The Triumphal Entry is recorded in all 4 Gospels. Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 19:28-44 John 12:12-19
37 As he was drawing near already on the way down the Mount of Olives the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." 40 He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."
38 Blessed is he who comes, the king in God's name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places! 39 Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!" 40 But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise." The Message
Even the creation recognizes the authority and majesty of the creator. Psalm 96:11-12 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! 12 Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise NLT Isaiah 55:12 The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! NLT Habakkuk 2:11 The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint. NLT Job 38:7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Psalm 19:1-6 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. 5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. 6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. NLT The irony is that while many of God s creatures have trouble giving him credit, the creation has no trouble recognizing the majesty and dominion of God. And even when Christ was crucified, we read of the sun refusing to shine, the earth shaking, and the rocks splitting apart.
I. WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE POSITION OF CHRIST As the old hymn says we are to trust and obey. The words of that hymn are as true today as they ever were. How much trouble do people experience by not obeying the commands of Jesus? The Ten Commandments are just as valid today as they were centuries ago. Think about what a different world we would live in if we would love our neighbor as ourselves! 1 in 4 Practicing Christians Struggle to forgive someone! (Barna Research)
II. WE MUST ACCEPT THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST. Many people who welcomed Christ on that first Palm Sunday had many different agendas on their minds. They wanted Jesus to do their thing. We must accept the purpose of Christ. We cannot dictate to him what our desires are. His purpose and will must prevail. Too many times we go on our merry ways, doing our own things, and then ask God to bless what we have already decided. Are we Lord or is Christ Lord?
III. WE MUST AFFIRM THE POWER OF CHRIST. The disciples praised God for all the great things they had seen him do. We look with dismay at what those people are doing on the streets of our city, drugs, crime and murders. But can we say, that but for the grace of God, there go we? We could have done and still be doing some of those same things. We praise God a lot of times for the things he has done for us. But how about praising him for the things he has withheld from you? Everybody here can find something to praise the power of God for.
IV WE CAN APPRECIATE THE PEACE OF CHRIST. The disciples cried out, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! When things were falling apart all around you, somehow you had the peace of God within you. When sorrows like sea billows rolled, when all around your soul was giving away, the peace of God still enabled you to say, It is well with my soul. The last thing Jesus gave to his disciples was the legacy of peace. He says in John, My peace I leave with you. Let not your hearts be troubled. Jesus Christ is still the prince of peace. He who spoke peace to the winds and waves of the sea can still speak peace to us. He still gives us the peace that the world cannot give.
V. WE ACCLAIM THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST. The disciples cried out, Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Jesus Christ is the one who comes to us. He has promised never to leave or forsake us. He dwells within our hearts today. He has come to take up his abode in our hearts. He wants us to crown him king of our lives. He wants us to make a temple for him to dwell. Don t miss your day of visitation!!! 41 When the city came into view, he wept over it. 42 "If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it's too late.
Into my heart, into my heart, Come into my heart, Lord Jesus; Come in today, come in to stay; Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Out of my heart, out of my heart, Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus; Shine out today, shine out always; Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus. Keep quiet stones! Stones; Jesus said if I didn t say anything you would speak for me. But I decided to speak for myself. I wasn t going to say anything at first. But I just couldn t keep quiet. It was like Jeremiah said: Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say I'll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can't do it! NLT
Keep quiet stones! This is my story this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Keep quiet stones! I love to tell the story of Jesus and his love. It will be my theme in glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.