Matthew 21
The Triumphal Entry
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
’See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jerusalem- the Holy City during the Holy Festival of Passover. All the religious leaders would be present. The scene is set and then enters Jesus.
Jesus did not enter Jerusalem in this way by mistake. Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey very deliberately. He would be seen by the great crowds, all would see his entry into Jerusalem and all would know days later that the same man who came in on a donkey had risen from the dead and was indeed Lord of all.
No sneaking into town for Jesus, no discreet ministry anymore. His ministry and His identity were now out in the open for all to see.
Jesus’ entry was both humble (the colt of the donkey being the most humble animal to ride.) and royal. He rode while everyone else walked. Palm branches were used to pay homage and victory to a King.
Three Lessons we can take from the Triumphal Entry.
A. We live for an audience of one.
The crowds were very quick to gather along side the road for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Causes me to think of parades. I can remember being a spectator at so many parades. Thanksgiving Day parades were the best. Sure the marching bands played great music, the fire trucks were loud, the old classic cars were cool. But all came to see one man really. My older sister would tell me “Scoot up here- here he comes....then he would come into full view- Santa Clause. Yes! Christmas couldn’t be far off now.
The people lines the streets leading into Jerusalem. The King was coming. Think about this crowd. Jesus always drew a crowd. He went up and preached on the mount- with large crowds listening. He healed the sick pressed on every side by large crowds. As they followed him, he ended up feeding all 5,000 of them. Now a large crowd to welcome him into Jerusalem. Soon the large crowd would turn on him and instead of shouting “Hosanna“, the would be shouting “Crucify Him.”
You see that is the way it is with public opinion. Very fickle. One day they love you and the next day they hate you. Some people like you, others can’t tolerate you.
We cannot live for the opinions of others.
You and I do not live for the audience and opinions of others. We live for the audience of one. Jesus Christ.
Some loved Jesus, some hated Him, that didn’t change who he was.
They wanted Jesus to be an earthy king and ruler. In fact earlier, crowds had tried to take him by force and make him their king. Others were convinced he was Satan in the flesh.
Public opinion did not change how Jesus lived, or who Jesus was.
Jesus was living for an audience of one.
Some will love us, some will hate us, that doesn’t change who we are.
It shouldn’t change how we live.
Legalism- live for my expectations.
Free life in Christ- live for Jesus and Jesus alone.
If we are living for an audience of one, then we can handle criticism without it killing us.
When we lay down to sleep at night, it is not man’s opinion of us that matters, but God’s opinion.
B. Life is full of valleys and mountaintops.
Psalm 23. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for though are with me.
I love rollercoasters. The bigger, the faster, the more frightening, the better! It seems the higher they climb, the farther and faster they fall. Life sometimes can feel like a wild out-of-control rollercoaster ride. The good news is that God is in control. No matter if we feel like life is spinning out of control, moving too fast, and we aren’t sure what lies around the next turn, God is there.
Life is full of valleys and mountaintops.
Jesus had experienced valleys and mountaintops all of his life.
His baptism- mountaintop.
His temptation- valley.
His teaching and healing changing lives- mountaintop.
The death of John the Baptist- valley.
Lazarus’ death and resurrection- both.
Here was Jesus coming into the Holy City during the greatest time of religious celebration. This was a mountaintop experience.
But that would soon change- he would eat a final meal with his disciples. He would know that he was going to be betrayed, and not just by Judas.
He would find himself in great agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He would be tormented, tortured, and crucified.
With every valley, there is a mountaintop waiting on the other side.
Three days later He would rise from the dead, rise from the valley and go to the mountaintop! One day you and I will join him.
I know your life may hold many valleys.
Sickness, loss of a loved one, marital
problems, work crisis, unrest in the world,
financial dilemma, the list goes on and on.
Even though it is very difficult, we must say like David-
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me.”
If we will look to God for our strength and sustenance from day to day- there will be a mountaintop waiting for us just on the other side of the valley.
Everyone will make a decision about Christ.
There were several groups waiting for Jesus in Jerusalem.
The Critics- The religious leaders. They hated Jesus. They saw him as a threat to them. They wanted nothing more than to kill him. It wasn’t that they just wanted him dead, they wanted him gone, forgotten.
Not much has changed. The world is full of critics of Jesus. They want him not just dead, but gone forgotten. He never existed. He was not God. He was just a great teacher. He is not the only way to heaven. He is a threat to us today.
Forget him, remove him and any trace of him from our country and world today.
The Crowd- We touched on this already, but there was always crowds around Jesus. It isn’t that they really cared about Jesus, they wanted to see the show. They wanted miracles, they wanted freak shows. People will always gather to see a show. Want a crowd, start a fire. Want a crowd- start protesting. It isn’t that the crowd really cares about any cause, they just want to see a show.
The Curious- A little different then the crowd. They actually have some interest in Jesus. The whole city was stirred and asked- Who is this man?
They were the ones, who when Jesus called them to follow him, they had excuses- I have to bury my family member, I have to go take care of some business, I have to go say goodbye to my family.
As a teenager, I went to an outdoor drama of the crucifiction of Christ. I was not a Christian but was curious about all of this Jesus stuff. The audience was to play the part of the crowd during Jesus’s trial and death on the cross. We all shouted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" They brought Jesus out and began to beat him. Even though I knew it was just a play, I was amazed at how I was drawn into it. As we the crowd began to follow Jesus up the hill carrying his cross, Jesus stopped and fell to his knees. (I didn’t know he was supposed to do that.) A Roman Soldier looked right at me, pointed, and yelled- "You carry his cross." I was stunned and confused. I hoped he was talking to someone else. Before I knew it, there I was carrying this heavy wooden cross up the hill. For the first time, all of this Jesus stuff began to make sense.
Many of you are here today as the curious. You have been coming, listening, hearing the word, hearing the praise. You are curious. I say keep coming as long as you want. But my prayer is that you will move beyond curiosity.
The Committed- This group was faithful followers of Jesus- but maybe not totally sold out to him. They wanted to follow him, but just struggled to be more. The rich young ruler- he wanted to follow Jesus and be righteous, but just could not and would do what it takes to be totally his.
Many of you are committed. You are Christians. You want to be everything for God. But there is something in your life holding you back.
Maybe a sin you won’t let go of.
Maybe a fear you can’t overcome.
Maybe a wound you won’t let him heal.
Maybe a wrong you won’t forgive.
Maybe ministry you won’t give to the Lord.
You may live your life out faithfully as a Christian. But you will never be all that God wants you to be unless you move beyond committed.
The Core- Totally sold out for Christ. The disciples and especially Peter, James and John. Disciples who would do more than follow Christ, they would pick up their crosses and die for him. They were not perfect- they all ended up denying Christ, but they got up each and every time ready to go all the way for him.
They never withheld anything from him. They helped birth the church, they preached with boldness, spread His truth, lived and died for Jesus Christ.
Every person in here belongs to one of those groups. Which group are you in?
Critic?
Crowd?
Curious?
Committed?
Core?
Some need to move from critic, crowd, and curious to committed today: accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Be immersed into him today.
Some of you need to move from committed to core. You need to quit holding back and totally give your life to him. You need to say- its time to quit trying and time to start doing. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.
The Word says that one day “Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” What is your answer to Him today?
