SERIES: Palm Sunday Messages MESSAGE: Life Lessons from a Donkey Ride SPEAKER: Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: John 12:12-19 MESSAGE SUMMARY Almost half of the gospel of John is dedicated to Jesus' final week on earth. With that much Scripture dedicated to the topic, we must pay attention. In this Palm Sunday message, we look at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and discover the difference between practicing a religion and having a relationship with Christ. STUDY GUIDE Connect Group Recap: March 20, 2016 Speaker: Skip Heitzig Teaching: "Life Lessons from a Donkey Ride" Text: John 12:12-19 Path In this Palm Sunday teaching, Pastor Skip took us through Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. He reminded us that twenty-nine of the eighty-five chapters of the four Gospels are devoted to the last week of Jesus' life on earth. Because so much Scripture is dedicated to this area, we should pay attention. In this passage, we see that Jesus fulfilled biblical prophecy. Points I. Jesus Is More Appealing than Religion (vv. 12-13) II. Scripture Is More Reliable than Opinion (vv. 14-16) III. Following Is More Important than Inspection (vv. 16-19) Jesus Is More Appealing than Religion (vv. 12-13) There were three mandatory feasts for all Jews. Many observed them strictly for religious purposes, but others wanted more than a ceremony. What's the difference between Jesus and religion? o Religion emphasizes outward rituals; Jesus emphasizes inward reality. o Religion is about what you can't do; Jesus is about what you can do. It's prohibition versus true freedom. o Religion puts up barriers; Jesus pulls them down. o Religion says, "Work your way"; Jesus says, "I am the way." Page 1
Probe: If you are from a religious background, discuss what life was like before coming to Christ. If you are not from a religious background, discuss how you viewed religion before coming to Christ. Scripture Is More Reliable than Opinion (vv. 14-16) Jesus rode a donkey to fulfill biblical prophecy. Five hundred years earlier, Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would come riding on a donkey (see Zechariah 9:9). Daniel prophesied the exact day Jesus would come as part of the Seventy Weeks prophecy (see Daniel 9:24-27). In The Coming Prince, Sir Robert Anderson calculates that day. He computed that the 483 years (equaling 173,880 days) ended on April 6, AD 32, known to the Jews as the tenth of Nisan the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey and presented Himself as the Messiah. Probe: Why is prophecy so important in Scripture? What does prophecy tell us about God and the Bible? Following Is More Important than Inspection (vv. 16-19) Verses 16-19 show four separate groups of people: o The disciples the learners and followers of Christ o Eyewitnesses those who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead o Those who heard that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead o The Pharisees the religious people that watched and observed those following Christ Of all four groups, only one was truly following and obeying Jesus the disciples. Probe: Which of the other three groups did you find yourself in prior to coming to Christ? What does it mean to be a disciple a follower of Christ? How does this differ from the other three groups? Practice Connect Up: Pastor Skip reminded us that the same God who engineered the donkey ride and the date of visitation is the One that saved us. Discuss the moment Jesus visited/saved you? Had you heard the gospel before? What made you respond? Connect In: As a follower of Christ, a disciple is one who responds, obeys, and learns from Jesus. What does it mean to be a follower of Christ in the church today? How can the body of Christ demonstrate to a watching world that we are true disciples (see John 13:35)? What can you do this week to obey Jesus' command in that verse? Connect Out: Take a moment to discuss other prophetic scriptures that were fulfilled by Christ. How can fulfilled prophecy be used to demonstrate the reliability of Scripture to others outside the faith? For reference, the following link lists forty-four fulfilled prophecies: http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefactsandlists/a/prophecies-jesus.htm Page 2
DETAILED NOTES 1. Introduction 1. Comparisons 1. Show how one thing is better than another 2. Show how far you have come 2. Almost half of the book of John is dedicated to the final week of Jesus' life on earth 1. Two-fifths of the gospel of Matthew is devoted to this week 2. Three-fifths of the gospel of Mark is devoted to this week 3. One-third of the gospel of Luke is devoted to this week 3. The gospel writers placed a significant amount of importance on Passion Week 1. The Gospels have eighty-nine chapters total 1. Four of those chapters are about the first thirty years of Jesus' life 2. Eighty-five chapters consist of the last three and a half years of His life 3. Twenty-nine chapters are dedicated to the final week 2. When God repeats Himself, you know it is important 4. All four Gospels recount Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19) 5. This was the luckiest donkey in the world to have the Son of God ride on his back 6. Donkeys 1. Live between thirty and forty years of age, some as long as sixty years 2. Favorite pastime is rolling in the dirt 3. Have long ears that help keep them cool and allow them to hear over great distances 4. More people are killed annually by donkeys than in plane crashes 7. Palm Sunday 1. Celebrates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem 2. In the Jewish calendar, it is the tenth day of the month of Nisan 1. The day that Jewish families would select the lamb that would be sacrificed on the fourteenth day of Nisan Passover 2. On this day, the Lamb of God rode into Jerusalem 3. He presented Himself to the nation 4. April 6, AD 32 2. Jesus Is More Appealing than Religion (vv. 12-13) 1. The crowd was a group of religious people in Jerusalem for the religious feast 1. Three feasts every Jewish person was required to be in Jerusalem for 1. Passover 2. Pentecost 3. Tabernacles 2. Passover was a celebration remembering how God delivered them from Egypt (see Exodus 11-12) 2. It was a repetitive process 1. They traveled the same routes to get there 2. They went through the same rituals 3. They prayed the same prescribed prayers 3. The people were clamoring for something more than their religion was offering 1. They gravitated to Jesus Page 3
2. Hósanna = save, we pray 3. Jesus was a breath of fresh air in a stale, stagnant, religious experience (see Mark 12:37) 4. There was a clash between the old religious system and the new principles Jesus was teaching 1. Matthew 15:1-9 2. Tax collectors, prostitutes, and murderers found it easy to hang out with Jesus 3. His most scathing words were to religious leaders (see Matthew 23) 5. The difference between Jesus and religion 1. Religion emphasizes the outward; Jesus emphasizes the inward (see Matthew 9:4; 12:34) 2. Religion is about what you can't do; Jesus is about what you can do 3. Religion puts up barriers; Jesus pulls down barriers 1. In the temple, there were walls to keep people out 2. Religion is very good at keeping people out 3. Matthew 11:28 4. Religion says, "Work your way to God"; Jesus says, "I am the way" 1. Most religions are about what you have to do to work your way to God 2. Human achievement 3. The gospel is the approach of divine accomplishment 6. Jesus was the Pharisees' biggest nightmare 1. People were more attracted to Jesus than their religious system 2. Jesus drove people toward a personal relationship with God 3. Scripture Is More Reliable than Opinion (vv. 14-16) 1. Everyone has an opinion about Jesus (see Mark 8:27-28; John 9:16; 10:20) 2. John quoted the Old Testament to explain who Jesus was 1. Psalm 118:26 2. Zechariah 9:9 3. God's revelation is more reliable than people's estimation 4. Why did Jesus ride on a donkey? 1. Matthew 21:1-7; Mark 11:1-7; Luke 19:29-35 2. They donkey showed Jesus' identity 1. Kings rode donkeys in times of peace 2. When a king came to wage war, he would ride a horse 5. Luke 19:41-44 1. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem 2. Jesus was referring to Daniel's prediction, which gave an exact timetable for the coming of the Messiah (see Daniel 9:26-27) 1. The Messiah would appear to the Jews 483 years after the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem 2. Sir Robert Anderson of Scotland Yard wrote a book on this prophecy called The Coming Prince 1. He discovered the day the Jews were given the commandment to rebuild was March 14, 445 BC 2. Using the old Babylonian calendar, he discovered that 483 years was equal to 173,880 days Page 4
3. He began at March 14, 445 BC and counted 173,880 days, leading him to the date April 6, AD 32 4. This was the date Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and presented Himself as their King 6. The disciples did not understand the significance of this until after Jesus rose from the grave 1. They discovered how reliable the Scriptures are 2. When your life is governed by God's Word, you will have confidence and security 4. Following Is More Important than Inspection (vv. 16-19) 1. John mentions four groups of people who were there that day 1. The disciples 1. Real followers of Jesus 2. Learners 2. Eyewitnesses who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead (see v. 17) 3. Those who heard from the eyewitnesses that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead 4. The religious leaders 2. All four groups inspected the same event 1. The disciples were the only ones who were really following Jesus 2. Even though they did not understand the significance at the time, they would eventually 3. Observation is good 1. But it must lead to conclusions 2. Some people study extensively, but stop short at actually following the One they are studying 3. There comes a point at which what you study must be translated into what you do 5. Closing 1. How will you respond in your day of visitation? 2. The donkey was the most compliant one in this entire story 3. The God who engineered these events with such exactness can handle and change you 4. This God is worth following Figures referenced: Sir Robert Anderson Hebrew words: hósanna Cross references: Exodus 11-12; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 9:26-27; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 9:4; 11:28; 12:34; 15:1-9; 21:1-11; 23; Mark 8:27-28; 11:1-11; 12:37; Luke 19:28-44; John 9:16; 10:20; 12:12-19 Topic: Palm Sunday Keywords: Gospels, Passion Week, triumphal entry, donkey, Palm Sunday, Passover, religion, Pentecost, Tabernacles, Egypt, rituals, prayer, religious leaders, tax collectors, prostitutes, murderers, Page 5
barriers, achievement, divine, relationship, opinion, Babylonian calendar, king, confidence, observation, conclusions, study Page 6