1. Don’t you love a good parade?
One day in 1943 thousands of soldiers were preparing to leave for Europe. The Army, the Navy, and the Marines were preparing to load on the ships. The General decided to have a huge parade through New York City to seek prayer and honor for the men. Many of these brave men would never return home.
A little old lady was sweeping off her sidewalk, and she heard the commotion of the crowd. She looked up to hear the cadence of the soldiers.
She stood at attention and watched as the men marched by her.
She cried and put her shoulders back as she saw the red, white, and blue flag go by.
After a few minutes the old lady put her broom stick on her shoulder and started marching alongside of the troops.
Someone yelled out of the crowd: OLD LADY! OLD LADY GET OUT OF THE WAY! WHAT CAN YOU DO OLD LADY?
The old lady yelled back with pride: I CAN SHOW ON WHOSE SIDE I AM! She kept on marching!
2. As Jesus shows his allegiance, he finds himself in the midst of a parade of sorts. He was among the 3 MILLION in Jerusalem that day. (Josephus)
3. Matthew 21.1-9 -- Read
a. Passover occurs on the 14th Day of the Jews’ First Month (Exodus 12; Leviticus 23)
Spring time/difficult to calculate by our calendars lunar months vs. Solar/We USED to start our year in the Spring – April 1 and then changed to January 1; those who refused to switch were called, “April Fools.”
b. On the 10th Day of the First Month, Jews were to select their lambs for Passover
3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household;\\// 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in the evening. Exodus 12.3, 6
c. The family selected the lamb and took care of it for the 5 days leading up to its sacrifice – imagine how hard it would be for children (and adults) to care for this animal, treat it like a pet and then watch it die and then eat it. Sin is serious; and Costly
4. On the Christian Calendar, we refer to today as “Palm Sunday and remember what we call, “Jesus’ Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. This was actually “Lamb Selection Day” and God was presenting his lamb to the people and they misunderstood.
I. The Passover Feast of the Jews [LAMB
A. Symbolized their deliverance from Egypt – blood of the lamb saved the firstborn
B. Involved a Special Lamb:
1. One Year Old Male
2. No Blemishes
3. In Jesus’ day the custom developed of taking the lambs from the flocks of Bethlehem
a. To honor King David
b. To financially support the Sadducees who owned the flocks
4. There was to be no leftovers – share with neighbors/burn whatever is left the next day
II. Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem [Ppt. Jesus on Donkey
A. He comes the right way
1. From Bethany – The Messiah was to come from the wilderness – Isaiah 40
2. Riding a Donkey – Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9.9
a. Like owning a Lexus – “Owners” – Those who were sent went off and found it just as he had told them. Luke 19.32
b. He and the disciples had walked from Galilee to Bethany (110 miles) to make his entrance on the donkey.
3. The People understood the symbolism and were excited – “Hosanna” – Lord, save us – Psalm 118
B. The People Misunderstood Jesus
1. Brought Palm branches –
a. Happened at the Feast of Tabernacles – Reminder of wilderness wanderings – 7th month of their year/Part of their prayer for rain – shook Palm branches to make sound of rain – Had not had rain for 6 months and would die without it – “Save us.”
b. A symbol of patriotism like the Eagle for us Ppt. of Eagle – Maccabean Revolt in Second Century BC
1) Syrian domination – Antiochus IV wanted to destroy Judaism and defiled the temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar
2) Judas Maccabeus and family (priests) overthrew the Syrians; cleansed the Temple; removed and stored the altar stones for the Messiah to clean
3) Their symbol was the Palm Branch
4) The year they overthrew the Syrians, the missed the Feast of Tabernacles and held it late. From this they developed Hanukkah to commemorate the victory over the Greeks – waved Palm Branches.
5) In Jesus’ time, the Pharisee Zealots (from Galilee)were “Freedom Fighters” who tried to rebel against Rome – Their symbol – Palm Branch – thousands died by the Romans and they commemorated their victory with a coin of a grieving woman and palm branch – “In your face.”
2. People Expected a Maccabean Messiah
a. “Save us” – Psalm 118.25 – Ppt.
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
b. He wept over Jerusalem because he saw that their misunderstanding would bring destruction in AD 70.
3. He was a NON-Political Messiah
a. He rode the donkey
b. He cleansed the temple as the Maccabees – through sheep gate (death)? OR Eastern Gate – the Messiah Gate (?)
4. Jesus served an audience of ONE – tempting to be the political Messiah but he chose to be the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
5. He set the priority – John 4.34 (My food is to do the will of him who sent me)
William H. Hinson tells us why animal trainers carry a stool when they go into a cage of lions. They have their whips, of course, and their pistols are at their sides. But invariably they also carry a stool. Hinson says it is the most important tool of the trainer. He holds the stool by the back and thrusts the legs toward the face of the wild animal. Those who know maintain that the animal tries to focus on all four legs at once. In the attempt to focus on all four, a kind of paralysis overwhelms the animal, and it becomes tame, weak, and disabled because its attention is fragmented.
1. Three Feasts occur at the end of Jesus’ life (Exodus 12; Leviticus 23):
a. Passover – 14th day of the first month
b. Unleavened Bread – 15th day of the first month
c. First Fruits – the following first day of the week
Jesus died on Passover/was in the tomb on unleavened bread/rose on first fruits
2. This day – Lamb selection day – God chose his lamb – tells us to choose his lamb and live!
3. He came in as a Lamb and will return in triumph!
