Introduction

Beloved members of our faith community, how wonderful it is to gather together again in this sacred space, in the presence of our Lord, to delve into the richness of His Word! We find ourselves today on the precipice of a profound understanding, on the cusp of a spiritual awakening as we turn our hearts and minds to the Gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 12 through 19.

In these verses, we encounter the familiar yet always awe-inspiring narrative of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We see the jubilant joy of the crowd as they welcome their King with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna!" We witness the divine wisdom of Jesus, the judicious judge, who knew what was to come, yet walked steadfastly into the heart of it all.

Jesus: The Journey's Justification

Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher and theologian, once said, "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." This quote, while simple, encapsulates the essence of our faith. It's not about the abundance of our possessions or the grandeur of our achievements, but about the joy we find in Christ, the justification He offers us, and the judicious judgement He exercises.

Now, let us read together from John 12:12-19: "The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!' Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 'Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.' At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 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. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, 'See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!'"

Let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we reflect on the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to the profound truths contained within this narrative. May we find joy in your justification, wisdom in your judgement, and peace in your presence. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. So, let us now turn our focus to our first main point: Jesus: The Journey's Justification.

Jesus: The Jubilant Joy

When we consider the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we see a man who knew the path that lay before Him ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO