The Road To Victory
Luke 19:35-44
Today is "Palm Sunday", this is a day where we commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. 7 days before our Lord was crucified, He presented Himself to Israel as the "promised Messiah & King". This was a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. But the majority of people who witnessed this event did not understand its significance. However, many who were present worshipped and praised Jesus' name. Matthew tells us that a multitude of people “went before and cried out, saying: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ " ...Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)
Oh how quickly things change! Within a few short days the people who should have welcomed their King rejected Him! Some of the same people who cried Hosanna, on Sunday would cry crucify Him, before the week was over! On Sunday Jesus was being worshipped, and on Friday He was hanging on a cruel cross.
After the horrific events of the crucifixion, Jesus would bow His head and die. They would place His body in a borrowed tomb. And on the next Sunday Jesus would rise from the grave in great power and victory. Because of His victory, we have the opportunity to be victorious as well!
Jesus had walked the earth for some 33 years, He had fulfilled many prophecies, He had preached with great power and authority, He had worked many miracles, and He had changed countless lives. Now the time had come for Him to accomplish God's plan of redemption.
The events of passion week began on a dusty road just outside of Jerusalem. That road would lead to pain, sorrow, anguish and death, but it would end in victory. Today I want to examine the events of Christ's triumphal entry and consider this thought... “The Road To Victory”
This word “Triumphal” means to celebrate a victory
Last season after the Astros won the World Series, there was a parade and a celebration on the streets of Houston. After Alabama won the NCAA National Championship in January, there was a parade and a celebration on the streets of Tuscaloosa. After the Super Bowl last month there was a parade and a celebration for the Eagles in Philadelphia. Sports teams and their fans go all out when celebrating a great victory.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem a great celebration took place. The Savior would soon be victorious over death and Hell. At Calvary, Jesus was victorious in securing our redemption!
- As we travel this "Road To Victory" there are 5 facts that I would like to consider. The first truth that I would like to examine is:
I. THE PROPHECY ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY - v29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 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. 32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
It may not seem very important to you that Jesus borrowed a donkey and rode it into the city. But my friend this is a very significant part of this story. This was a direct fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. - Zechariah 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.
God's prophet Zechariah spoke these words in 520 BC. Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians 66 years earlier. In Zechariah’s day, Jerusalem was still in ruins and the process of rebuilding had just begun. But Zechariah spoke of a day when the Messiah would come and Jerusalem will be filled with His glory.
Many people rejected Jesus from the very beginning. John 1:11 tells us that "He came unto His own and His own received Him not".
Many of the people who would turn on Jesus in the following days came to a place where they did not believe that He was the Promised One. But Jesus would fulfill many prophecies during passion week. One of them being the fact that He rode into the city on a donkey. Each and every prophecy that He fulfilled proves that He was exactly who He said He was!
Scholars says that the probability of 1 man fulfilling just 8 of the prophecies referring to the Messiah is 1 in 100 Trillion, and Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies the first time He came. And He will soon fulfill another prophecy, and that is the prophecy of His return! He said He would rise from the grave and He did. He said He would come in the clouds one day and you can rest assured, HE WILL!
- Prophecy was fulfilled on the road to victory, and as we move further down this road we will also see:
II. THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY
As Jesus rode into the city, there was a multitude of people present. In that multitude were several different types of people. Some were followers, some were enemies and some were skeptics.
- Verses 29 & 30 show us that:
A. SOME WERE FOLLOWERS - v29b “He sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
Many of Christ's followers were in attendance that day. His 12 Disciples were there. These are those men that He had personally chosen and ordained to be with Him.Many of His other followers were present as well - v37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
These followers were not just present... they were "rejoicing and praising God for all the mighty works they had seen!" - These people were thrilled to see the Savior! They were overcome with awe because of His mighty works.
- But that was not the case for everyone in that crowd. As you survey the crowd on the victory road you will see that some were followers, but some were enemies.
B. SOME WERE ENEMIES - v39 and some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
It seems that the enemies of Christ are never too far away. The Pharisees were some of the most ardent enemies of the Savior. Throughout His ministry, wherever He went the Pharisees would soon arrive. Time and time again they attempted to trip Him up in theological debates. On this day Some of the Pharisees demanded that He “rebuke His disciples”. Though the Pharisees did not like it, Jesus accepted the praises of the people.
Whether men will praise Christ or not He must be praised. Jesus said that if the multitude had remained silent, God would have given the stones a voice to praise the Messiah. There was never a shortage of those who were enemies of Christ. While on this earth He would deal with accusations, oppression and persecution from the Pharisees, Sadducees, Chief Priests, Scribes and the Elders.
Things are not much different today. Whenever Jesus is present, His enemies won’t be too far away.
- There was another group present in the crowd that day. Some were followers, some were enemies and some were skeptics.
C. SOME WERE SKEPTICS
Notice the term “multitude”. There was a great crowd present and it is a safe assumption that there were some who were skeptical. They were not quite enemies of Christ like the Pharisees but they were just not convinced that He was who He said He was.
In the world we live in today the same groups of people still exist. There are followers of Christ, there are enemies of Christ and there are some who are skeptical concerning Christ! In fact there are likely some from each category present with us today!
- There were many different kinds of people on the road to victory. And we are told that many of them sang the praises of the Lord Jesus. In verses 35-38 we see:
III. THE PRAISE ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY
A multitude of people “went before and cried out, saying: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ….“ Hosanna in the highest!"
This word "Hosanna" means "help, I pray" or "save, I pray,” Hosanna has become a shout of praise and adoration.
- What exactly did they praise Him for? Verse 37 shows us that:
A. THEY PRAISED HIM FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE - v37 the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen.
These people joined together in praise of the Lord for what He has done. Notice again - "the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice"
I would imagine that the atmosphere of worship was amazing on that day! An entire multitude joining together, shouting and praising the Messiah for His mighty works must have been a sight to see!
We could learn at thing or two from this multitude of Christ followers. The fact is, we have even more reasons to rejoice and praise our Savior. We are living on this side of the Cross. We know more than that crowd knew! We know that Jesus was crucified, we know that He rose from the grace, we know that He ascended, we know that one day soon He is coming back for us, we know that we will live with Him throughout eternity! We also know that He has defeated sin Satan, death, Hell and the grave. Knowing all that we know should motivate us to join together with a loud voice and shout praises to our King!
- That crowd didn't just praise Him for what He had done...
B. THEY PRAISED HIM FOR WHO HE WAS - v38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
John's Gospel tells us that these people had palms branches in their hand. Palm branches symbolize victory and triumph. Through His death, Jesus would conquer principalities and powers. He would secure our victory, therefore it was fitting that He should have the victor’s palms laid before him.As this crowd praised Him they referred to Him as: “Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” -- “Son of David” -- “the King of Israel” -- “The King that comes in the name of The Lord”
They praised Him for who He was and we should do the same. Let praise Him for the fact that: He is Emmanuel, He is Lord, He is Master, He is Savior, He is our Comforter, He is our Healer, He is our burden bearer, He is our friend, He is the ultimate conqueror and so much more! Let us praise Him because He is King of Kings and Lord or Lords! May we ever praise Him for who He is!
- As we continue lets us also examine:
V. THE PERCEPTION ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY- v41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
As Jesus came near Jerusalem, He saw the city and began to weep. This was a time of triumph and a time of praise, but Jesus is weeping. He was not weeping because of the pain and death that He would soon face. He wept because He knew what the people would endure because they rejected Him.
In verses 41-44 Jesus shares a prophecy concerning Jerusalem's future. And that prophecy was fulfilled less than 40 years later. The Romans overwhelmed the city, and "laid it even with the ground." Titus commanded his soldiers to dig up the city, and the whole area was leveled. Also the citizens were laid even with the ground. There was barely "one stone left upon another." This was for them crucifying Christ... this was because "they knew not the day of their visitation."
Jesus knew what was coming… He knew what the people would face and it caused Him to weep. Even knowing of what they would do to him, Jesus still loved these people! This goes to show us what a loving, compassionate Savior Jesus is!!!
Jesus had compassion on Jerusalem that day, and He has compassion on lost souls today! This means that if you have never surrendered to Him, you have the opportunity to be saved today!
We have seen the Prophecy, the People, the Praise, and the Perception on the Road to Victory. Finally, I would like to conclude this message by looking at:
IV. THE POWER ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY - v37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Notice that the “multitude of disciples” praised Him for “all His mighty works”
The first time He came the people saw many of "His mighty works". But the truth is, in many ways Jesus was limited the first time He came, but things will be much different the next time He comes!!!
I would like to share a few thoughts borrowed form a sermon by Bro. Jerry Shirley: http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/view-from-the-donkey-jerry-shirley-sermon-on-easter-palm-sunday-90033.asp
The first time He came as a lowly carpenter, when He returns, He will come as a risen conqueror!
The first time He came riding on a donkey, when He returns, He will be riding a white horse.
The first time He was mocked & scorned, when He returns, men will fear & Tremble.
The first time He came weeping, when He returns He is coming with a shout!
The first time He came to redeem man, when He returns He will rule all of mankind.
The first time He came alone, when He returns He is coming with Saints & Angels.
The first time He was mocked and scorned, when He returns His enemies will be under His feet.
The first time He had nails in His hands, when He returns He will possess a Rod of Iron.
The first time He hung on a cross, the next time He will sit on a Throne.
The first time He was judged in Pilate’s Hall, when He returns He will be the Judge.
The first time men put Him to death, when He returns He will destroy the enemies of God!
The first time He was meek & lowly, when He returns He will come in power & glory.
The first time He wore a Crown of Thorns, the next time He will wear the Crown of Crowns.
The first time He was called King of the Jews, He will return as the King of Kings.
The first time He came as “a lowly Nazarene", The next time He is coming as the “ Lord of Lords”
There is coming a day when Jesus will return in great power and glory!! Are you ready for His arrival??
Jesus traveled that road to victory in order to redeem you! Everything that He endured during passion week, He endured for you! On Sunday He made His “Triumphant entry” into Jerusalem He was worshiped and praised by many Sadly, many of the same people would turn on Him a few days later. He would face great agony in The Garden of Gethsemane, He would be betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, abandoned by His disciples, seized and arrested by His enemies, then He would be falsely tried and convicted. He would hear the crowd cry “Crucify Him” and He would then be scourged, beaten, stripped, mocked and Crucified. They would place His body in a borrowed tomb, but praise God He would come out of that tomb 3 days later to live forever more!! He was then seen by His disciples and many other witnesses, He would then ascend to Heaven to sit down at the right hand of the Father, but He left us with the promise that one day He would return. Soon He will split the eastern sky, with a shout and with the sound of a trumpet. He will call us out of this old world of sorrow and as the scriptures says "so shall we ever be with the Lord".
My friend, do you know Him? Do you have a personal relationship with Him. If you do, then you possess great assurance concerning the future.
But if you do not know Him, let me warn you one day you will die! You will stand before Jesus in judgment! You will bow and confess that He is Lord! You will be cast into an everlasting lake of fire! But it doesn't have to end this way.
In Romans 6:23 we are told that "the wages of sin is death." But through Jesus' sacrifice, your sin debt was “paid in full” at Calvary. If you will trust Him, you can be delivered from your sins today! Forgiveness, Salvation and eternal life are available because Jesus traveled "The Road To Victory".
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