Blessed Is The Coming Kingdom

Blessed is the Coming Kingdom

Mark 11:7-10

Mar. 16, 2008 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

A Palm Sunday was special to Jesus for at least two reasons:

1 He’s embracing His place as the Messiah, the Anointed.

a Donkey, garments were expressions of acknowledgment of a king. The king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 1 Kings 1:33 (NASB)

Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, "Jehu is king!" 2 Kings 9:13 (NASB)

b He lets them worship Him. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" Luke 19:39-40 (NASB)

2 He sets in motion the events that lead to Good Friday (100 hours to arrest, trial, cross)

3 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Rev 7:9-10 (NASB) Reminded Him of home!

B They brought* the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" Mark 11:7-10 (NASB)

C Let’s look at the blessedness of the coming Kingdom.

I Triumphal entry

A In the eyes of the Romans, this wasn’t a "triumphal entry".

1 A Roman triumph was, according to history, truly something to behold.

a When a Roman general had completely conquered his enemies, he’d be given a "Roman triumph" when he returned to Rome (5,000 enemy soldiers had to die in order to get a triumphal entry).

b Some of the unique things we’d see would be...

aa The POWs, trophies (spoils of war), VIP prisoners

bb The general would be riding in a golden chariot, preceded by an entourage of incense-burning priests.

cc The people lining the roads would offer shouts of praise to his name.

dd The general may have keys hanging from his neck (gates, kingdom)

2 The parade route ended at the arena, where the POWs & VIP prisoners would fight wild animals/beasts.

B Jesus came riding on a cut-rate float.

1 This King’s captives, trophies aren’t there yet...but they’re coming.

a This King will be crowned with thorns, enthroned upon a cross, & hailed as chief of fools.

b His Kingdom will be more powerful than David’s, & extend beyond Israel’s borders.

c But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. Acts 4:4 (NASB) Within weeks of Palm Sunday, 5,000 Jews would be freed by 3 rusty nails, an empty tomb, & amazing love.

2 Jesus deserved this parade, praise, because His victories were in the bag.

a The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. 1 Cor 15:26-27a (NASB)

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:54-57 (NASB)

b Because of Jesus, death & the grave have been defeated, declawed, defanged, chained up!

3 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Rev 1:17-18 (NASB)

a Jesus had the key to death & the grave

b Why? He’s got them under His feet, His authority

aa I am His, & He is mine-because death is under His feet, it’s under mine.