The triumphant entry of the King (Matt. 21:1-9)
· . Isa 9:says; “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end”
· Da 7:14. “To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples and nations and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. Which shall not pass away, and His kingdom will not be destroyed.”
These are the events of our Lord’s last week of ministry;
Sunday—Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Monday—Jesus cleanses the temple of the money changers
Tuesday—Controversies with the Jewish leaders
Wednesday—maybe a day of rest
Thursday—Preparation for the Passover and The Lord’s supper is instituted.
Friday—Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus
Saturday—Jesus body rests in the tomb while Jesus descends to the lowest parts of the earth and takes keys of death away from Satan
Sunday—Jesus rises from the dead
The Jewish day went from sundown to sundown, so that our Thursday evening would be their Friday, the Day of Passover.
· Palm Sunday was the first day of the last week of Jesus life on earth
I. Jesus deserved all of the praises;
The Bible says that Jesus sent two of His disciples to bring a donkey and colt to Him.
Horses were used by the wealthy, or to go to war.
-Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was symbolic of his humility
- of his peaceful intentions.
· (Verses 21:4, 5) The donkey fulfilled predictions by Isaiah and Zechariah:
“Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly and sitting on a donkey”
Jesus had fulfilled all the Prophecies concerning Christ, up to this point this point. And by the time this time next Sunday He would have fulfilled all of the others concerning the coming of the Messiah.
1. as being the Son of God. Ps 2:7.
a. Fulfilled. Lu 1:32, 35.
2. as being the seed of the woman. Ge 3:15.
a. Fulfilled. Ga 4:4.
3. as coming from the seed of Abraham. Ge 17:7; 22:18.
a. Fulfilled. Ga 3:16.
4. as being from the seed of Isaac. Ge 21:12.
a. Fulfilled. Heb 11:17-19.
5. as being from the seed of David. Ps 132:11; Jer 23:5.
a. Fulfilled. Ac 13:23; Ro 1:3.
6. Coming at a specific time. Ge 49:10; Da 9:24, 25.
a. Fulfilled. Lu 2:1.
7. His being born of a virgin. Isa 7:14.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 1:22, 23; Lu 2:7.
8. The slaying of the children of Bethlehem. Jer 31:15.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 2:16-18.
9. Jesus being called Immanuel. Isa 7:14.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 1:22, 23.
10. Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Mic 5:2.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 2:1; Lu 2:4-6.
11. Great people coming to adore him. Ps 72:10.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 2:1-11.
12. His being called out of Egypt. Ho 11:1.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 2:15.
13. His being preceded by John the Baptist. Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 3:1,3; Lu 1:17.
14. Jesus being anointed with the Spirit. Ps 45:7; Isa 11:2; 61:1.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 3:16; John 3:34; Ac 10:38.
15. His being a Prophet like to Moses. De 18:15-18.
a. Fulfilled. Ac 3:20-22.
16. Being a Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Ps 110:4.
a. Fulfilled. Heb 5:5, 6.
17. Entering into public ministry. Isa 61:1, 2.
a. Fulfilled. Lu 4:16-21, 43.
18. His ministry starting in Galilee. Isa 9:1,2.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 4:12-16, 23.
19. His entering publicly into Jerusalem. Zec 9:9.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 21:1-5.
20. His coming into the temple. Hag 2:7, 9; Mal 3:1.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 21:12; Lu 2:27-32; Joh 2:13-16.
21. His poverty. Isa 53:2.
a. Fulfilled. Mr 6:3; Lu 9:58.
22. His meekness. Isa 42:2.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 12:15, 16, 19.
23. His tenderness and compassion. Isa 40:11; 42:3.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 12:15, 20; Heb 4:15.
24. Jesus being without guile. Isa 53:9.
a. Fulfilled. 1Pe 2:22.
25. His zeal. Ps 69:9.
a. Fulfilled. Joh 2:17.
26. His preaching by parables. Ps 78:2.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 13:34, 35.
27. His working miracles. Isa 35:5, 6.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 11:4-6; Joh 11:47.
28. His bearing reproach. Ps 22:6; 69:7, 9, 20.
a. Fulfilled. Ro 15:3.
29. His being rejected by his brethren. Ps 69:8; Isa 63:3.
a. Fulfilled. Joh 1:11; 7:3.
30. His being a stone of stumbling to the Jews. Isa 8:14.
a. Fulfilled. Ro 9:32; 1Pe 2:8.
31. His being hated by the Jews. Ps 69:4; Isa 49:7.
a. Fulfilled. Joh 15:24, 25.
32. His being rejected by the Jewish rulers. Ps 118:22.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 21:42; Joh 7:48.
OTHER PROPHECIES THAT WOULD MATERIALIZE WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS;
1. That the Jews and Gentiles would come against Him. Ps 2:1, 2.
a. Fulfilled. Lu 23:12; Ac 4:27.
2. Being betrayed by a friend (Judas) Ps 41:9; 55:12-14.
a. Fulfilled. Joh 13:18, 21.
3. His closest friends would forsake him. Zec 13:7.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 26:31, 56.
4. Sold for thirty pieces silver. Zec 11:12.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 26:15.
5. The silver being given for the potter’s field. Zec 11:13.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 27:7.
6. His sufferings. Ps 22:14, 15, Isa 53:4-6, 7, Da. 9:26, Mic 5:1
a. Fulfilled. Lu 22:42, 44. Matt. 27:30
7. His being spit on and scourged. Isa 50:6.
a. Fulfilled. Mr 14:65; Joh 19:1.
8. Being nailed to the cross. Ps 22:16.
a. Fulfilled. Joh 19:18; 20:25.
9. Being forsaken by the Father. Ps 22:1.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 27:46.
10. Being mocked by men. Ps 22:7, 8.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 27:39-44.
11. Gall and vinegar being given to him at the cross. Ps 69:21.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 27:34.
12. His garments being parted, and lots cast for his clothing. Ps 22:18.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 27:35.
13. His being numbered with the transgressors. Isa 53:12.
a. Fulfilled. Mr 15:28.
14. His intercession for those that killed Him. Isa 53:12.
a. Fulfilled. Lu 23:34.
15. His Death. Isa 53:12.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 27:50.
16. His body would be broken. Ex 12:46; Ps 34:20.
a. Fulfilled. Joh 19:33, 36.
17. He was pierced. Zec 12:10.
a. Fulfilled. Joh 19:34, 37.
18. He was buried with the rich. Isa 53:9.
a. Fulfilled. Mt 27:57-60.
19. His flesh did not see corruption. Ps 16:10.
a. Fulfilled. Ac 2:31.
20. His resurrection. Ps 16:10; Isa 26:19.
a. Fulfilled. Lu 24:6, 31, 34.
21. His ascension into heaven. Ps 68:18.
a. Fulfilled. Lu 24:51; Ac 1:9.
22. Jesus sitting on the right hand of the Father. Ps 110:1.
a. Fulfilled. Heb 1:3.
23. Jesus being the chief corner-stone of the Church. Isa 28:16.
a.Fulfilled. 1Pe 2:6, 7.
The people in the crowd that day?
· The same people who wanted to see him crowned this day wanted to see him crucified less than a week later.
1.Judas was in the crowd
· He was one of the twelve and the treasurer of the group.
· He would betray Jesus later
2. The Pharisees were in the crowd.
· Probably not shouting, they weren’t
Not singing or waving palm branches or laying their coats down.
· Probably not interested in being identified with Christ
3. There may have been some secret agent Christians there.
· Some were secret Christians like Nicodemus the Pharisee.
Today we have people who tell us that Jesus was a great religious teacher or a good man or a prophet, but they never confess Him as who He really is.
· They probably got caught up in the excitement and began to sing and shout and wave palm branches but they still weren’t a hundred percent convinced that Jesus was the Messiah.
· Perhaps they hadn’t heard him speak, or maybe they didn’t know anyone whose life had been changed or who had been healed. So they were there for themselves to find out.
4. The Committed Were There.
·The other eleven disciples were there
·probably Mary, Martha and Lazarus were there,
·Mary Magdalene,
·Maybe Zacheaus, Simon the leper, the blind men that were healed by the side of the road, perhaps the woman with the issue of blood, and others whose lives and bodies Jesus had touched.
·These were people that Jesus had touched and changed their lives
-Jesus was real to them and they were Praising the LORD!. Praise the name of the LORD! Praise him, you who serve the LORD,
II. There was also a donkey there
·God had not chosen a stallion or even a camel but a donkey
· To most of us a donkey would not be fit for the purpose at hand
"How does a donkey become fit for the service of the King of Kings and How can we be made useful for him too?"
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There are four things that make this donkey fit for royal service, and they are equally important for us.
1.This donkey was selected by the King.
*Jesus had 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."
-God set aside this donkey for a noble purpose.
550 years earlier Zechariah had prophesied about this little donkey.
-God had a plan and this donkey was selected by God to play a part in it.
-God has selected us also.
-If He can use a donkey, He can anyone that is willing
*John 15:16 says; “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. “
*Ephesians 2:10 says; “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
2. The donkey was Sanctified for God’s use
- he was preserved or set aside
*(Mark 11:2) “you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.
-This donkey was not broken in yet. It was separated for Gods use.
-We must be separated from the world also to be useful to the King
*2 Timothy 2:21 says: “If a man cleanses himself from [wickedness], he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
-Being Sanctified also means being Prepared for the Lords use by Preparation
v. 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
-The Bible tells us to be ready in season and out of season.
*1 Peter 3:15 says; “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
*2 Timothy 2:15 says; “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
#3. He was submissive.
Donkeys are stubborn animals by nature like us sometimes.
·But this donkey was submissive to God
*2 Timothy 2:15 says; "present yourself to God"
*Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
#4. The Donkey was satisfied with his Humble part
-The donkey’s job was to lift up Jesus so that Jesus could be seen and Glorified.
-We have a similar role in God’s plan, not to be exalted but to exalt Christ. John 12:32 says; "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me"
#III) It’s our job to give Jesus the glory
-To make him be seen by the world.
Paul said in Galatians 6:13; “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
-They were all saying Blessed be the King, Mark (Mk 11:9, 10) “Hosanna,” means, “Save now,”
-The words of Ps 118:25, which were understood to refer to Messiah; and so they add, “to the Son of David, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord (Ps 118:26),
Hosanna in the highest.” This was highest exaltation in which Jesus could be saluted as the promised Deliverer.
They were praising Him.
· The joyful response of the people to Jesus that first Palm Sunday is a beautiful illustration of praise
· Halal means “to acclaim,” “to glory in,” and expresses deep satisfaction in exalting God’s wonderful acts and qualities.
· Yadah suggests acknowledging God’s works and character, often with thanksgiving.
· Zamar means to “sing praise” or “make music,” while sabah expresses praise or commendation.
Conclusion;
Let this be an illustration to us. Allways to recognize the Lord in everything that we do and never to forget that if He used normal everyday people and even a donkey to Glorify Him. He can certainly use any one of us.