Into Jerusalem
This was it. This is what the crowds had been waiting for. This is what the disciples dreamed of. Jesus was riding into Jerusalem on a colt, the sign of a conquering King. (v.15- Zechariah 9.9- so many promises in Zechariah's prophecy- rebuilding of the temple by God's enabling, Coming of the Messiah, Mt of Olives splitting, Jerusalem at the forefront of world events- prophesied 2,500 years ago!)
Throughout His ministry men tried to force Jesus into the position of the King of Israel (John 6.14-15). Some believe that was behind the darkness of Judas. Many followed Him because of the miracles but when He would not allow them to impose their own will on Him they left Him.
In Bethany, just over the Mount of Olives, Jesus had raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. This miracle was done openly and had sparked both admiration and hostility from people. Most of the people were delerious from joy over it but the leaders of the Jews were deeply troubled. They knew all too well the signs of the Messiah and this was one of them. They looked at Jesus as a threat to the hold they thought they had on the temple and Roman Government. Palm Sunday contains many past present and future truths for us .
1. Jerusalem, the City of God
*In His Word
It began with Abraham. David captured it from the Jebusites and made it Israel's capital. Just uncovered the temple wall from his time this past month!The Knessett declared it in 1982 to be the eternal capital of Israel. It will culminate with Jesus. Issac offered there as a foreshadowing, sacrifices made there in the temple.
Psalm 51:18
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Psalm 68:29
Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.
Psalm 102:21
So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem
Psalm 116:19
in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 122:2
Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 122:3
Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure."
Psalm 125:2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Psalm 128:5
May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
Psalm 135:21
Praise be to the LORD from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 137:5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill .
Psalm 137:6
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.
Psalm 147:2
The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
*In His Plan for Jesus
To die there, fulfilling the Old Covenant, bringing in the Everlasting Covenant Colossians 2.13-15
Jesus died putting an end to the sacrificial system, fulfilling the event of Abraham, prophecies made and putting into effect the New Covenant, the everlasting Covenant.
The true worshippers John 4 A time is coming and now has come when the true worshippers will neither worship the Father here in Jerusalem
*In the coming ages Ephesians 2.6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 2.3 Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
2. Jesus the King
The King of Glory Psalm 24
He will return to Jerusalem to take up His throne on earth.
The King of kings (I Timothy 6.15)
He is the King over all
3. The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world
He rode into Jerusalem to die for you and me. He came to the Passover Feast. He was the Passover Lamb!I Corinthians 5.7 "...Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." This is Holy Week. The Jews will celebrate Passover this week as well.
God was offering His Son. He came to offer peace. (v.15) They were still rejecting Him. We read Jesus lament over the city in Luke 19.41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
He went there knowing the cross would be His destination for His ministry on earth.
He knew this from the beginning...
Of His ministry
Of His Life on earth Luke 2.34-35 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Of the creation fo the world and back into eternity ...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.Revelation 13.8
4. He was crucified.
He suffered. We do not have the time this morning to go into all of this, just touching on some of it...
Hebrews 13.12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Jerusalem cast Him out.
Isaiah 53.1-12 gives an account of His suffering.
He died on the cross for you and me. Jesus died between two criminals and we see the two distinct destinies of souls here in these two men. In the last hour one repented and Jesus promised that day He would be with Him in Paradise. The other died cursing God.
5. He rose from the dead on the third day.
The leaders of Jerusalem in the first century put Him to death but they could not keep Him in the grave!
He never spoke of His death without speaking of His Resurrection.
There was a roller coaster ride of the disciples emotions that week. This week we'll look at the events between the two Sundays- Palm Sunday and the Resurrection. Good Friday they were in despair. By the LORD's Day they were overjoyed.
He conquered death. He lives. Because He lives, we too live and while we will pass into eternity one day leaving this body here, we will live forever.
6. He ascended into heaven.
This was part of His victory too. We ought to celebrate it more than we do! Listen to these words: Acts 1.1-11
7. He will come again.
Psalm 96.11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 13 they will sing before the LORD, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth.
Into Jerusalem and into People's Hearts
On Palm Sunday long ago
Jesus rode a donkey
Into Jerusalem
Son of God, Man of Sorrow
Crowds came to cheer
The end they thought
Of Roman Rule and tyranny
Jesus of Nazareth is setting us free
They didn't know nor suspect
That by this Holy Week's end
The Messiah would lay down His life
for His friends
He sought to enter people's hearts
As He does today
His desire to bring real peace
But so often He's turned away
Jerusalem shut Him out
Yet there were those who believed
Keep spreading the Good News
Planting that precious Gospel Seed
For meek souls will receive Him Still
And He will enter in
like Nicodemus of long ago
They will be born again
Lord, strengthen Your Church
In these last days
Give us holy fire
We'll do your Work
While its still light
Seeking souls deep in the mire.
Lead on O King Eternal
For soon time will be no more
It won't be long until we all
Are gathered on heaven's shore.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The LORD’s Day
April 1, 2007
Palm Sunday
We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Receiving the LORD’s Supper
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Into Jerusalem John 12.12-17, Matthew 21.10-11
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
V
This Week
Bible Reading Mark 11-16
Monday through Friday 6:30am Walking With Jesus in Holy Week
Good Friday Service at 2pm
Next Lord’s Day Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Sunrise Service- 6am Bay Shore Marina
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. leaves for Iraq Thursday (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter recovering from surgery. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer. Sonya, Albert and Anka’s niece in Canada results on the biopsy were negative Praise the LORD Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci. She continues on Chemotherapy. Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson recovering from a heart attack last Sunday. He is doing well and is thankful for all the prayers offered for him. Pray for Eloise Brooks and Jean Louis as both are on dialysis. Christopher (Uncle of Good Shepherd Grad) with leukemia.
***********************************
*A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
*If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.
Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Into Jerusalem
John 12.12-17, Matthew 21.10-11
Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
(Church Phone: 631-969-1730
*1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God
On Palm Sunday long ago
Jesus rode a donkey
Into Jerusalem
Son of God, Man of Sorrow
Crowds came to cheer
The end they thought
Of Roman Rule and tyranny
Jesus of Nazareth is setting us free
They didn't know nor suspect
That by this Holy Week's end
The Messiah would lay down His life
for His friends
He sought to enter people's hearts
As He does today
His desire to bring real peace
But so often He's turned away
Jerusalem shut Him out
Yet there were those who believed
Keep spreading the Good News
Planting that precious Gospel Seed
For meek souls will receive Him Still
And He will enter in
like Nicodemus of long ago
They will be born again
Lord, strengthen Your Church
In these last days
Give us holy fire
We'll do your Work
While its still light
Seeking souls deep in the mire.
Lead on O King Eternal
For soon time will be no more
It won't be long until we all
Are gathered on heaven's shore.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The LORD’s Day
April 1, 2007
Palm Sunday
We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Receiving the LORD’s Supper
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Into Jerusalem John 12.12-17, Matthew 21.10-11
*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.
V
This Week
Bible Reading Mark 11-16
Monday through Friday 6:30am Walking With Jesus in Holy Week
Good Friday Service at 2pm
Next Lord’s Day Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Sunrise Service- 6am Bay Shore Marina
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm
In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. leaves for Iraq Thursday (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter recovering from surgery. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer. Sonya, Albert and Anka’s niece in Canada results on the biopsy were negative Praise the LORD Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci. She continues on Chemotherapy. Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson recovering from a heart attack last Sunday. He is doing well and is thankful for all the prayers offered for him. Pray for Eloise Brooks and Jean Louis as both are on dialysis. Christopher (Uncle of Good Shepherd Grad) with leukemia.
***********************************
*A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
*If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.
Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Into Jerusalem
John 12.12-17, Matthew 21.10-11
Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
(Church Phone: 631-969-1730
*1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God
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