Rejoicing In His Righteousness Series

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.