to free us from the oppression of this life, but to give us a brand new life.
IV. The Resolution
The only way to truly understand “My King” is to get a picture of who he is and what he has for us.
We must get a bigger view of God.
“God is pure. Radiant. Without blemish or stain. He is untainted goodness. Without fault or blame. Perfection personified. When you’re God, you’re always who you are—unchanging, unaffected by anything or anyone.” Louie Giglio
God is not held captive by human understanding.
We must trust in his plans and purpose for us.
“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11 (NIV)
God’s plans are not temporary or bound by human experience.
We must simply be amazed.
**Show video “Amazed”
Conclusion: We started off this morning with an incredible description of our king. We have sung about him, and worshipped him and looked at some misconceptions of who he is. He is not an earthly human king. He is not a “Genie in a Lamp” for our own benefit.
He is the sovereign Lord of all creation who desires to amaze us, love us and enjoy us. He is a God who is victorious over all other gods this world has to offer and he is the one who can give life and give it abundantly.
That’s my king!!
