Coronation Day

Coronation Day!

Mark 11:1-11

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,

2 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.

3 If anyone asks you, ’Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ’The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’"

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it,

5 some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?"

6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.

8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.

9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "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!"

11 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.

Poets and preachers have often compared two dynamic young men who both died at the age of 33¨CJesus of Nazareth and Alexander the Great, ruler of the Greek Empire.

Alexander :

¡ö lived a privileged and prosperous life.

¡ö as a boy he was tutored by the great philosopher, Aristotle.

¡ö a man of great wealth and power

¡ö nearly invincible as a military conqueror¨Cin fact there was time when he wept because ther were no more worlds to conquer.

¡ö died mysteriously, either as a result of too much wine, or was poisoned by a trusted aide.

One unknown poet put it this way:

Jesus and Alexander, died at 33;

One lived and died for self; the other for you and me.

The Greek died upon a throne, the Jew upon a cross

One¡¯s life a triumph seemed, the other¡¯s but a loss.

One walked with mighty men and the other walked alone

One shed the whole world¡¯s blood, the other gave His own.

Jesus and Alexander, died at 33;

The Greek died at Babylon, the Jew at Calvary

One made himself God, but the One who was God made Himself less.

One lived but to blast, the other but to bless.

When died the Greek, forever fell his throne of swords,

But Jesus died and arose to live forever, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Palm Sunday is a good day for acknowledging the glory and splendor of Jesus Christ. Let¡¯s join the multitudes as they wave their palm branches and shout, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

It must have been some sene¡ªsome parade that day. Most folks love a parade. What is it about a parade that attracts such crowds?

¡ö music?

¡ö bands?

¡ö floats?

¡ö clowns?

¡ö horses?

¡ö celebrities?

¡ö cars?

¡ö fire trucks?

¡ö pretty girls?

Some will wait for hours just to get a glimpse of some famous person. In Pasadena, California, people will sleep all night on the sidewalk just to have a good place to view the annual Rose Parade.

Most parades are soon forgotten, but a few stand out and are remembered because of the occasion and the color and drama associated with them. I¡¯m old enough to remember the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. I was 16 years old but I remember it like it was yesterday. It was truly awesome for its color and pageantry. I¡¯ll never forget it.

A far more humble procession, however, has been remembered for nearly 20 centuries. It is remembered on what we call, Palm Sunday.

All four gospel writers describe this event. It was a way for God to declare that He had kept His promise.

The events of this day point to three amazing facts that affect every person ever born. Each of these facts is true. One doesn¡¯t contradict the other. They are 3 links in God¡¯s eternal purpose. Here they are.

1. GOD¡¯S KING HAS COME TO EARTH

Jesus was promised to the Jews as King while the 12 tribes were on their way to the promised land. Listen to Numbers 24:17,18: Thee shall come a star our of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel...out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion.

During the centuries the promise was repeated and enlarged again and again, by the prophets. The great King to come would have an everlasting kingdom. He would rule not only over Jews, but also over the Gentiles.