A Composite Reading of the Palm Sunday Record
Matthew 21:1-11 – Mark 11:1-11 - Luke 19:29-44 - John 12:12-26
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her which no-one has ever ridden. Untie them and bring them here to me. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’"
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the donkey and the colt to Jesus, they placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. The great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and 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 the king the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.
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."
So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you."
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. The whole city was stirred and asked,
"Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.
Palm Sunday
What Is It All About?
THE EXPECTED MESSIAH –
The Promise
This took place to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’"
These Jewish people knew the Old Testament Scriptures, and were in constant expectation of the arrival of the promised Messiah. There were those at the time of the birth of the Lord who were looking for, and longing for the coming! Through the life of the Lord Jesus the question had been asked, was He the Messiah! Now there was another visual declaration of His rightful claim to be King. He fulfilled the prophetic promise. But His deliverance was not to be the expected one!
He is just: not only essentially righteous as God, but just and upright in the whole course of his life as man.
Malachi 3:1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty
THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE –
The Praise
The great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and 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 the king the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Just a few days prior to this many of them had witnessed the rising of Lazarus from the dead. The words of Jesus on that occasion are very relevant to this entry into Jerusalem.
John 11:4 Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it."
John 12:17 & 18 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.
The tragedy of this event was the fickleness of the people. At this point they are acclaiming the Lord Jesus as the long expected Messiah – within a few days they were crying for His death!
James 3:9 & 10 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Matthew 12:36 & 37 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
We can learn from this example that we should not be hasty in our response, but weigh up carefully how we are going to react. We can be quite similar in our behaviour. Praising the Lord on a Sunday and living as if we did not know Him for the rest of the week!
THE EXPECTED RESULTS –
The Kingdom / The Deliverer
"Hosanna to the Son of David". Blessed is the king the King of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!"
The huge problem that was facing the people was that they did not really understand what the Lord had promised – they expected the Messiah to arrive and drive out the Roman soldiers, and all that was associated with the rule of Rome.
Luke 24:21 We were hoping he was the one who was to come and set Israel free [JBP]
While the Scriptures do promise that Christ will reign on earth, that is yet future, and it certainly will happen, but after the Coming again of the Lord Jesus for His Church, and the awful time of Tribulation that will be experienced by the people who are left behind. At the point relating to our record in the Gospels, Jesus came to be the Deliverer, Yes, but to deliver from the bondage of sin and its consequent penalty; a far more horrific bondage than that of any earthly enemy. The bondage of the earthly enemy is only for time, but the deliverance that Jesus brings is eternal!
There will be a wonderful time when Christ will ultimately rule.
Jeremiah 23:5 “The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
THE EXCITING REALITY –
Life Through Death
John 12:23 & 24 "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
These words were spoken to people who were seeking Jesus. Jesus had on a number of occasions told His followers of his mission, which would end in His death as the sacrifice for man’s sin, but they had found it hard to understand.
John 12:32 & 33 “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
John 3:14 & 15 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
Now, what He had foretold was about to be fulfilled. He was on His way to Calvary – not to a crowning. Ahead of Him was a tree – not a throne. He was to be the Saviour - not the Sovereign. He would bring deliverance from sins bondage through His death.
I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
The good news for Palm Sunday is that Easter Day is coming!
Yes, we can sing His praises, because we know that Palm Sunday leads to Easter, and Easter means resurrection – new life – abundant life – eternal life, for us, because of Jesus.
John 14:19 In just a little while the world will not see me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you will, too.
