2012.04.01.sermon.PALM SUNDAY
By William Akehurst, HSWC
Interesting that we would celebrate Easter in the spring time.
For spring is the time of refreshing, the re-awakening of the earth.
Glorious beauty surrounds us as the buds and blooms open to the sunlight.
This is something new, this is something good.
Winter is past. We’ve just come through the dead of winter, and now new life is spreading all around us.
New life is shouting out.
Nature is shouting out!
We need to shout it out too!
The message is in the details.
The Donkey, the animal of peace.
-Coming in peace
-The Prince of Peace
The Palms
-Symbol of triumph and victory in Jewish tradition
The Praise
-Hosanna
-Hoshana (Hebrew)
-Used to express praise and adoration to God
-A shout of fervent and worshipful praise
-Save, I pray or Save now! (A cry for salvation)
-A declaration of praise
A declaration of praise to be shouted out.
Don’t keep it in. Shout it out loud. Speak it out loud.
Scripture Reference:
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19.
Jesus proclaimed his divinity when he told his disciples to get the donkey and referred to himself as “The LORD”.
Riding on the colt of a donkey fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9.9. This is the only instance in which the bible tells us of Jesus riding an animal.
Why the donkey? Why not a stallion? In those days, the Warrior would race through the city enroute to war on a mighty steed. After the battle was over, and the victory won, the warrior would return upon a low donkey or horse, to be down to the level of the people, to receive their praise. The donkey represented peace, and the stallion represented war.
Jesus rode upon the low donkey, as victor over the battle for our souls and the Prince of Peace.
As they shouted Hosanna Matthew 21:9, “Save Now” as it means, little did they realize what they were proclaiming. Jesus knew what was to happen, and that the timing was now. He was making his journey to SAVE NOW.
Tossing their cloaks or coats in the path of Christ was an act of submission. They recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Prophecy and the only time Jesus rode an animal
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey.
Jesus refers to himself as LORD
Luke 19:31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
SAVE NOW! HOSANNA, YOSH-ANA
Matthew 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Luke 19:39-40 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
• Psalms 118:25-26 25 Save now (YOSH-ANA), I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
While the crowds greeted him waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna, we realize that this was the beginning of Jesus’ journey to the cross.
In the details of the records of this event, we find the following key points:
Defining Moment: Jesus is LORD
Victory Celebration: The Donkey and the palm branches and cloaks in the street
Declaration: A Joyful Shout. Hosanna in the Highest. Save Now in the Highest!
Journey to the Cross: Journey to the finish. The final approach. The path least traveled.
They proclaimed and Shouted in the Streets: HOSANNA, SAVE NOW!
And that is exactly what Christ Jesus, Yeshua Hammashiach Jesus the Messiah
Question for Reflection:
The crowds did not see Jesus as he truly was, placing their personal desires on him instead.
So the question is - Who is Jesus for you?
Is he someone whom you want to satisfy your selfish wants and goals?
or is he Lord and Master who gave up his life to save you from your sins?
If you need Jesus to save you, and have never done so before, Shout it out. HOSANNA, SAVE ME NOW LORD! Amen.
