Text: Mark 11:1-8, Title: Who is Jesus? Date/Place: NRBC, 5/18/08, PM
A. Opening illustration: words to Kathy Trocolli’s song, I Call Him Love,
B. Some called Him a prophet
Some called Him a saint
Some couldn’t believe their eyes
Or the words He had to say
Some called Him crazy
Some thought He was strange
But I have felt His touch and
I’ll never be the same
I call Him love
I call Him mercy
I called Him out of my darkness and pain
And He answered my need
I call Him love
I call Him healing
He is the one who has filled me with hope
And restored life to me
I call Him love
Some call Him a mystery
A power without a face
Some feel He’s a distant father
That they could not embrace
But I have felt His touch and
I’ll never be the same
C. Background to passage: Again, Jesus was on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem after coming from Perea, very much determined to carry out the Father’s will there. On the road he had been teaching about what real followership of Jesus looks like from different angles. There is a pretty abrupt shift from the incident with Bartimaeus to the entry into Jerusalem. As well as a big shift in how Jesus deals with the crowds in general, and about who he is as messiah, what it means, and how much it is broadcast.
D. Main thought: From the text we will derive what Jesus thought of Himself and the crowds thought of him as he entered Jerusalem for the last time.
A. What Jesus thought of Himself (v. 1-7)
1. Beginning with his actions in coming into Jerusalem, as well as in Jesus’ instructions to his disciples, we gain some insight as to who he was. He came to Bethpage and Bethany on the east side of Jerusalem, which was sitting nearly on top of the Mount of Olives. The rabbis and Josephus both associated the Mount with Messianic themes. So they begin there and prepare this grand entry into Jerusalem, all this after he has worked so hard to keep profiles low. He is not entering as a tourist or a worshipper, but as a king. He chose an unridden donkey and commandeered it as a king would. Then he told the disciples to tell the owner of the colt that “the Lord” needed it. And he told them with a display of divine foreknowledge exactly where the colt would be waiting for them.
2. John 18:36, 5:18, Mark 2:28, 5:19, Phillip 2:8-11, Rev 19:11-16
3. Illustration: one writer said, “that all this ‘looks like a claim to authority,’ and his actions encourage the crowd to blazon his name jubilantly from the street corners and rooftops.” “Whatever title then men may hold, they are to be listened to only on the condition that they do not lead us away from obeying God. So we must examine all their traditions by the rule of the Word of God. We must obey princes and others who are in authority, but only in so far as they do not deny to God his rightful authority as the supreme King, Father, and Lord.” –Calvin,
4. We must remember that even though the crowd may have been a little off in their perception of Jesus, He was not. Everything that he said or thought about himself was absolutely true. He is truth. And he said that too. Jesus was clearly making a statement about himself that he was King, and Lord, and Master, that he was God in the flesh, that he was Messiah, Savior, Deliverer, Spotless Lamb, Servant, Final sacrifice. We will never know the fullness of all that Jesus is; for even in heaven there will always be more excellencies and perfections about him to learn. And we constantly need to be reminding ourselves of these precious truths because these are the things about him that keep us grounded when trouble and discouragement comes. And to acknowledge him as less would be blasphemous. Do we treat him as though he was our king? Do we love his kingship? Do we live to lavish praise upon him? are you willing to lay down your earth treasures for His donkey to walk on? Is our life marked with unquestioned obedience to this King’s commands? Are you comfortable with his will for your life, even when it doesn’t line up with yours?
B. What the crowds thought of Him (v. 8-11)
1. In this case, the crowds would have included the disciples. This text demonstrates the carnal intentions of most religious people. They are all about being God-centered, as long as God is man-centered. They were wanting political deliverance. They wanted an earthly king. They were chanting religious quotations, but motivated by personal, or at best, nationalistic interests. And the disciples were egging it on! And Jesus was declaring his kingship, but just not over that kind of kingdom. And then after all the starstruckness, the crowds seem to vanish, and Jesus is left with the disciples alone in the temple. How fickle people really are. Maybe there were waiting the coup that day? Maybe they were looking for miracles or food.
2. John 18:36, 6:26-27, 66-67, Luke 9:62,
3. Illustration: One of Denmark’s leading sculptors had a burning ambition to create the greatest statue of Jesus ever made. He began by shaping a clay model of a triumphant, regal figure. The head was thrown back and the arms were upraised in a gesture of great majesty. It was his conception of Christ the King: Strong, Dominant. "This will be my masterpiece," he said, on the day the model was completed. But, during the night a heavy fog rolled into the area and sea-spray seeped through a partially opened window of the artist’s ocean-side studio. The moisture affected the shape of the model so that when the artist returned to the studio in the morning, he was shocked to find a wounded figure. The droplets of moisture that had formed on the statue created the illusion of bleeding. The head had drooped. The facial expression had been transformed from severity to compassion. And the arms had dropped into an attitude of welcome. The artist stared at the figure, agonizing over the time wasted and the need to begin all over again. But something came over him to change his mood. He began to see that this image of Christ was the truer one. Then he wrote at the base of the newly-shaped figure: "Come unto Me" Talking to Bro Danny on Thurs about how easily people become disillusioned.
4. The crowds completely missed the point of the last few years of Jesus’ ministry. He just reiterated it a few days ago in Mark 10:45. And of course, he told the disciples on the road just before that in 10:32-34. They wanted and earthly king, and got a spiritual one. How do we avoid such mistakes? 1) We remember that Jesus was not a Southern Baptist. Some of our preconceptions and traditions may not be in line with what we know about Jesus or what is taught in the bible. When that happens, we must be willing to part with tradition. We must let the mist of the word dissolve or deform our false assumptions about Jesus or the church. 2) We must constantly be examining ourselves and our motives for doing things, and making sure that they are in line with the Word of Truth. Reevaluate our life goals, our prayer concerns, our priorities and vision for the future. Make sure that you aren’t following Jesus because you are obligating him to do this or that. Follow Him because He is worthy and really King. 3) We must leave room for the Sovereignty and Mystery of God. He may not always do what we think. He may have reasons that are beyond our comprehension of Him. Don’t ever get to the place that you think you have God figured out or contained. Make sure that you follow Jesus, and not try to lead Him. 4) Pay close attention to what God speaks to you. Get it the first time. Listen to preaching/teaching well, and apply it to the heart
A. Closing illustration: The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride. He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. “I’ll show myself to them,” he thought. But they didn’t notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind. “Throw your garments down,” he said crossly. “Don’t you know who I am?” They just looked at him in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move. “Miserable heathens!” he muttered to himself. “I’ll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me.” But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the market place. “The palm branches! Where are the palm branches!” he shouted. “Yesterday, you threw palm branches!” Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother. “Foolish child,” she said gently. “Don’t you realize that without Him, you are just an ordinary donkey?” “He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest idea in philosophy. He’s the fundamental truth in theology. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick, He cleans the lepers. He forgives sinners, He discharges debtors, He delivers captives, He defends the feeble, He blesses the young, He serves the unfortunate, He regards the aged, He rewards the diligent, He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him? Well, my king is the king of knowledge, He’s the well-spring of wisdom, He’s the doorway of deliverance, He’s the pathway of peace, He’s the roadway of righteousness, He’s the highway of holiness He’s the gateway of glory, He’s the master of the mighty, He’s the captain of the conquerors, He’s the head of the heroes, He’s the leader of the legislators, He’s the overseer of the overcomers, He’s the governor of governors, He’s the prince of princes, He’s the king of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Well. I wish I could describe Him to you. But He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible, He’s irresistible. I’m trying to tell you, the Heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my king! He always has been, and He always will be. I’m talking about He [who] had no predecessor and He [who] has no successor. There was nobody before Him and there will be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him, and He’s not going to resign. We try to get prestige and honor and glory to ourselves, but the glory is all His. Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and when you get through with all of the forevers, then ’Amen’."
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
