Palm Sunday - The Beginning Of The End Or The Start Of Something New? Series

Palm Sunday is when we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Can you imagine what it must have been like on that day almost 2000 years ago?

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, may have seemed to those who were there to be the high point of his ministry.

All of those people together to see and hear him preach.

They are shouting Hosanna, Hosanna

Lord Save us.

He looked to be the hero,

if not superstar of the day.

His name was on every one’s lips.

Thousands upon thousands spoke his praises.

Every one wanted to see him, to be near him, to be present, to see perhaps whether he would do another miracle, or heal the sick.

On Palm Sunday Jesus accepted their praises, knowing that before the end of the week they would all turn against him.

Within a week, these same people who were parading through the street,

waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna to our Saviour,

would stand before him and Pilate and yell…

Crucify him, Crucify him!

Why? How could this have happened?

What changed the hearts of these people?

Jesus, as he rode into Jerusalem,

wept for his beloved city,

as it says in Luke’s gospel, for he knew the dreams of this day would turn into the reality of pain, death, and suffering.

During the week that followed this great triumphant ride into the city, Jesus spoke of the realities of who he was.

Prior to this event, we have seen Jesus surrounded by people before.

We have seen the crowds at Capernaum,

and other places in his ministry.

Satan had tempted him in the Wilderness with fame, fortune, and power. But, Jesus did not yield.

Now after three and ½ years he is preparing to enter the city of Jerusalem, and the people are expecting a conquering hero.

Jesus was there for a specific purpose!

Jesus had come to Jerusalem with a purpose.

On Monday, Jesus sees the height of corruption in the temple area.

There merchants and moneychangers took up the whole of the court of the gentiles, for their businesses,

leaving no place for those outside of the covenant, those seekers who did not grow up knowing the law of Moses, leaving no place for them to come and pray.

Let me read from Mark 11v15-18

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “`My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it `a den of robbers.’ “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Jesus overturns tables and chases money changers out of the temple - this is definitely not a picture of gentle Jesus, meek and mild.

With a handmade whip, he drove out the merchants, and over turned the moneychangers tables crying, “My Father’s house shall be called a house of prayer for all Nations…but you have made it a den of thieves”

No one could claim that he was non-confrontational or non-judgmental.

He told of the temple’s demise, he told of the coming of the Son of Man.

On Tuesday, the chief priests and teachers of the law start harassing him in earnest.

As he was giving to the people some final glimpses of the kingdom of God before his suffering, his enemies approached.

“Who do you think you are?

By what authority are you doing these things?”

It was a question easily answered,

but do you hear the animosity, the hatred,

the venom, evident in those who asked it.

The people who should have known,

those who by years of long study,

should have recognized him and welcomed him, sought to trip him up and trap him, and before the week was over would cast their vote to have him put to death.

On Wednesday, one of his close friends,

one who was with him for three years,

one who had access to the deepest longings of his heart, agreed to betray him to his enemies.

This betrayal was for money.

For 30 pieces of silver, the price of a common slave.

On Thursday, Jesus had one final meal with his disciples.

He had one last night,

one last time to try to teach his closest followers what was coming,

one last night to prepare thembecause He knew their love for him was weak.

He knew all of them would be scattered,

and even Peter, his closest friend,