Palm Sunday
I had a revelation this morning as I was going over my notes. I had heard that this Easter season is the earliest Easter we will ever experience in our lifetime. The next time Easter week falls this early in
the year will be in several hundred years. Our generation and the next several will not see Easter come this early.
I say that because today, I realized something.
Today is March 16, Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday. The Day Jesus was introduced to the World as the KING. The Day Jesus was shown as the Victor.
March 16…the Numbers Three and Sixteen (3:16)
Interesting. Palm Sunday 3, 16…
John 3:16. Today, the day we celebrate Palm Sunday. The Day we understand the God Loves us so much that HE sent JESUS that all we need do is Believe and will have life eternal.
Wow! That’s something to think about!
Interesting isn’t it?
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday and we can understand that Jesus IS the Savior and Messiah.
All through the old testament, we see prophesy foretelling of a coming Messiah, the King of Kings.
Throughout our new testament, we see Jesus’ life fulfilling these prophesies time and time again.
Prophesy spoken:
Zechariah 9:9
9 “ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Prophesy fulfilled:
Matthew 21:1-11
As we celebrate Palm Sunday, we see Jesus riding on a lowly donkey. Why a donkey and not a stallion?
First we have to understand the time period.
When a king or warrior was going to war, he would ride through the city on a tall white stallion. Showing strength and power, the king would ride through posed and ready for war.
When the king or warrior would return, if in victory, the king would come through the city streets upon a lowly horse. If you can picture this king on a donkey, you will see that he is on the level of the
people. Riding upon a ‘weaker’ animal, as the victory had already been won!
When Jesus entered into the city, he came in upon a lowly donkey…The Victory was already Won!
As folks saw him, I can imagine the excitement of the crowd.
There were those in front of…and behind Jesus, shouting Hosannas and praises.
There were others, who heard and came running…“Who is this? What is all the hoopla about?
I can imagine the children, looking on in wonderment. And running out into the street to see Jesus, then running back to get their friends to not miss out on the event.
The palm branches were broken off the trees and scattered about. Clothes were cast in the road to pave the way. It was excitement and a wonderful time.
But we learn that Jesus, though he rode through, realized that these folks were totally lost. The bible says that Jesus wept for the city and people. Jesus knew what was to come.
And all the while, the folks were expecting their redeemer
The Nation of Israel was looking forward to their King. They were anticipating the arrival of the one prophesied rescue them and save them.
Saw Christ as an Earthly Answer
On a Donkey
Lowly
Symbolizing Victory
Palms Waved
Coats covering the roadway
Cheering
Shouting Hosanna
REALIZE – Christ Knew What Was Going On
But they did not understand his purpose. They were looking for an earthly change.
Disciples were all about setting up the Earthly Kingdom
Disciples and people around were only beginning to understand, but saw it with worldly eyes.
Christ entered. They praised him.
On a donkey. Lowly. = Victory
Palm Branches waved fanned the King. Fans
In the old days, Palm branches were used by the servants to Fan the master. We see pictures and paintings of royalty being fanned with these big leaves.
When you see how the palm must go from vertical to horizontal, it is the image of bowing before the one to whom it serves.
Perhaps this is where the word Fan came from..
The very people who fanned where the ones who condemned
These same people on this day Praised Him. But then a few days later, they Cursed Him yelling Crucify Him.
James 3:10 tells us that from the mouth come both blessing and cursing and this should not be…
They did not understand Christ’s Purpose of Redemption
They did not see the whole picture…
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THEIR KING.
But some 2000 years later. We see the bigger picture.
We can look back and see prophesy in Zechariah 9:9. Then we see it fulfilled in Jesus’ Triumphal Entry on this Day we call Palm Sunday.
We look at the account of His Life, His Death and His Resurrection, and we see Jesus fulfilling the prophesies that foretold of His coming.
With that, we realize that Jesus IS the Savior and Redeemer.
Prophesy Fulfilled
Looking Forward
CHRIST’S RETURN - OUR SOON COMING KING!
Matthew 24:14 tells us its not too far off…when the gospel is preached in all the world to all nations, the end shall come
On Palm Sunday they celebrated the coming of the King
Today we celebrate and look forward to Christ’s return…our Soon Coming King
(MAIN POINT – ARE YOU READY?)
And of all the prophesies of the Bible, there is still one prophesy YET TO BE FULFILLED. The Prophesy that Jesus delivered to us that HE will Come Again!
We need to be READY for Christ’s return.
ARE YOU READY?
John 3:16 says that we are to BELIEVE in JESUS to have eternal Life.
THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND
Mark 1:15 says, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
THE GOSPEL IS SIMPLE
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
PROPHESY OF CHRIST RETURN IS YET TO BE FULFILLED.
HE IS COMING BACK WHEN WE NEAR THE END
Matthew 24:14, 42, 44
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HIS RETURN?
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
ARE YOU READY?
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
COMMITTEE’S:
We don’t know WHEN that will be. And we don’t need to be on the ‘Planning Committee’... We need to be on the Welcoming Committee.
HOW CAN YOU BE READY?
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
So, Today
March 16
John 3:16 in realtime
Believe IN what they referred to as this MAN we know as JESUS the CHRIST.
He’s coming back…
JESUS WILL RETURN
JESUS, THE KING OF KINGS
JESUS - OUR SOON COMING KING
Are you Looking Forward to Christ’s Return?
Are you anticipating it.
Are you Ready?
Or does the thought frighten you?
If you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, Do it now. HE’s coming back and you need to be ready.
Whether He comes back for all of us as HE foretold…or comes back for us individually at the time appointed for us to leave this earth…
Don’t let another moment go by, you don’t know at what time JESUS will Return for YOU.
ARE YOU READY AND PREPARED?
(INVITATION AND PRAYER)
