Luke 19.28-44
Here we are another Palm Sunday! We know the story well. I have memories of celebrating more than 50 Palm Sundays, 33 of which we were right here in this place.
We need to hear this account again. We need to commemorate Holy Week. Nearly one third of the Gospels are made up describing the events of this week beginning with yesterday. The events that took place this week are very significant, very important for followers of Jesus.
We will have services each day this week. If you can't be here follow along. I encourage everyone who can to attend the Good Friday Service.
Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. This is what His disciples and followers longed for. They waited for the Day when He would allow the people to proclaim Him Messiah, King of Israel. Now it was happening! The disciples were delirious with joy.
They were doing it for a crown and how it would benefit them.
Jesus was doing it for the cross and how it would benefit the entire world and generations to come!
Palm Sunday was prophesied all the way back in the Psalms (Psalm 118).
It was spoken about by Daniel, the prophet.
It was hoped for by the people of Israel ever since the temple was destroyed in 586, B.C.
The timing of this event was precise.
Daniel told when it would be to the day! (Daniel 9.1-9)
It had to happen to fulfill Passover, so it happened at the time people were preparing for Passover, when people were going to Jerusalem to celebrate.
The place of this event was prophesied and determined by Almighty God.
It could not have taken place in Galilee.
It had to take place in Jerusalem.
Luke 13.34
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."
1. He was riding into Jerusalem.
On a donkey
On the foal of a colt
This was the animal of peace, an animal a conquering King would ride into the capital city after conquest.
Horses were used for war, donkeys for burdens, for a labor. A donkey and a colt would indicate good agriculture in place, abundance.
This is what Israel hoped for.
This is what Judah was judged for. With all these things they forgot God.
Isaiah tells us about in the opening of his prophecy:
Isaiah 2.6-9
6 You, O LORD, have abandoned Your people,
the descendants of Jacob.
They are full of superstitions from the East;
they practice divination like the Philistines
and embrace pagan customs.
7 Their land is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to their treasures.
Their land is full of horses;
there is no end to their chariots.
8 Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made.
9 So people will be brought low
and everyone humbled—
do not forgive them.
For the past 30 years Jesus had looked at Jerusalem through his human eyes. Prior to His coming to the earth He looked down from Glory upon the Holy City. He saw the building of it, the dedication (When He filled it with His Presence) and the priests carrying out their duties with the assembled worshippers. He saw the sins pile up around the city and finally withdrew His Presence before Jerusalem's destruction in 586BC. After 70 years the exiles from Babylon returned. Under Nehemiah they rebuilt the walls, under Zerrubabel they rebuilt the temple. Herod expanded the work they did. Jesus came to them. He was rejected time and time again and finally on this day 2,000 years ago He rode in allowing them to proclaim Him King, the Messiah.
Zechariah 9.9
No wonder...
2. He wept over the city. v.41
Wept= lament, mourn, bewail as one does over the dead
He had wept over the scene at Lazarus' Tomb.
There were similarities.
This was not God's intent, not His design for man or for Jerusalem.
He could not force the people to wake up to the truth of the Kingdom. They refused to listen to His Love and change their ways.
-Joyce Rupp, Praying Our Goodbyes
Isaiah 5.1-7 Similar conditions from 700 years before
In Isaiah's time it was idolatry that drew them away from the LORD
When Jesus came it was their organized religion, ceremonies and desire to keep the temple that shut Jesus out. His cleansing of it was the last straw.
The Parable of the Tenants and the Vineyard was against them (Mark 12.1-12)
This was His intent
Psalm 48.9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.
But they had made into a den of robbers and killed those sent to them.
3. He went to the end of that Road into the Eastern Gate.
A special gate... only one leading directly into the temple.
Directly across from the Garden of Gethsemane
At the base of the Mount of Olives
Ancient Prophesies in Psalms and Ezekiel
Psalm 24.7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is He, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
He is the King of glory.
Ezekiel 40 describing the new temple
Ezekiel 43.43 Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, 2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when He came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. 4 The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. 5 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
Ezekiel 44.2 The LORD said to me, "This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it.
The place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives:
1. Began what we call Holy Week
2. Shows us our LORD's heart for those who reject Him
3. Shows us our LORD's courage and love because He knew what was ahead
4.He will ride into again when He sits on the throne of His father David.
5. Reminds us of Jerusalem's past, present and future.
6. Points the Cross
7. Reminds of the New Jerusalem. He is coming again! The place where the the road Goes down the Mount of Olives is very close to the place where Jesus went up, when He ascended into heaven. When He comes back we are told by Zechariah the prophet that He will set foot on this mountain again.
On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.
-Zechariah 14.4
Pastor Erwin Lutzer of Moody Bible Church in Chicago writes:
The Mount of Olives has a remarkable history, but it will have an even more remarkable future. Jesus ascended into heaven from the top of this mountain, an event seen only by the disciples and perhaps a few bystanders. But when He returns to this mountain, “every eye shall see Him” and He will proceed to establish His kingdom.
And when this spectacular event takes place, we will be returning with Him from heaven to reign on Earth! If you are a believer and have never toured Israel, you can be encouraged, for you shall get the “grand tour” at the return of Jesus.
Today we commemorate His Triumphal Entry as we wait for His Return!
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