AN EVENT THAT WOULD MAKE THE STONES CRY OUT.

Transcription

1 AN EVENT THAT WOULD MAKE THE STONES CRY OUT. 1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to; Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. (Mt 21:1-11 AV) 1 And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, 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. 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. 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. 5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? 6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. 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. (Mr 11:1-11 AV) 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32 Created on 12/6/2008 2:22:00 PM

2 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Lu 19:29-44 AV) 12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass s colt. 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. (Joh 12:12-19 AV) I almost decided to change that message from the Life of Christ to something in preparation for the election this week (2008). But as I went to bed last night the thought occurred to me that there is nothing better to quiet the heart than to mediate upon the Saviour. This Passage once again points out the greatness of the God who has everything in control. The eight prayer request that we put in last week bulletin all recognize that God is in control. 1. Pray for God's mercy and grace for our nation - Lam. 3:

3 2. Pray that God would protect us from those who would do damage to the cause of Christ. 3. Pray that God would open our eyes to truth. 4. Pray that the hidden things would come to light - I Corinthians 4:5. 5. Pray that men and women of wisdom would be put into office. 6. Pray that God would set up righteous leadership - Proverbs 14: Pray that truth would be known - John 8:32 8. Pray that God would change the hearts of unrighteous leadership - Proverbs 21:1. As we approach the last week in the life of Christ, which will take us months to examine, There is one truth to keep in mind. That truth is that He was in control I remind you that even when the crowd was out of control, God was in control, even when Pilate was unsure of his action, God was in Control, even when the soldiers nailed him to the cross, God was in control, even when the crowds mocked and made fun of him, God was in Control, even when the sky grew dark and He I thirst, God was in control, even when the blood and water ran out, God was in Control even as he lay in a cold dark tomb, God was still in Control And if you are still not sure When the Stone Roll away, and the grave clothe fell off, and he rose up from that tomb, GOD WAS STILL IN CONTROL Take Heart today God is in Control. I. From the viewpoint of it preparation. 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. (Lu 19:29-31 AV) A. This is not a long journey but it is a perilous journey according to Barnes Notes The distance was about nineteen miles. The most of the way was a desert, or filled with caves, and rocks, and woods a fit place for robbers. 3

4 1. There are journeys in life that are difficult and filled with dangers. But when we walk them with the Savior we have nothing to fear. 2. All of us regardless of age face journeys into the unknown, most of us have faced many already, and the truth is that no matter what the dangers, He is still in the midst of the Journey. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. (Ps 5:12 AV) Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Ps 32:7 AV) Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (Ps 139:3 AV) B. At the mount of Olives So called because of the abundant Olive trees there. 1. The mount is east of Jerusalem, There is a brook Kidron between them, 2. On the west side of the mount is the garden of Gethsemane 3. Jesus in preparation of the coming events traveled the very area where he would be later crucified and buried and from which he would rise again. a) It is sometimes good to view even from afar the path of the journey we must trod. b) This is a good reason to read good Christian biographies. C. But Notice that he had even the details prepared for his final entry into Jerusalem 1. they would find a colt, not just any colt, a) but one tied b) but one unridden not my choice 2. but notice there is something very special about this colt. Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. a) When the owner ask them a why they were told exactly what to reply. b) Because the Lord of it hath need of him. 4

5 c) This is the reason why Jesus could sit upon the back of an un-ridden colt. He was the Lord of it. 3. This again show us who is in control The Lord. D. One of the greatest truths of our lives is that in all our decisions the Lord is in the details and well as in the overall plan. E. It is not wonder that if the crowd was still the rock would have cried out. II. From the viewpoint of the prophecy. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, (Mt 21:4-6 AV) 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. (Zec 9:9 AV) A. This is another one of many such prophecies that can be used to prove the Word of God is true based upon prophecies. 1. When we consider how many such prophecies there are in just the major ones then we have minor one on top of that we have an event that can not be duplication or brought to pass by the work of mens hands. 2. Let me illustrate. a) David Greenglass was a World War II traitor. He gave atomic secrets to the Russians and then fled to Mexico after the war. His conspirators arranged to help him by planning a meeting with the secretary of the Russian ambassador in Mexico City. Proper identification for both parties became vital. Greenglass was to identify himself with six prearranged signs. These instructions had been given to both the secretary and Greenglass so there would be no possibility of making a mistake. They were : (1) once in Mexico City Greenglass was to write a note to the secretary, signing his name as ``I. Jackson''; (2) after three days he was to go to the Plaza de Colon in Mexico City and (3) stand before the statue of Columbus, (4) with his middle finger placed in a guide book. In addition, (5) when he was approached, he was to say it was a magnificent statue and that he was from 5

6 Oklahoma. (6) The secretary was to then give him a passport. The six prearranged signs worked. Why? With six identifying characteristics it was impossible for the secretary not to identify Greenglass as the proper contact. b) How true, then, it must be that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah if He had 456 identifying characteristics well in advance, and fulfilled them all! 3. Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. a) This was worked out by 12 class totaling 600 students (1) The students carefully weighed all the factors, (2) discussed each prophecy at length, (3) examined the various circumstances which might indicate that men had conspired together to fulfill a particular prophecy. (4) They made their estimates conservative enough so that there was finally unanimous agreement even among the most skeptical students. b) The professor re-examine the results, (1) made them even more conservative, (2) Submitted them to other men believers and skeptics alike for review and further refining. c) His finding for just 8 prophecy being fulfilled by just one man 10^17 power. This is like silver dollar covering all of the area of Texas 2 feet thick and one man blindfold picking out one silver dollar with a red mark on it the first try. d) For 48 such prophecy the number grows to 10^157 that 10 with 157 zeros. Anything over 10^50 is impossible. B. Let us come back to the fact that God is in Control, He planned this event to demostate that only one person could fulfill all the prophecy, that that had to be prearranged by Him it just did not happen by accident. C. It is not wonder that if the crowd was still the rock would have cried out. 6

7 III. From the viewpoint of the prelude. 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. 5 And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? 6 And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. (Mr 11:4-6 AV) A. Put your self in the place of the owner. 1. You have your colt tie, maybe the mares there maybe not, 2. You are at a place where two roads meet a lot of traffic passes by that place every day. 3. Several men stop and start untying your colt, maybe you are there to sell it, they appear to be stealing it. 4. They man reply to your question, The Lord has need of it. 5. What is your response. a) Who is the Lord, What does he need it for, When will he return it, How do I know I can trust you, etc.? b) But not this owner, there is no indication of an argument nor persuasive speech, He just let them take the colt. B. The man s response demonstrate again that the Lord is in control, 1. The Lord had prepare the heart of the owner, 2. We know nothing about his relationship to the Lord 3. We can suppose, but not with clear conviction, that he know who the Lord was, and that was the reason for his compliance. But even that is a demonstration of God working in the situation. C. We do not know what the man s habits were about going to the place, but hundreds of years before the event the God know that man would be there, the colt would be there, and Jesus would have need of him. 1. Today, God knows and cares, and nothing that has happened or will happen will surprise God. 2. He is still in control. IV. From the viewpoint of the prominence. 7

8 8 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. (Mt 21:6-8 AV) 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. (Es 6:7-9 AV) A. It would appear from these two passages that this was not an unsual manner of giving honor to a man. 1. In the account from Esther, the King desired to honor the Mordecai. 2. He did so by organizing a parade, with Mordecai riding in the midst on the king s horse, and arrayed in the King s garments. B. The Messiah is ushered in on the back of a colt of a donkey. 1. Not a great white charger, a low donkey 2. Not arrayed in the King s royal robe, but the clothing of a working man. 3. Not to High s high proclaimation, but to the praise of the crowd. C. All of that so that we could follow him as the conqueror And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Re 19:14 AV) D. He did not exalt himself, but the crowd did. V. From the viewpoint of the psalm of praise 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. (Lu 19:37-38 AV) A. In Matthew s account the people cry out Hosanna which means Save now, or, Save, I beseech thee.

9 1. They were receiving him who was Messiah, but see how soon the crowd can be turned against its object of praise. 2. We have seen great crowds, greater than in any election in history, but how far will the crowd follow. a) In this case, until they realize they were not going to get what they wanted. b) Or until they were convinced that He was not who he said He was. 3. Great crowds and swelling praise is not a stamp of approval from God, remember men like Bonaparte, Hitler, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton all drew great crowds, B. I have now doubt that those most of those following an praising Jesus, were not in the crowd that crucified Him. But there may have been some. 1. They praise him for his mighty works, 2. They praise him because they believed he was the deliverer. 3. They would continue to praise him until it appeared that he could not deliever. (in the hand of the High Priest, and Pilate) C. We need to remember that even if the crowd does not praise our Lord, we still must. 25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. (Ps 118:25-26 AV) 1. Notice the last phrase of this verse we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord 2. Is our praise but in and out of house of the Lord. VI. From the viewpoint of the opposition. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. (Lu 19:39-40 AV). A. These Pharisees knew what the Crowd was crying 1. They recognized him as a master, because they feared the crowd 9

10 2. They recognized that the crowd thought that he was the Messiah, the only one, the one who they waited for. B. There desire was to keep the crowd for speaking out. 1. The enemies of the Cross always have the same desire. 2. but even if the crowd were quiet they rock would cry out. VII. From the viewpoint of the prospects. 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. (Lu 19:41-42 AV) 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isa 9:6-7 AV) A. The Prospect are still great, 1. There is not a government or nation in the world that Christians do not dwell in with a hope that is beyond this world. 2. The prospect for the future are still great. And always will be. B. Our Job is not to keep quiet but to Praise the Lord in the streets. 10