Point of View – one person sees tragedy, another sees opportunity. Both see the same event! Palm Sunday - It was a time of Cheers and Tears.
Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem was planned out for a long time. Not just the months of travel – but the events of Passion Week were planned out before the world was created. Jesus is the “Lamb who was slain at the foundation of the world.”
There were hints placed throughout scripture. Prophets spoke of this week – possibly unknowingly – but with great detail. And the prophecies will be fulfilled in amazing detail. A Savior is coming to town. But what does that mean for those people on hand to witness the event? What does it mean to you? Cheers and Tears – for whom?
Mark 11:1-11 Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Hosanna – Praise yes, but also, “Save Us!” What could those words mean? Save us from whom? Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The kingdom of our father David! These words are explosive and have a dangerous, volatile meaning. Explore the point of view from different characters in the story – SAVE US!
1. Jerusalem – Priests and Religious leaders - Rome – Pilate wash his hands
Rome not so bad – Pax Romana – goal was peace and prosperity
They were far better than the Greeks before them, or the Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians. But for the religious leaders, SAVE US meant save us from Jesus! There had been trouble, rumors, the priests were uneasy, better for one man to die than a nation perish. And all this comes about at Passover; we’ll have a riot on our hands.
2. The disciples – Zealots & Fishermen, Judas and Peter
Saved – to be promoted from the bottom to the top! Jesus had shown all the classic signs of being the Messiah they hoped for. Heal the sick; restore sight to the blind, make the lame walk and the deaf hear. He raised the dead!
Charlie Peacock “If you only knew how bad people want to get a look at you
The multitudes are waiting, waiting on pins and needles. For the one more famous than the Beatles”
3. The crowd – Cloaks & Branches – Rebel flag
For 6 centuries people have been aching for a Savior, like the Maccabees - someone who would deliver them from Greece. Now deliver us from Rome – Zealots (Simon) were willing to raise the sword.
Jesus came into town lowly riding on a colt or donkey. When people saw him they cheered because they believed he was there to save them and stake God’s kingdom on earth. What we think we need to be saved from isn’t always what God intends us to be saved from.
Zachariah 9:9. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
4. The colt and its owner – known to Jesus? – or honored to donate
Jesus was not telling his disciples to go Hotwire a donkey for him. Why a donkey that has never been ridden? Ancient tradition forbids anyone but the King to ride his donkey or colt. The donkey has a red carpet created by the close of the people. Imagine how that donkey must have felt, “I must be someone special!”
5. Bethphage – city of figs (unripe figs) City built at the direction of the Sanhedrin
To this day, there is an annual Palm Sunday procession that travels from Bethphage to Jerusalem. Other seat for the Sanhedrin – seat of Law – Deut. 17 Red Heifer alter – ashes to purify ATONEMENT. Place outside the city limits for the sacrifice that would cleanse the Jews. Not far from this place is the location outside the camp where Jesus would be crucified. To cover the sins of the world. If they only knew.
6. Jesus – Kingdom is at hand – but not like you think! This king came to die.
Path to Jerusalem would likely pass the Tombs of the Prophets – shortly after passing this holy place, Jesus wept. Behind him were the tombs of the prophets, slain not by outsiders, but by Jews. Ahead, he could see the shimmering golden pinnacle of the temple, a tomb of its own in a way. If you only knew! Jesus was fulfilling the prophecies scattered throughout the OT. Listen to some of the other chilling prophecies this journey of Jesus fulfilled:
Isaiah 50:6-7 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
Cheers all around, except for one – Jesus looked at the city through tears. So many times He tried to get through to them. He sent prophets, He worked miracles. Nothing seemed to really wake them up. Even the ones who were cheering Him on did so for selfish reasons. They wanted Jesus to tend to their agenda, to rescue them.
Jesus set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem. Ultimate destination was the temple
Hosanna – Save us – still a prayer today, from the lips of many. My child is sick, my marriage is killing me, my health is failing, I have no purpose, no direction. Save ME!
Saved – from what – to what?
One of the most dangerous things you can do is to confront people when their ideas are wrong. Jesus had the courage to do this. He had the courage to enter Jerusalem boldly. Jesus was the fulfillment to a promise made to King David
Davidic covenant 2 Sam. 7. You will always have an heir to sit on the throne and rule.
God promises to build a house / dynasty through David's lineage that will endure forever. Kingdom crumbled with downfall of Zedekiah and overthrow by Babylon. He died in exile as the last king and the last thing Zedekiah saw was the execution of his sons.
There is great irony here: Ez. 11:23 - 586 BC Ezekiel saw the glory of God leave the temple leaves the east gate of the city and ascends to Bethany on the Mount of Olives
On the day we call Palm Sunday, in the triumphal entry the One who carries the brightness of God's glory descends from Bethany and the Mount of Olives and enters east gate of the holy city and went to the Temple
The glory of God that left the temple in 586 BC now returns. Yet no one understood that the King of glory was in their midst. This is why Jesus wept. To reinterpret God's promise to establish David's throne forever the Jews decided that it must not refer to literal kings but that God would raise up a king and anointed one or Messiah who would reign forever.
Save Me! Not a plea to be spoken lightly. It may require you to abandon all your props, all your hopes, all your dreams. What do you think you need rescued from? Job, Spouse, kids, parents, school, bullies, relationships? Take a moment – what is the common denominator? You are!
Next Step - Dare me to be like Jesus
Examine your life for areas that you need to be rescued (saved from).
What does Save mean to God – your Father?
How does the good news of Christ apply to that situation?
Going deeper
1. Listen to the song by Laura Story called Blessings – consider how blessings are perceived, received and given.
2. Make a list of the things you have been asking God to save you from. Is it possible that you are the one who needs to turn around the most?
3. Salvation, Repentance, Baptism, these words belong together, do you need to act on any of these?
Remember that clocks spring ahead next Saturday! You can pick up your lost hour of sleep after church
