THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING
MATTHEW 21:1-17
APRIL 14, 2019
A PASTOR’S SON CAME TO HIM AND ASKED IF HE COULD USE HIS DAD’S CAR. HIS DAD LOOKED AT THE YOUNG MAN AND SAID, “I’LL LET YOU USE THE CAR IF YOU COMPLETE THESE THREE REQUIREMENTS. FIRST: GET YOUR GRADES UP. SECOND: KEEP YOUR ROOM CLEAN. THIRD: GET A HAIRCUT.
SO, THE PREACHER’S SON BEGAN WORKING VERY HARD, AND AFTER A PEROD OF TIME WENT BACK TO HIS FATHER TO ASK FOR THE USE OF THE CAR. HE SAID: “DAD, I’VE DONE ALL YOU ASKED ME TO DO. I’VE GOTTEN A’S AND B’S ON MY REPORT CARD, AND MY ROOM HAS BEEN SPOTLESS FOR WEEKS. CAN I USE THE CAR NOW?”
TO THIS HIS FATHER REPLIED, “YES YOU HAVE SON, AND I’M VERY PROUD OF YOU. BUT IF YOU RECALL OUR CONVERSATION, THERE WERE THREE REQUIREMENTS, AND YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN A HAIRCUT!”.
THE SON LOOKED AT HIS FATHER AND SAID, “BUT DAD, JESUS HAD LONG HAIR!” THEN HIS DAD LOOKED INTENTLY AT HIM AND SAID, “YES HE DID, BUT OUTSIDE OF ONE DONKEY RIDE, HE WALKED EVERYWHERE HE WENT.”
TODAY IS PALM SUNDAY AND IT MARKS THE DAY THAT JESUS ENTERED JERUSALEM TO BEGIN WHAT WE CALL “HOLY WEEK.” IN JUST A FEW DAYS HE WOULD BE ARRESTED, TRIED, FOUND GUILTY UNDER JEWISH LAW OF BLASPHEMY AND ROMAN LAW OF SEDITION AND TREASON, AND EXECUTED OUTSIDE JERUSALEM’S WALLS AT CALVARY.
THIS ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM WAS TOTALLY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR JESUS. HE DID NOT MAKE IT A POINT TO BE NOTICED BY CROWDS IN THIS MANNER. HE WAS BY NATURE VERY HUMBLE AND LOWLY. A COMMON STATEMENT BY JESUS TO THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM WAS
JOHN 2:4: “MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME.” MEANING THE TIME HAD NOT COME FOR THE FULFILMENT OF HIS DESTINY ON EARTH.
THIS ARRIVAL INTO JERUSALEM WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. IT WAS A PLANNED EVENT. JESUS PLANNED TO ANNOUNCE HIMSELF AS KING. AS WE SHALL SEE, THE TIMING, THOSE PEOPLE PRESENT, THE HUGE CROWDS, RIGHT DOWN TO THE LOCATION OF THE TWO DONKEYS WERE ALL ORCHASTRATED BY GOD.
THIS DAY OF JESUS’ ENTRY WAS ALSO VERY DELIBERATE. THE LAW STATED ON THE TENTH OF THE MONTH THAT THE PASCHAL LAMB WAS TO BE TAKEN AND SET APART FOR THE SACRIFICE OF PASSOVER.
THE DAY THAT JESUS ENTERED JERUSALEM AS KING WAS THE TENTH OF THE MONTH. IT WAS A PRELUDE TO HIS PASSION.
THIS TIME WAS ALSO A FULFILMENT OF A PROPHECY IN DANIEL.
DANIEL 9:24-27:
“SEVENTY ‘SEVENS’ ARE DECREED FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR HOLY CITY TO FINISH TRANSGRESSION, TO PUT AN END TO SIN, TO ATONE FOR WICKEDNESS, TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, TO SEAL UP VISION AND PROPHECY AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY PLACE. 25 “KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS: FROM THE TIME THE WORD GOES OUT TO RESTORE AND REBUILD JERUSALEM UNTIL THE ANOINTED ONE, THE RULER, COMES, THERE WILL BE SEVEN ‘SEVENS,’ AND SIXTY-TWO ‘SEVENS.’ IT WILL BE REBUILT WITH STREETS AND A TRENCH, BUT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. 26 AFTER THE SIXTY-TWO ‘SEVENS,’ THE ANOINTED ONE WILL BE PUT TO DEATH AND WILL HAVE NOTHING.
JESUS ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM ON PALM SUNDAY FULFILLED THIS PROPHECY TO THE YEAR. THE LAST SEVEN IS YET TO BE FULFILLED AND THAT IS THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
THIS PASSAGE IS GOING TO SHARE THREE IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY:
1. THE PARADE WHICH IS JESUS ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM
2. JESUS DEALING WITH THE MONEY-LENDERS
3. JESUS CURSING OF THE FIG TREE.
POINT ONE: JESUS ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM
THE FIRST 11 VERSES DESCRIBE JESUS’ ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. WHEN JESUS CAME TO BETHPHAGE ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, APPROXIMATELY 5/8 OF A MILE FROM JERUSALEM, HE SENT TWO OF THEM AHEAD TO BRING A DONKEY FOR HIM TO SIT ON AS HE ENTERED.
THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT SYMBOLIC GESTURE. KINGS ARRIVING AFTER A GREAT MILITARY VICTORY WOULD COME IN ON A BEAUTIFUL WHITE STALLION. IN TIMES OF PEACE, THE KING WOULD OFTEN RIDE IN ON A COLT TO SYMBOLIZE THAT PEACE PREVAIL. JESUS WAS ENTERING JERUSALEM AS THE PRINCE OF PEACE. QUESTION: WHAT IS A PRINCE. ANSWER: A PRINCE IS A KING IN WAITING.
JESUS WOULD FULFILL A NUMBER OF PROPHECIES DURING THIS LAST WEEK, ONE OF THEM COMING FROM THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH.
ZECHARIAH 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.
THIS WAS PROPHECIED HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE CHRIST WAS BORN.
MARK’S GOSPEL TELLS US THAT THIS COLT HAD NEVER BEEN RIDDEN. IN THIS CULTURE ONLY UNUSED ANIMALS, IN THIS CASE AN ANIMAL THAT HAS NEVER BEEN RIDDEN, COULD BE USED FOR SACRED PURPOSES. JESUS COMING INTO JERUSALEM ON A DONKEY THAT HAD NEVER BEEN RIDDEN HELPED TO SHOW JESUS AS BOTH PRIEST AND KING.
THE INCIDENT WITH THE DONKEY HELPED TO SHOW JESUS’ OMNIPOTENCE. IT HELPED TO SHOW THAT JESUS WAS IN TOTAL CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. HE SENT THE DISCIPLES TO A SPECIFIC PLACE TO GET THE DONKEYS. HOW DID HE KNOW THEY WERE THERE? HOW DID HE KNOW THAT THE OWNER WOULD AGREE TO LET THE ANIMALS GO?
A DONKEY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN RIDDEN WOULD NOT TAKE KINDLY TO SOMEONE GETTING ON HIS BACK. THE URGE TO BUCK WOULD BE STRONG. YET THIS DONKEY DIDN’T BUCK JESUS, NOR EVEN TRY TO DO SO. THIS WAS SOMETHING UNNATURAL, AND WHAT IT SHOWS US IS JESUS’ OMNISCIENCE OVER THE SITUATION. HE COULD CONTROL EVEN THE ANIMALS.
THE GIFT OF THE DONKEY WAS A SACRIFICE ON THE PART OF THE OWNER. THIS WAS A PRIZE ANIMAL AS NOT EVERYONE HAD A DONKEY TO HELP WITH THE WORK. THE OWNER GAVE UP HIS ANIMALS WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WOULD EVER BE RETURNED. THE ONLY REASON HE DID IT WAS BECAUSE “THE MASTER NEEDED IT.”
IT BRINGS US TO AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. WHAT HAVE YOU SACRIFICED LATELY?
YOUR CHURCH IS FACING A DEFICIT OF OVER $4,000.00. ARE YOU READY TO GIVE MORE IN YOUR EASTER OFFERING TO HELP RELIEVE THIS?
YOUR CHURCH NEEDS YOUR LEADERSHIP QUALITIES. YET THEY CANNOT BE USED BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T SACRIFICED YOUR DREAMS AND DESIRES TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
WILL YOU COME OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE TO SERVE THE LORD?
WILL YOU AGREE TO DO THE MENIAL JOBS OF THE CHURCH TO SERVE THE LORD?
CROWDS OF THOUSANDS, PERHAPS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS LINED BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET AS JESUS RODE INTO JERUSALEM.
MOST OF THE CROWD SPREAD THEIR GARMENTS ON THE ROAD AHEAD OF HIM OR CUT BRANCHES AND SPREAD THEM ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THEM.
2 KINGS 9:12-13:
JEHU SAID, “HERE IS WHAT HE TOLD ME: ‘THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS: I ANOINT YOU KING OVER ISRAEL.’ ” 13 THEY QUICKLY TOOK THEIR CLOAKS AND SPREAD THEM UNDER HIM ON THE BARE STEPS. THEN THEY BLEW THE TRUMPET AND SHOUTED, “JEHU IS KING!”
SO YOU CAN SEE THIS WAS AN ANCIENT CUSTOM FOR CITIZENS TO HAVE THE MONARCH RIDE OVER THEM AS A SIGN OF THEIR RESPECT FOR HIM AND THEIR SUBMISSION TO HIS AUTHORITY.
THE PALM LEAVES THAT WERE USED WERE SYMBOLIC OF SALVATION AND JOY.
REVELATION 7:9: 9 AFTER THIS I LOOKED, AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD COUNT, FROM EVERY NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND BEFORE THE LAMB. THEY WERE WEARING WHITE ROBES AND WERE HOLDING PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS.
AS JESUS GOES INTO THE CITY THE CROWDS WOULD INCREASE. HE WAS THE ONE THE PEOPLE THOUGHT WOULD DELIVER THEM. THEIR CHANTS AS HE CAME BY TELL US THIS.
“HOSANNA” WAS ORIGINALLY A CALL FOR HELP AND DELIVERANCE, AND OFTEN ADDRESSED TO A KING OR TO GOD. IT WOULD BE CUSTOMARY TO SING PSALM 118:25:
PSALM 118:25-26:
LORD, SAVE US! LORD, GRANT US SUCCESS! 26 BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. FROM THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WE BLESS YOU.
THEY WOULD DO THIS AS THEY APPROACHED THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR ON THIS OCCASION CARRYING PALM BRANCHES. THESE WERE ALSO PART OF THE SONGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD SING AS THEY TRAVELED TO JERUSALEM FOR HOLY DAYS LIKE PASSOVER.
AS THEY NEARED JERUSALEM AND THE SINGING INCREASED THE PHARISEES TOLD JESUS TO GET HIS FOLLOWERS TO STOP.
LUKE 19:39-40:
39SOME OF THE PHARISEES IN THE CROWD SPOKE TO JESUS. “TEACHER,” THEY SAID, “TELL YOUR DISCIPLES TO STOP!” 40“I TELL YOU,” HE REPLIED, “IF THEY KEEP QUIET, THE STONES WILL CRY OUT.”
THIS WAS THE DAY HE WOULD BE PRESENTED AS KING, NOT OF A KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD, BUT OF THE KIGDOM OF GOD. HE WOULD NOT STOP THE PEOPLE FROM SINGING. THIS WAS HIS DAY, AND EVEN IF THE PEOPLE DID NOT SING, HE WOULD COMMAND THE ROCKS TO SING OUT AND PROCLAIM THAT HE WAS AND IS THE KING OF KINGS.
WHEN JERUSALEM WAS FINALLY IN VIEW AND JESUS WITNESSED THE GREAT CROWD OF PEOPLE, HE WEPT. BUT JESUS WAS NOT MERELY WEEPING SOFTLY. HIS CHEST WAS HEAVING AND HE WAS SOBBING AS WITH A BROKEN HEART. JOHN 3:17 STATES:
JOHN 3:17-18:
FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH HIM. 18 WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE STANDS CONDEMNED ALREADY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF GOD’S ONE AND ONLY SON
IT WAS FOR THESE THAT JESUS WEPT. HE LOOKED OUT OVER A VAST CROWD OF LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, KNOWING THAT MOST WERE NOT, NOR EVER WOULD BE A PART OF HIS KINGDOM. HE WEPT FOR THEIR PRESENT, AND HE WEPT FOR THEIR FUTURE. THOSE CONDEMNED WOULD FACE AN ETERNITY IN HELL, AND ALTHOUGH HE WOULD FACE TREMENDOUS BRUTALITY IN THE UPCOMING WEEK THAT WOULD LEAD TO HIS DEATH, HIS TEARS WERE FOR WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM, NOT TO HIM.
THE CHURCH HAS STOPPED WEEPING FOR THE LOST. WE HAVE STOPPED WEEPING FOR OUR UNSAVED LOVED ONES. WE PRAY TOKEN PRAYERS AND FEEL WE HAVE FULFILLED OUR OBLIGATION FOR THEM. JESUS HEART WAS BROKEN FOR THE LOST, AND IF OUR HEARTS AREN’T BROKEN FOR THEM AS WELL, THEN REVIVAL WILL NOT OCCUR.
POINT TWO: CLEANSING THE TEMPLE:
ON ENTERING JERUSALEM JESUS MOVED QUICKLY TO THE TEMPLE. THE PRACTICE THERE ANGERED HIM. THE TEMPLE WAS AT ONE TIME THE CENTER OF LIFE IN JERUSALEM. PEOPLE FROM ALL PARTS OF ISRAEL WOULD COME TO JERUSALEM TO CELEBRATE THE MAJOR HOLY DAYS AT THE TEMPLE.
A PLACE THAT WAS AT ONE TIME USED BY PEOPLE TO COMMUNE WITH GOD WAS NOW TURNED INTO A PLACE THAT LOOKED CLEAN ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ON THE INSIDE WAS MORALLY, AND ETHICALLY FILTHY. IT WAS A PLACE OF CORRUPTION, EXPLOITATION AND DISHONESTY. THE REASON WAS TWO-FOLD:
1. THE TEMPLE TAX:
EVERY JEWISH PILGRIM OVER THE AGE OF NINETEEN WAS REQUIRED TO PAY A TEMPLE TAX. IT WAS WHAT WE WOULD CALL A USER FEE. PEOPLE THOUGH CAME FROM ALL OVER TO WORSHIP AT THE TEMPLE, AND WITH MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF COINS. THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS INSISTED THAT THE TEMPLE TAX BE PAID WITH TEMPLE COINS, SPECIAL COINS JUST USED AT THE TEMPLE, WHICH NO ONE HAD. AS A RESULT PEOPLE HAD TO EXCHANGE THEIR COINS FOR THE TEMPLE COINS, FOR WHICH THEY WERE CHARGED EXTORTION RATES OF EXCHANGE.
2. ANIMAL SACRIFICES.
PASSOVER WAS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LAMBS WOULD BE SACRIFICED AT THE TEMPLE. YOU COULD BRING YOUR OWN LAMB, OR AS TRAVELLERS WOULD OFTEN DO, BUY A LAMB FROM THE TEMPLE LEADERS WHEN THEY GOT THERE.
IF YOU BROUGHT YOUR OWN LAMB, IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS, A FEW DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER, TO BE DECLARED ALL RIGHT TO SACRIFICE. I CAN JUST HEAR THOSE LAMBS THINKING, PLEASE FIND A BLEMISH, PLEASE FIND A BLEMISH!!
THOSE WHO INSPECTED THE LAMBS HEARD THEIR CRY AND WOULD ALWAYS FIND A BLEMISH, MAKING THEM CEREMONIALLY UNUSABLE FOR SACRIFICE.
THIS MEANT THAT ALL PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO BUY THEIR LAMBS FOR SCARIFICE FROM THE TEMPLE LEADERS. THE PEOPLE WERE CHARGED EXTORTION RATES TO BUY THESE ANIMALS THAT THEY NEEDED FOR SACRIFICE.
THIS IS WHAT JESUS SAW WHEN HE CAME TO THE TEMPLE. THE MONEY LENDERS WERE BUSY EXCHANGING CURRANCIES AND MAKING MONEY IN LARGE SUMS.
JESUS IN ANGER BEGAN TURNING OVER THE TABLES. HE WAS ANGRY FOR THE DISRESPECT BEING SHOWN FOR HIS FATHER BY CONDUCTING THIS RIPOFF OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA OF THE CHURCH.
JOHN 2:16: TO THOSE WHO SOLD DOVES HE SAID, “GET THESE OUT OF HERE! STOP TURNING MY FATHER’S HOUSE INTO A MARKET!”
THIS EVENT WAS PROBABLY THE CATALYST THAT PUSHED THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO FIND A WAY TO DESTROY HIM. JESUS WAS TOUCHING THEM IN THE POCKET BOOKS, BUT ALSO HIS POPULARITY WAS WORKING AGAINST THEM. THEY NO LONGER HAD PEOPLE FOLLOWING THEM WITHOUT QUESTION, BUT WERE NOW FOLLOWING JESUS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO STOP.
IT’S A GOOD THING THIS ISN’T HAPPENING TODAY ISN’T IT. UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGH IT IS HAPPENING. SOMETIMES IT’S FROM SO-CALLED RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO ARE IN REALITY JUST OUT TO MAKE A BUCK.
MORE LIKELY THOUGH IT IS OUR OWN SELFISHNESS AND PRIDE THAT ARE THE CULPRITS. OUR EYES ARE ON MATERIAL POSSESSIONS AND THE SIZE OF OUR BANK ACCOUNTS. WE WANT WHAT WE WANT SEEK TO SERVE OUR DESIRES FIRST. JESUS TOLD US:
MATTHEW 6:33: BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL
WHO ARE YOU SEEKING TO PLEASE TODAY? HOW IS IT WORKING FOR YOU?
EVERY YEAR WE MAKE A SPECIAL POINT TO CELEBRATE JESUS ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM. WHY NOT MAKE THIS YEAR A TIME TO CELEBRATE JESUS COMING INTO YOUR LIFE. REALIZE THAT THE REASON HE CAME TO JERUSALEM THIS DAY, THE REASON HE WAS READY TO GIVE HIS LIFE TO ATONE FOR OUR SIN, WAS FOR YOU AND ME.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AS WE SING OUR CLOSING HYMN TODAY. I’LL BE DOWN FRONT TO MEET YOU.
