• When the Apostle Paul went to Mars Hill in Acts 17 to preach his famous sermon about the unknown God, he made an interesting and extremely accurate statement.
Act 17:26-27 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.
• God has a desire to reveal Himself to mankind and always has.
• John said of Jesus, “Joh 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”
• I want you to understand today that God wants you to know Him.
• Look at the back wall with me this morning.
• God wants you know Him more as a Child of God, drawing closer to Him in love and passion.
• God wants you to know Him more as a brother or sister to other Children of God.
• God wants you to know Him more as you learn more about Him in the Word of God.
• God wants you to know Him more as they find the joy of working for His Kingdom.
• God wanted you to know Him more, He sent His beloved Son.
• He told Him, “Show them who I am. Be the living demonstration of my love and sacrifice.
• “Then I want you to die for them so you can redeem them, so they CAN know me.”
• Thus, Jesus beautifully explained, (Joh_14:7) “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
• Our task today is to know God by meeting Jesus. (Pray)
• As Jesus approaches Jerusalem for His final week on earth, the week of His greatest trial, He reveals Himself, and therefore the Father, in three ways in our passage today…. Look with me….
Mar 11:1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples.
• Jesus was now approaching Jerusalem; His final week.
• As you approach Jerusalem from the East, you find a mountain about a mile wide and 700 feet tall; the Mount of Olives.
• On the Eastern declivity of the mountain, there are two villages: Bethphage (bethfoggEE) and Bethany.
• Jesus often stayed in Bethany at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
• Everyone in the region had heard of Jesus’ great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.
• It was a safe place for Jesus.
• On the West declivity of the mountain was the Garden of Gethsemane.
• At the West foot of the mountain began the city of Jerusalem.
• The Mount of Olives overlooked the city, although the city was built on a smaller hill, known as Zion.
• As Jesus and His followers begin to climb the East side of the mountain, Jesus sent two of His disciples on a task.
• Many scholars believe he sent them into the village of Bethphage.
• He gave the good instructions.
Mar 11:2-3 and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'"
• Jesus’ instructions were clear and detailed. They always are.
• He said, “Go into the next village and look for a donkey colt. Untie it and bring it to me.
• “Someone will ask you ‘what is your business?’ taking something that doesn’t belong to you?
• “When they do, tell them the Master is going to use it briefly and send it back speedily.
Mar 11:4-6 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go.
• The disciples had seen Jesus do so many miraculous things, this probably did not at first seem spectacular to them.
• However, the demonstration of Jesus rule over the human heart is evident.
• He foresaw the possible confrontation and controlled the situation.
• He knows what to say and when to say it. HE is Lord. And He knows what to say to your heart today.
• Listen quietly for a moment and hear what He is telling you. It is important.
• These disciples faced exactly what Jesus told them to expect.
• They obeyed, and the response was exactly as Jesus foretold.
• That is the same Lord speaking to your heart today.
• Let me add, some texts read that they found the tied outside on a corner lot, where two roads intersect.
Mar 11:7-8 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
• One obscure commentary/sermon states that those who spread their cloaks on the back of the donkey were indicating they were will to serve in the kingdom with the King as leaders.
• Thus, the disciples were anticipating an opportunity to rule with this triumphant King.
• Those who spread their cloaks on the road were indicating they were willing to be ruled over as subjects of the triumphant king.
• Here, we see a parade beginning.
• Let’s not quickly pass over the size of this event.
• This was at the beginning of the Passover celebration for Jerusalem.
• By law, every Jewish male from all over the world had to attend one Passover in Jerusalem.
• However, every Jewish male within 15 miles of Jerusalem was compelled to attend every year.
• The crowd that traveled to Jerusalem in this season was massive.
• One year, according to Josephus, the high priest was instructed by the governor to keep count of the lambs sacrificed during Passover, to emphasize to the emperor the importance of heightened security.
• The count exceeded 250 thousand lambs sacrifice, each one representing a minimum of ten worshipers.
• That placed the crowd in Jerusalem to be between two to three million, a massive influx for any city, especially during those days.
• This was probably one of the best attended parades in history.
Mar 11:9-10 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!"
• Those who were entering the city with Jesus divided into two groups. One to lead and one to follow.
• It was typical of a kingly celebration or a group of Jews traveling to Jerusalem for one group leading to yell a cheer and the group to follow to respond, etc… (Psalms of Ascent, like responsive reading).
• In other words, one writer said that probably the front group would yell, “Hosanna!”
• The group in back would respond with, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
• Then the back group would lead with, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David.”
• The front group would respond with, “Hosanna in the highest!”
• Where would these groups have learned such a chant?
• The answer, Psalm 118:24-25, “Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.”
• So this was one of the Jewish Hymns. From that, can you guess what “Hosanna” means?
• You’re right. It means “Save us” or “Give us success”.
Mar 11:11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
• It had been a long day. When Jesus got to the temple, it was after 3:00 and the activity of the normal temple had wound down.
• Cleanup was underway. Vendors were taking down their booths.
• Mark does not find it significant for his Gentile readers to know what Jesus did at the temple before He left, but it will interest some of you.
• With the support of millions of sojourners and parade attenders, he did some cleaning of His own and had some arguments with the religious leaders.
• You will find it recorded in Matthew 21. You may want to check it out later.
• Mark wanted to emphasize that Jesus inspected the temple.
• This demonstrated roles that Jesus filled that were applicable to the Gentiles.
• With that, I want us to look at the images of Jesus the Messiah presented in our passage.
Jesus presents himself as:
I. Ruling Master (1-6).
• Jesus shows His lordship is several ways in our passage.
A. Sending the Disciples (1).
• He instructed His disciples to go and do a task, and they understood that what Jesus asked was more than a request.
• It was a command, marching orders.
• If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you do what He says.
B. Seeing the donkey (2).
• Commentaries and teachers enjoy discussing how Jesus knew about the donkey colt tied at the corner house in Bethphage.
• Jesus knew all things that the Father revealed to Him.
• God knows all, and He knows what lies at the intersections of your life.
• He sees your future, and has made sure the preparations are there awaiting you.
• He simply asks you to do what these disciples did; trust Him and obey Him.
C. Solving the dispute (3-6).
• Jesus told the disciples, “Someone will see you and have an issue with you taking the donkey.
• “Just tell them the Master is going to use the donkey and will return it afterwards.”
• They said it, and the matter was resolved as Jesus described.
• When you march at the Master’s command, He prepares the hearts of those you encounter.
• He is in charge of the results if we simply obey Him.
• I love this truth and it takes so much pressure off of my service.
II. Revered Monarch. (7-10).
A. Over Vocational Servants.
• Some of us have told our King that we will depend upon His provisions for our source of sustenance.
• We have followed the Call of Jesus into vocation, full-time service.
• I hope and pray that God is calling some of our youth to be full-time servants, ministers, missionaries and leaders in His Church and Kingdom.
• We throw our cloaks over the donkey and trust Jesus for our protection and supply.
B. Over Volunteering Servants.
• Many good, Christian servants are called to work in the public and depend upon the economy for a salary and supply.
• There is no dishonor in that. As a matter of fact, that is a high calling.
• When you work among the world and stand with integrity, honesty and His mission, as called by your Revered King, you are a missionary.
• The world needs more committed, sold out Christians who live by a higher standard than the selfish ways of the World.
• Those people in your pathway need to see the King’s message come alive in your life.
• They will if you remember to live for Your King.
C. Over Vainly Seditious.
• There were, of course, some along the parade that were there to criticize.
• They kept their cloaks and other passages tell us that they tried to contend with the followers.
• Yet, Jesus was their King, too, whether they knew it or not.
• Listen, every knee will bow and every tongue will that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father.
III. Righteous Magistrate.
A. He judged worship.
• Jesus is not pleased with all attempts of worship. He gives no “A” for effort.
• He still judges our worship today.
• Jesus told the woman at the well, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24.
• Jesus’ problem with the religious worship of Israel is that it had drifted from being God centered to being focused on the elements and activities of worship.
• That should cause us to pause today and realize that Jesus is watching this worship service.
• He is not looking at the order of service, but the spirit and truth of the service.
• He is looking at our hearts to see if we are truly worshiping, submitting to His authority and callings.
• If you are not worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords today, if you are not fellowshipping with Him and rejoicing in His presence, please don’t look for something or someone to blame.
• In Jesus’ letters to the seven Churches in Asia in Revelations 2-3, he wrote to the deadest, phoniest, worldliest and most sinful Church of all in Chapter 3:14-22.
• He tells the Church they lack passion and dependence upon Him.
• He said they were being refused by God unless they repented.
• Notice He never mentions their order of service or selection of songs.
• He doesn’t mention the quality of the pastor.
• He mentions their lukewarm, self-dependent hearts.
• However, He gives a promise to anyone who wants a passionate relationship with Him will be received.
• In that dead Church, he says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
• Obviously, Jesus is concerned about what we sing and what we preach (truth).
• But the individual responsibility for worship is on each of us: our spirit of worship.
• Jesus still judges that way today. Will you fellowship with Him in spirit and in truth today?
B. He will judge words and works.
• One day, believers will stand before Jesus Christ and our works will be tried.
• The Apostle Paul gives us a good description of that judgment.
• 1Co 3:11-15 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
• If you are saved, you will stand before Jesus and all of what you say and do will be brought up on the stadium video screen.
• Christ will judge every word and deed you do, for He is the judge.
• Jesus previously warned, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37.
• Thoughtless words are judged with the same judgment as wicked deeds.
• Eph 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
• “I’m just saying.” We say that sometimes. Like just saying it isn’t so bad.
• But our works and words will both be judged by Christ.
• Oh, be careful little mouth what you say, For the Father up above is always looking down in love, Oh be careful little mouth what you say.
• We will give an account to Jesus, this King who rode into Jerusalem on a peaceful donkey.
C. He will judge the world.
• A quick note on this to those who have not trusted in Christ.
• Let me just read to you the Great White Throne Judgment.
• Rev 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
• Let’s explain the books briefly so we will all have the picture.
• The scripture said that the books were opened and the judgment came from what was written in the books.
• If you have not trusted Christ, your most righteous and best deeds fall short of God’s standards.
• So the sentence of guilty will be read and the punishment phase will begin.
• The punishment will come from the Book; the other Book opened.
• If your name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, in other words you have not been saved, your sentence will be pronounced.
• “…if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
• If your name is written in the book of life, you are forgiven.
• It will be Jesus sitting on that Judges throne too.
• Joh 5:22-23 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
• Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you know Him as Master and Lord?
• Do you know Him as King of Kings? Do you know Him as Judge of All Mankind?
• That is the Jesus we worship today. (285, where ever He leads, I’ll go).
• Ill. (Gregory of Nazianzus, A.D. 381.) He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.
• Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water.
• Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King.
• Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons.
• Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears.
• Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world.
• Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.
• Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.
Much of my sermon preparation draws from years of study, reading and hearing sermons. Examples and illustrations are often dawn from many resources, some of whom are not noted. Most of those years of preparation were not with the intent of publishing sermons and inadequate citation was therefore practices. No attempt is made to claim any thought as original and no slight is intended from any source used. Since I began sermon publication I have attempted to include proper credit and citation of sources.
