The Miracles and the Ministry of the Messiah in the Book of Mark
Week 4: ‘Rejoicing in His Righteousness’ (Palm Sunday)
Mark 11:1-11
Crossroads Community Church
Rev. Ricky A. Rohrig Sr., Founding Pastor
March 29, 2015
How many of tired of turning on the television, listening to the radio, watching the evening news, reading on social media about bad news? We all know that the media publishes, promotes, and produces a lot of negative press, why? Because for some twisted bizarre, unknown reason to simpletons, that’s what sells. What about good news?
How many of you like to hear and share good news? Does anybody have some good news that happened to them this week? Good news should be shouted from the roof tops, tweeted to all your tweeter friends, blasted all over your facebook page, text to all your friends, told to all your family, communicated with your co-workers, and ultimately letting everyone you know some good news, why? Because everyone not only likes to hear and receive good news, but some people need some good news amidst the negative culture we live in. SO, how about some great new, or the best news? Two words: Jesus Christ. These two words and this man, changes everything and when you get to know Jesus Christ for yourself everything in you, around you, and through you changes because of Him, for Him, and in Him!
That’s is what I want to minister today, this Palm Sunday about the proclamation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His triumphal entry and the importance of our Messiah, and the message is entitled, Rejoicing in His Righteousness from Mark 11:1-11.
Mark 11:1-11
1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage (BEHTH-fuh-dzhee)
*(Bethphage (in Aramaic) ‘place of young figs.’)
A village on the Mount of Olives, on or near the road from Jericho to Jerusalem and near Bethany)*
Jesus is telling them very specifically where to go
and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
These two places were about a mile apart
2 And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
Jesus says once you get to where I have instructed this is what you do…
3 And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
Jesus says people may question you
As a Christian when you are questioned are you ready, willing, and able, to answer?
4 And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
They listened and obeyed Jesus
5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
Just as Jesus predicted
6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
They remembered and replied according to what Jesus taught them
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
So let’s talk about Palm Sunday a little more in depth…
The day we remember the "triumphal entry" of Jesus into Jerusalem
First of two entries into Jerusalem
Exactly one week before Jesus’ resurrection (Mark 11:1-11)
We refer to it as “Palm Sunday” because of the palm branches that were laid on the road as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem.
Since it was Passover, there were probably about 2 million people in and around Jerusalem. This was the only time in His ministry that Jesus actually planned and promoted a public demonstration. Up to this time, He had cautioned people not to tell who He was, and He had deliberately avoided public scenes.
Why did Jesus plan this demonstration? For one thing, He was obeying the Word and fulfilling the prophecy…
450-500 years prior
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 an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Zechariah 9:9 - predicted that the Messiah would be king of the Jews, or Israel
4 facts about Israel’s King:
He is just, righteous
He has salvation
He is lowly
He will appear to Israel riding on an ass
Palm Sunday is a fulfillment of prophecy
Mark 11:7-9
7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
8 And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
Also from the Prophet Daniel's "seventy sevens" prophecy:
Daniel 9:25
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Beginning of the first period of seven weeks to rebuild Jerusalem after the captivity
Following then, was the second period of sixty-two weeks from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the crucifixion of the Messiah was a period of 483 years (Nehemiah 2; John 19:30-31)
John 1:11 tells us,
"He (Jesus) came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."
The same crowds that were crying out "Hosanna" would cry out "crucify Him" five days later (Matthew 27:22-23).
Mark 11:9
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
Hosanna This Hebrew expression, meaning “help” or “save us,” developed into a liturgical expression of praise.
It is a Syriac word, and was a form of acclamation used among the Jews. It was probably used in the celebration of their great festivals.
Listen to Mark 11:10-11:
10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
11 And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
Now I want to go to a parallel passage in Matthew’s gospel
Matthew 21:10-11
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved*, saying, Who is this?
*to shake, agitate, cause to tremble
If they would have known the answer to this question they would have realized what was about to place in a few days
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the **prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
**the prophet Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15
Deuteronomy 18:15
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Practical application:
Good news is what we all like to receive. Sometimes we are going through a season of waiting and possibly expecting good news, while other times it comes in an unexpected way, form or fashion. That is what happened on Palm Sunday, good news arrived on the scene but not in the manner that most people expected. Just like when Jesus was born He took the unlikely route:
Born to a virgin, who was impregnated by the Holy Spirit
Born into a family that the earthly father was not his biological one
Born in a place that was barely fit for animals
Born without the pomp and circumstance
Born into this world without the glitz and glamour
Born into a place that was not really known for anything
So we fast forward to the time that Jesus decides to publicly introduce himself to the world:
Remember Jesus has been on the scene for a while performing many miracles, but was telling others not to tell people who He was
But now was the time and in story tale fashion we would expect this to be a no holds barred event, but look how Jesus came to and for His people:
Riding a donkey - In the ancient world when a king rode a horse, it symbolized war. When he rode a donkey, it symbolized peace.
Jesus once again does the unexpected by riding a donkey to prove a point
That He is the Prince of Peace
The people missed the symbolism. They expected Him to lead a rebellion against Rome, and when He did not, the shouts of “Hosanna” quickly became the cry of “Crucify Him.”
How many times have you heard people say
God let me down
Why didn’t He do that
Why did He do that
Some people then, just like some people now, want Jesus on their terms and conditions and if He is not they will turn their back on Him.
God doesn’t work on our terms and timetable
We can’t demand and tell God what to do, when to do it, or how to do it
What we can and need to do is pray, seek God’s , have faith in Jesus, and trust the Holy Spirit with our lives EVERYDAY, and know and believe that everything will work out according to Hi will, His timing, and His purpose for our lives.
But you need to know Jesus loves you today, yesterday, and forevermore not conditionally, but unconditionally.
So as we prepare for Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Day where are you at in:
Do you trust God completely, no matter what?
Is Jesus Christ the most important relationship in your life?
Do you seek the Holy Spirit in all you do?
Do you feel in your heart today 100% that if you died today you would go to heaven?
If you answered no to any of these questions we want to pray for you and with you.
Finally:
Is there unresolved sin in your life
Are there relationships that have been broken and need reconciled
Are you doing all you can, while you can, to be the best Christian to yourself, your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and enemies
Are you purposely living out the gospel by pointing others to Christ or encouraging others to get closer to Christ?
Last week was DOD: Day of Deliverance, today is DOC, day of commitment so I am asking you as the Holy Spirit begins to minister to you what do you need to commit to, recommit to, or do differently in your life?
Will you come so we can pray for you and with you, and a quick side note, you don’t have to go into detail if you don’t want to.
Let’s continue to worship and praise God and ask you to come during this last song, Hosanna, God help us, Jesus save us! Holy Spirit lead us!!!
