Outer Banks Community Church

Palm Sunday

Intro: What if you had only a week to live, what would you do with that week? Maybe you would go to the finest of restaurants and have a great meal, maybe you would go on a cruise and see some of the spenders of the World? Maybe you would take the time to fix a few relationships. Maybe you would give some things away. Maybe you would spend more time with your family. In Jesus’ last week the first thing He did was to ride into trouble. How many of you are willing to ride into trouble? I have only a week to live I am going to avoid confrontations (This would be our thought) but, Jesus knew He would get the praise of man in one moment (Hosanna) and in the next moment He would hear Crucify Him, Crucify Him! That wouldn’t be how I would spend the last few days of my life, but then again I am not God! Jesus had need of these last few days.

The last week of our Lord's life has been known as Holy Week from the earliest times by Christians everywhere. The triumphal entry was the first event of the week, taking place on the first day. It is called Palm Sunday. The Old Testament refers to this important date: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

Our political arena in the year 2016 seems to already be filled with hatred, anger and a whole lot of disappointment to many who would like something else to happen. Over 2000 years ago there was a candidate riding into the biggest city in the providence to proclaim His platform. The last thing the Israelites wanted to see was their candidate riding into town on a colt!

On January 30, 1973, Patrice Tamao of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, allowed himself to be nailed to a cross “as a sacrifice for world peace and understanding among men.” As thousands watched on television, six-inch stainless-steel nails were driven through his hands and feet. Tamao had planned to remain on the cross for 48 hours, but after only 20 hours he had to cut short his voluntary crucifixion because of an infection in his right foot. The newspaper article had as its heading, “Crucifixion-for-peace falls short.” Maybe for Patrice Tamao his crucifixion felt short; but for Jesus Christ His crucifixion resulted in a stoned that was rolled away from an empty tomb and His Messiahship was documented! The Lord had need of this!

Text: Mark 11:1-11 (NKJV)

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here." 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" 11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.”

Application: The Lord’s Messiahship was evident!

There is no louder declaration of our Lord's Messiahship than the triumphal entry. God riding a Colt into Jerusalem, there was a reason for this. Jerusalem was the capital of Palestine, and the temple itself was there. Jerusalem was the hub and center of Jewish life and worship. Jesus had cleansed the temple proclaiming it to be "My Father's house" He proclaimed that He was the Son of Man and God's only begotten Son. Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath a man who had been sick for 38 years. Then He proclaimed that He had the right to break the Sabbath law because He was the Son of the Father. He was equal with God in every sense of the word. He declared that He was sent of God, the Source of life, the Light of the World, the Messiah, the Spokesman of God the Son of Man that God was His Father, that He had come from God, that He was the great "I Am" the Son of God the Great Shepherd of Life…

1. Christ Came in Peace: Vs. 1-7

“Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, "Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here." 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, "What are you doing, loosing the colt?" 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.

The first scene involved the colt, which symbolized that Christ came in peace. This wasn’t the world’s plan that their Savior their victor would come clip clopping into town on a mule! The Lord had need of making such detailed preparations to enter Jerusalem. He was deliberately fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The King is coming but don’t be confused why He comes; what a lesson for us! We must guard against reading into Scripture what is not there, especially in looking toward the return of our Lord. We must not dictate how Jesus is to return; we must not add to what God has revealed in His Word. The Messiah was coming in meekness, not as a reigning monarch. He was coming to win men's hearts and lives spiritually and eternally, not physically and materially. The Messiah was coming not as a conqueror riding a white stallion, but as a King of peace riding a young colt. He was coming to save the world peacefully, to reconcile the world to the God of love and reconciliation, not to the God of hate and retaliation and war. He was not going to kill men and overthrow their governments. He was coming to win men's hearts and lives through the glorious news (gospel) that God loves and reconciles. God wanted His Son to proclaim His Messiahship so clearly that the people could not mistake what He was doing. God wanted the world to know that He was bringing peace to earth through His Son Jesus Christ. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

You can’t help but wonder how important that scene was; Jesus had need of an animal, a Colt out of all creatures. The first 7 verses of Mark 11 focused on that preparation, and that the Lord would tell his disciples if anyone questions why you are doing this, just tell them: 'The Lord has need of it!” Christ came in peace and the world missed it!

2. Christ Came to Save: Vs. 8-10

“And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

The second scene was the triumphal entry itself. This symbolized that Christ came to save now. A large multitude was there shouting Hosanna, save us now. They were proclaiming Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of David who had come to deliver them from the bondage of Roman and Gentile rule. Of course by riding the colt Jesus was proclaiming that He had come to save now, but to save by bringing peace spiritually, not militarily.

We are led to imagine an enormous crowd of packed thousands lining the roadway as Christ was helped atop the colt and began His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Many had already heard that Jesus had already performed several miracle one of them that brought Lazarus back from the dead, they must have thought who knows what He might do next?

The multitudes did two things. They received Him as King. This was shown by two acts that were always done for kings when they entered a city. They stripped off their cloaks and cut down tree branches, and they spread both out on the roadway before Him. They wished to honor and pay Him the homage of a King. They wished to show Him that they received Him as the promised King of Israel. They received Him as Messiah. Christ came to save! and for a moment! that was the general consensus. “For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age.” Titus 2:11-12 (HCSB)

3. Christ Prepared Spiritually: Vs. 11

“And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.”

This scene was the investigation of the temple and of the situation. This symbolized that Jesus came obediently. The scene was descriptive. “Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things.” He stood there, off to the side someplace where He had the vantage point of seeing all that was happening. Evening was approaching and He was tired. He stood all alone. He was doing God's will. It took great courage to stand there. The Jewish authorities were seeking some opportunity to take His life, and they were upset more than ever now, for He had not discouraged the homage of the people. We see in Luke 19:39 “Some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." The Romans sensed that a popular uprising might be boiling. The Jewish Herodians (ruling party) feared being blamed and replaced by the Romans. The Pharisees were stirred to new depths of envy and malice. But despite all, He had to be courageous; He had to stand there. It was God's will. He had to investigate the situation, investigate God's house. He had to prepare all things for the salvation of God's people. He had come obediently; He had come to obey God. The Lord had need of it!

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30 The Lord has need of us to obey, no matter the threat and opposition. We should investigate before entering into any situation that is threatening or involves corruption.

The seclusion of Bethany gave Jesus the time to prepare spiritual. Jesus retired for the night in the surrounding area of Bethany. No doubt He spent a good deal of time alone in prayer. Much lay ahead of Him in this last week of His life. He knew it, sensing every detail and emotion He was to experience. He needed the strong hand of His Father upholding Him. He needed to prepare spiritually. The Lord had need of this! Often Jesus would withdraw Himself into the wilderness, and pray. “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12

Conclusion: Christ had need of bringing mankind peace, He came to save and He prepared spiritually. Most of us have more than a week to live. What are you going to do with your time?

Two artists set out to make a picture representing perfect peace. The first painted a canvas depicting a carefree lad sitting in a boat on a little placid lake without a ripple to disturb the surface. The other painted a raging waterfall with winds whipping the spray about. On a limb, overhanging the swirling water, a bird had built its nest, and sat peacefully brooding her eggs. Here she was safe from her predatory enemies, shielded and protected by the roaring falls. Real peace is the result of remaining CALM and COOL in the midst of trial.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33