PALM SUNDAY 2023
JOHN 12:17–21 NOW THE CROWD THAT WAS WITH HIM WHEN HE CALLED LAZARUS FROM THE TOMB AND RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD CONTINUED TO SPREAD THE WORD. 18 MANY PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY HAD HEARD THAT HE HAD PERFORMED THIS SIGN, WENT OUT TO MEET HIM. 19 SO THE PHARISEES SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, “SEE, THIS IS GETTING US NOWHERE. LOOK HOW THE WHOLE WORLD HAS GONE AFTER HIM!” 20 NOW THERE WERE SOME GREEKS AMONG THOSE WHO WENT UP TO WORSHIP AT THE FESTIVAL. 21 THEY CAME TO PHILIP, WHO WAS FROM BETHSAIDA IN GALILEE, WITH A REQUEST. “SIR,” THEY SAID, “WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE JESUS.”
INTRODUCTION: TODAY IS PALM SUNDAY. THIS IS THE EVENT IN THE CHRISTIAN CALANDAR THAT REMEMBERS AND COMMEMORATES THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM. THIS ENTRY ALSO BEGINS THE LAAST WEEK IN THE LIFE OG THE LORD WHICH WILL LEAD HIM TO THE CROSS AND THE TOMB. THIS EVENT WE REMEMBER AS PART OF THE HOLIDAY OF EASTER. EASTER, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK, CELEBRATES THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE EMPTY TOMB, THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ANGELS, AND WITNESS OF HIS DISCIPLES.
IN OUR TEXT WE SEE SEVRAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE FOR THE ENTRY OF CHRIST. THERE WERE THOSE WHO SAW HIM WHEN HE RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD. THEY SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT CHRIST – THAT HE WAS COMING. THERE ARE THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO SEE HIM BECAUSE HE HAD PERFORMED MIRACLES. THEY WERE PROBABLY LOOKING FOR MORE OF THE SAME. THERE WERE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO REALIZED THAT THEY WERE LOSING GROUND TO JESUS AND WOULD ULTIMATELY SEE ONLY ONE WAY OUT – TOTAKE JESUS OUT.
AND THEN THERE WERE THESE GREEKS, WHO WERE NOT AROUND FOR LAZARUS, HAD NOT HAD AND RELATION TO THE MIRACLES, AND WERE NOT LOOKING TO CUT OFF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS.
THEY JUST WANTED TO SEE JESUS. THEY WANTED TO MEET THE LORD. I CAN’T HELP BUT IMAGINE THAT SOME 2,000 YEARS LATER, PEOPLE STILL WANT TO SEE JESUS. THE REAL JESUS.
UNFORTUNATLEY, IN A WAY THEY MISSED THAT OPPORTUNITY BY ABOUT 2,000 YEARS. BUT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE – A REMEDY. THEY CAN SEE JESUS IN YOU, YES YOU.
JESUS MENTIONED HOW HIS FOLLOWERS WOULD BE IDENTIFIED. HE WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS IN PRAYER TO KEEP CONNECTION WITH HIS FOLLOWERS. THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR GREATEST SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH GOD ON THIS PLANET HAS TAKEN UP RESIDENCE ON OUR LIVES, SEALED US FOR ALL ETERNITY AND GIVEN US HIS FULNESS.
TRANSITION: AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, WE CAN ANSWER THE CALL, “SIR WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE JESUS.” TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU FOUR WAYS YOU CAN DO JUST THAT
I. PEOPLE CAN SEE JESUS IN THE WAY WE WALK
PSALM 1:1 BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO DOES NOT WALK IN STEP WITH THE WICKED OR STAND IN THE WAY THAT SINNERS TAKE OR SIT IN THE COMPANY OF MOCKERS,
a. WHEN I SAY WHERE WE WALK, WHAT I AM TRYING TO GET ACROSS IS WHERE OUR FEET TAKE US
b. TO NOT DO THESE THINGS BRINGS BLESSING, AND CAN I SAY A VISIBLE TESTIMONY
c. THE GODLY PERSON IS ONE WHO IS NOT CHARACTERIZED BY THESE THINGS
i. THERE IS SPIRITUAL PEACE AND JOY
ii. IN CONTRAST, THEY MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD
1. STUDY
2. RETENTION
d. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE PSALMIST IS ASKING US TO DO SOMETHING THAT GOES AGAINST OUR NATURE. WE DO NOT NATURALLY BEND TOWARDS RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR BUT AWAY FROM IT.
e. TO ACT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS OTHERS TO SEE JESUS IS A CONCIOUS CHOICE. THIS IS WHAT MAKES IT SO VISIBLE – IT GOES AGAINST HUMAN NATURE
f. WE DO NOT WALK IN STEP WITH THE WICKED
i. DO NOT ALLOW THEIR COUNSEL TO IMPACT OF INFLUENCE YOUR BEHAVIOR
ii. 1 JOHN 5:19 WE KNOW THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE EVIL ONE.
iii. IN A WAY THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF LIVING A LIFE THAT DOES NOT POINT PEOPLE TO JESUS
iv. THERE IS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE TO LISTENING AND HAVING WHAT WE LISTEN TO IMPACT OUR ACTIVITY.
v. WE REAP THE COUNSEL WE KEEP
g. DO NOT STAND AROUND WITH STAND IN THE WAY OF SINNERS
i. THIS IS THE NEXT STEP THAT TAKES US AWAY FROM A LIFE THAT POINTS PEOPLE TO JESUS
ii. THIS IS THE BOTTLENECK EFFECT. AN ACCIDENT HAS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD AND NOW PEOPLE ARE SLOWING DOWN TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED, CREATIGN A BOTTLENECK.
1. IN ESSENCE THEY WANT TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED
2. AND NOW, WE EVEN TAKE OUT OUR CELL PPHONES SO WE CAN RECORD THE INCIDENT AND LOOK AT IT LATER – GREATER REVIEW!
iii. THE WORD FOR STAND COMES FROM THE WORD FOR COLUMMN, AND CARRIES WITH IT THE MEANING OF STOPPING AND FIXING A POSITION
1. THE MOVEMENT WE ARE STOPPIG IS THE MOVEMENT IN THE WAY GOD WOULD HAVE US TO GO.
2. WE HAVE NOW STOPPED PROGRESSING IN THE DIRECTION GOD WOULD HAVE US TO GO
GALATIANS 5:16–17 SO I SAY, WALK BY THE SPIRIT, AND YOU WILL NOT GRATIFY THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH. 17 FOR THE FLESH DESIRES WHAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT WHAT IS CONTRARY TO THE FLESH. THEY ARE IN CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER, SO THAT YOU ARE NOT TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
3. THE MOMENT WE STOP WALKING WE ARE PUTTINGOURSELVES IN CONFLICT WITH GOD
iv. TWO PEOPLE WHO CHARACTERIZED “STANDING IN THE WAY”
1. LOT – HE SAW THE WEALTH OF SODOM. HE WANTED IT AT THE COST OF HIS FAMILY
2. THE PRODIGAL SON – WANTED WHAT THE WORLD HAD LOST HIS INHERITANCE AND FAMILY
3. ACHAN – WHO FOR THE WANT OF GOLD AND GARMENTS FROM JERICHO LOST HIS FAMILY AND LIFE
4. THERE IS ALWAYS A PRICE TO PAY FOR STANDING IN THE WAY
h. NOT SITTING WITH THE SCORNFUL
i. THIS IS THE THIRD STEP WITH OUR FEET THAT KEEP US FROM POINTING OTHER PEOPLE TO JESUS
1. FIRST ARE FEET WERE WALKING
2. THEN ARE FEET WERE STANDING
3. NOW OUR FEET ARE RESTING – AND AN OBJECT AT REST TENDS TO STAY AT REST. THE ONLY TIME WE WILL CHNGE IS WHEN IT IS MORE PAINFUL TO REMAIN THE WAY WE ARE.
a. THEN WE HAVE TO WONDER HOW MUCH WE WANT TO BE WHERE WE ARE
b. HAVE TO WONDER WHAT GOD WILL NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET US BACK TO BEING WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE
ii. THIS IS WHERE WE GET IMMERSED, SOAKED AND SATURATED WITH LIVING IN WHAT WE STOPPED TO CONSIDE
1. WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS STAGE IS THAT WE THEN TRY AND INFLUENCE OTHERS TO JOIN US
HABAKKUK 2:15 WOE UNTO HIM THAT GIVETH HIS NEIGHBOR DRINK, THAT PUTTEST THY BOTTLE TO HIM, AND MAKEST HIM DRUNKEN ALSO, THAT THOU MAYEST LOOK ON THEIR NAKEDNESS!
2. I SHARE THIS VERSE WITH YOU TO HIGHLIGHT A PRINCIPLE
a. GOD HOLDS US ACCOUNTABLE FORTAKING ANOTHER ONE DOWN WITH US
II. PEOPLE CAN SEE JESUS IN THE WAY WE TALK
EPHESIANS 4:29–32 DO NOT LET ANY UNWHOLESOME TALK COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS, BUT ONLY WHAT IS HELPFUL FOR BUILDING OTHERS UP ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS, THAT IT MAY BENEFIT THOSE WHO LISTEN. 30 AND DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, WITH WHOM YOU WERE SEALED FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION. 31 GET RID OF ALL BITTERNESS, RAGE AND ANGER, BRAWLING AND SLANDER, ALONG WITH EVERY FORM OF MALICE. 32 BE KIND AND COMPASSIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER, JUST AS IN CHRIST GOD FORGAVE YOU.
PEOPLE SHOULD SEE JESUS WHERE WE WALK, AND PEOPLE SHOULD SEE JESUS IN HOW WE TALK
a. THE NOT OF OUR TALK
i. IT SHOULD NOT BE UNWHOLESOME
1. UNFIT FOR USE
2. ROTTON OR PUTRID
3. EVERYTHING FROM BLASPHEMY, TO GOSSIP TO WHISPERED CRITICISM
a. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A CHURCH GO ON A DOWNHILL SLIDE, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN UNWHOLSEOME TALK STARTS TO CHIP AWAY AT THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH
4. NOBODY SAYS IT BETTER THAN JESUS WHEN HE SAID THAT WE WILL BE KNOWN AS HIS DISCIPLES BY OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND NOT BY OUR SNIPPING AT ONE ANOTHER.
b. THE TALK OF ONE WHO WANTS OTHERS TO SEE JESUS IN THEM
i. HELPFUL FOR BUILDING UP OTHERS
ii. GIVES GRACE TO THOSE WHO HERE IT
iii. ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CHURCH ARE:
1. EVANGELISM
2. EDIFICATION
iv. THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE TO AND ABOUT EACH OTHER AFFECTS THESE TWO FOUNDATIONAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH
c. COMMUNICATION TO AVOID
i. BITTERNESS AND RAGE – OUTBURSTS OF ANGER
ii. ANGER – SETTLED FEELINGS THAT EVENTUALLY COME OUT
iii. BRAWLING – SHOUTING
iv. SLANDER – CALLING SOMEONE A “NO GOOD ___________”
v. MALICE – LETTING YOUR WORDS SHOW UP IN YOUR ACTIONS
d. COMMUNICATION TO ENBRACE
i. KIND COMMUNICATION – SUITED FOR THE NEED
ii. COMPASSIONATE – WORDS THAT COME FROM A TENDER HEART
iii. FORGIVING – SPEAK IN A WAY THAT IS AGREEABLE AND BENEVOLENT
1. IN THE WAY CHRIST FORGAVE
2. JESUS HAD EVERY RIGHT TO CURSE, CALL DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN, ETC.
3. INSTEAD HE ASKED FOR THEIR FORGIVENESS, RECEIVED THE THIEF INTO HEAVEN, AND TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER
WHAT WE SAY AND HOW WE SAY IT HAS THE CAPACITY AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW PEOPLE TO JESUS
III. PEOPLE CAN SEE JESUS IN THE COMPANY WE KEEP
MATTHEW 9:10–13 WHILE JESUS WAS HAVING DINNER AT MATTHEW’S HOUSE, MANY TAX COLLECTORS AND “SINNERS” CAME AND ATE WITH HIM AND HIS DISCIPLES. 11 WHEN THE PHARISEES SAW THIS, THEY ASKED HIS DISCIPLES, “WHY DOES YOUR TEACHER EAT WITH TAX COLLECTORS AND ‘SINNERS’?” 12 ON HEARING THIS, JESUS SAID, “IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK. 13 BUT GO AND LEARN WHAT THIS MEANS: ‘I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE.’ FOR I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS.”
a. AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, WHO IS OUR FOCUS?
b. THOSE WHO HAVE A NEED OR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY DO NOT?
c. JESUS CHOSE THE FORMER, EATING WITH TAXCOLLOECTORS AND SINNERS
i. MATTHEW CHOSE TO GIVE UP A FORTUNE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH JESUS
ii. AT THE HOME OF MATTHEW, JESUS ENGAGED WITH THOSE HE COULD NOT MEET IN THE SYNAGOGUES
1. SINNERS
2. TAX COLLECTORS
3. IMMORAL PEOPLE
4. PAGAN PEOPLE
5. UNLEARNED PEOPLE
iii. PHARISEES WOULD SEE THESE PEOPLE AS WICKED AND OPPOSSED TO THE WILL OF GOD
iv. JESUS WOULD SEE THEM AS THOSE WHO NEEDED HIM MOST
1. EATING WITH THEM SIGNIFIED CLOSE ASSOCIATION
2. EATING WITH THEM SIGNIFIED IDENTIFICATION
d. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW OF THEIR NEED
i. THEY WERE SICK AND THE SICK GO TO THE DOCTOR IN ORDER TO BE MADE WELL
ii. THE PHARISEES DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR ILLNESS
1. JESUS TOLD THEM TO GO AND LEARN WHAT THIS MEANS – “I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE.”
2. JESUS WAS TELLING THEM AS A TEACHER WOULD HIS STUDENTS THAT THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES
e. WHEN WE DO NTO UNDERSTAND OR IGNORE THA SCRIPTURES WE WILL NOT BE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE JESUS IN AND THROUGH US
i. PERHAPS JESUS PREDICTED THIS WITH HIS PARABLES
ii. A BANQUEST IS SET AND THOSE WHO SHOULD BE THERE ARE NOT, SO THOSE ON THE ROAD AND IN THE STREET ARE COMPELLED TO COME IN
LUKE 14:21–24 “THE SERVANT CAME BACK AND REPORTED THIS TO HIS MASTER. THEN THE OWNER OF THE HOUSE BECAME ANGRY AND ORDERED HIS SERVANT, ‘GO OUT QUICKLY INTO THE STREETS AND ALLEYS OF THE TOWN AND BRING IN THE POOR, THE CRIPPLED, THE BLIND AND THE LAME.’ 22 “ ‘SIR,’ THE SERVANT SAID, ‘WHAT YOU ORDERED HAS BEEN DONE, BUT THERE IS STILL ROOM.’ 23 “THEN THE MASTER TOLD HIS SERVANT, ‘GO OUT TO THE ROADS AND COUNTRY LANES AND MAKE THEM COME IN, SO THAT MY HOUSE WILL BE FULL. 24 I TELL YOU, NOT ONE OF THOSE MEN WHO WERE INVITED WILL GET A TASTE OF MY BANQUET.’ ”
1. GOD WANTS US TO KEEP COMPANY WITH EACH OTHER
2. GOD WANTS US TO KEEP COMPANY WITH THOSE WHO NEED HIM MOST
3. NOT EITHER/OR BUT BOTH/AND!
WHEN WE AVOIF THOSE WHO MOST NEED JESUS, WE KEEP THOSE IN GREATEST NEED FROM SEEING JESUS IN US!
IV. PEOPLE SEE JESUS WHEN WE SEEK HIM
JEREMIAH 29:13 YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
a. WHEN YOU SEEK ANYTHING WITH YOUR HEART, IT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU
i. CAPTURES YOUR ATTENTION
ii. CAPTURES YOUR TIME
iii. CAPTURES YOUR RESOURCES
iv. YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED WHEN IT IS NOT ACHIEVED
v. WHEN JESUS IS LITTLE MORE THAN A SECOND CHOICE, OR AN ALTERNATIVE IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, THEN YOU ARE NOT SEEKING HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WHAT PEOPLE SEE IN THAT IS NOT JESUS
b. SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM
MATTHEW 6:33 BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.
i. WELL?
ii. WE SEEK THE KIND=GDOM OF GOD WHEN WE SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO JESUS
1. THE LOST – LIP SERVICE ABOUT THE LOST DOES NOT SEEK THE LOST
2. THE CHURCH. THE BOOK OF REVELATION TELLS US A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT THE CHURCH AND GOD’S LOVE FOR IT
a. GOD DOES NOT LIKE IT WHEN WE FALL OUT OF LOVE WITH HIM
REVELATION 2:1–5 “TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS WRITE: THESE ARE THE WORDS OF HIM WHO HOLDS THE SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND AND WALKS AMONG THE SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS: 2 I KNOW YOUR DEEDS, YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR PERSEVERANCE. I KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT TOLERATE WICKED MEN, THAT YOU HAVE TESTED THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE APOSTLES BUT ARE NOT, AND HAVE FOUND THEM FALSE. 3 YOU HAVE PERSEVERED AND HAVE ENDURED HARDSHIPS FOR MY NAME, AND HAVE NOT GROWN WEARY. 4 YET I HOLD THIS AGAINST YOU: YOU HAVE FORSAKEN YOUR FIRST LOVE. 5 REMEMBER THE HEIGHT FROM WHICH YOU HAVE FALLEN! REPENT AND DO THE THINGS YOU DID AT FIRST. IF YOU DO NOT REPENT, I WILL COME TO YOU AND REMOVE YOUR LAMPSTAND FROM ITS PLACE.
b. GOD LIKES IT WHEN WE LOVE HIM
REVELATION 2:18–19 “TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA WRITE: THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE SON OF GOD, WHOSE EYES ARE LIKE BLAZING FIRE AND WHOSE FEET ARE LIKE BURNISHED BRONZE. 19 I KNOW YOUR DEEDS, YOUR LOVE AND FAITH, YOUR SERVICE AND PERSEVERANCE, AND THAT YOU ARE NOW DOING MORE THAN YOU DID AT FIRST.
i. IF YOU WERE TO READ A LITTLE FURTHER, YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS CHURCH ALSO HAD SOME ISSUES, BUT THEIR LOVE AN DEVOTION TO THE LORD WAS NOT ONE OF THEM
c. SEEK GOD’D SPIRIT
EPHESIANS 5:18–19 DO NOT GET DRUNK ON WINE, WHICH LEADS TO DEBAUCHERY. INSTEAD, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. 19 SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS, HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS. SING AND MAKE MUSIC IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD,
i. GOD WANTS US UNDER HIS CONTROL
ii. IT IS AN EXHORTATION FROM GOD, YET IT TAKES US YIELDING CONTROL
iii. WHO WE CHOOSE TO HAVE ULTIMATE CONTROL OF OUR LIFE – US OR GOD, DETERMINES IF PEOPLE SEE JESUS IN US
WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE ANSWER TO THE REQUEST, “SIR WE WOULD SEE JESUS.”
WILL PEOPLE SEE JESUS IN YOU THIS EASTER SEASON?
ONLY YOU CAN DETERMINE THAT!
