Why DO Lent? Hail Him, Nail Him Focus: Acknowledging Joy and Sin Matthew 21:1-11 March 20, 2016 Pastor Sandi Evans Rogers When was the last time you celebrated in a crowd? Crowds can be a funny maybe curious thing Following the crowd Crowd Mentality Crowd control Turning with the Crowd Crowds can be an interesting. starting off in celebrating mode and ending in anger, acting out, rage. Being a part of a crowd can be interesting Peer pressure in a crowd is intensified!!! Averett College now University early 1970 s Streaking.oh my what started as a prank by two whole night with hundreds some joining in & some watching! It was a good night NOT to be a part of the crowd so tempting Suspensions, crackdowns On what we now call Palm Sunday and Good Friday crowds were involved as well. The story of the triumphal entry is actually one of the few incidents in the life of Jesus which appears in all four Gospel accounts Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19. Reading and reflecting on all four accounts pulling them all together, 1
it becomes clear that the triumphal entry was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus day, but to Christians throughout history. For us today!! Jesus was heading for Jerusalem he was at an advantage He knew where he was going And why he was going More than once Jesus had told his disciples as he does in Matthew 20 17-19 17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life! To us that seems so plain to understand doesn t it? So why didn t they get it? Why did it now sink in for the 12? It could be that from our perspective we have a broader view A bigger view. We have more pieces than they did The disciples were up close so close they couldn t wrap their minds around it. We just can t get past our hindsight --Folks say hindsight is always 20/20 It was beyond their ability to see and comprehend. But amazingly they keep following anyway!! 2
Mathew goes on 1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away. 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 Say to Daughter Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. Getting closer to Jerusalem Jesus plan become a bit specific Jesus is planning for an entrance that fulfills prophecy An entrance some of his disciples have been waiting for. Jesus purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to publicly fulfill an Old Testament prophecy. And to make His claim as their Messiah and King Matthew quotes Zechariah 9:9, about King coming on the foal of a donkey Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. he tells of this moment as an exact fulfillment of prophecy Jesus rides into Jerusalem as a conquering King hailed by the people as such, celebrated according to the customs of the day. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt 3
and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. As the Jesus rode the colt down the road toward the capital city, it was an amazing sight. There were two crowds Two crowds converging upon him a massive crowd coming out of the city; and another group following him [Mt. 21:9; Mk. 11:9]. WOW! These crowds were most likely disciples or would be disciples curious Disciples who had been with and known Jesus, and People who been awed by the effect of His miracles Especially the recent resurrection of Lazarus - - - [Lk. 19:37; Jn. 12:17]. So Miraculous Lazarus resurrection was being talked about all over the countryside. So IMAGINE.it says some paved the road with their clothes; others filled the road with branches or layers of leaves, John tells us that some of these were palm branches [Jn. 12:13], this is where we get Palm Sunday. As was custom of the day - Spreading garments before royalty or a dignitary was a symbol of submission [2 Kings. 9:13]. Palm branches were also seen as token of victory These Jewish disciples were undoubtedly expressing the HOPE that Jesus would be the one to lead them to victory over their oppressor (Rome). We no longer see Jesus telling His disciples to be quiet about who He is [Matthew 12:16, 16:20] but to SHOUT His praises to worship Him openly. Jesus was now openly declaring to the people 4
that He was their King the Messiah they had been waiting for. We are talking a ruckus was being made - - And Jesus he was taking the moment to ENJOY! 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! The word hosanna is a Greek writing of the Hebrew verb from the Psalm, Save! Hebrew hosi ah-na [pronounced ho-she-ah-nah]. It is an imperative a cry for help. In time it became an acclamation, The cry, this acclamation is addressed to Jesus as Son of David. There was no doubt in the minds of these faithful & excited disciples that this Jesus was the Messiah, the heir to the throne of David. This is confirmed by their exclamation, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. In Psalm 118 the sentence was a priestly blessing for the king who led the people in procession to the sanctuary to offer praise to the Lord. But it came to be a praise to God for the coming of Messiah Jesus had been widely recognized by His followers as the Coming One. And so when the people repeat their Hosanna to God in the highest, which is like saying Glory to God in the highest (in Luke) they are praising God for sending them the Messiah, the Savior of Israel. 5
As Jesus got closer to the city, As the noise and revelry grew. The crowd was pumped!!! I can actually imagine this scene Close your eyes for a minute can you? Can you see Jesus elated, full with the Spirit and presence of God, beaming, encouraged, Getting lost in the moment The excitement The JOY! Can you see the crowds look around see their faces The anticipation The joy The relief All that they have been waiting for They can feel it It is almost here This is a REAL CELEBRATION!!!! The energy is HIGH!!! What can match this? 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, Who is this? [NIV] And as he entered Jerusalem a shock ran through the whole city. Who is this? men cried. [JBP] 10 As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, Who is this? [NET] 10 When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement], saying, Who is this? [AMP] 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, all the city was filled with excitement [stirred up; in an uproar]. 6
The people asked, Who is this man? [EXB] WOW.what an impact a man riding on a colt coats palm branches and shouts of praise. VIDEO?? Nobody missed the parade Everyone was taking notice Who was this man? Who is this? Who was this humble bearded man? This is Jesus, the One Who speaks for God from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee. JESUS!!!! The prophet Nazareth Hail Him!! Hail Him!! What a day. What a great beginning to the week Can you almost feel it? Hosanna Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna How could a week start better than this? But once again hear from John John 12 16 The disciples did not understand any of this at the time; these truths did not sink in until Jesus had been glorified. As they reflected on their memories of Jesus, 7
they realized these things happened just as they were written. [VOICE] They were so caught up in the excitement that day Hoping that they were seeing the Messiah, Waiting for the revolution, Freedom they could taste it! BUT the week took a twist A twist that Jesus knew was coming It is WHY he came to Jerusalem Monday Cursed a fig tree that didn t produce fruit o Judgment on the spiritually dead religious leadership o All believers true faith must bear spiritual fruit in life Jesus went to the temple o In anger turned the tables of the money changers 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves." [Luke 19:46] Tuesday Mount of Olives, afternoon with his disciples Olivet Discourse o Prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem o Parables, stories o Amazing last Teachings Wednesday..SILENT nothing said about how he spent Wednesday Many scholars think he spent the day in Bethany While we can only speculate, it's fascinating to consider how our Lord Jesus spent this final quiet day with his dearest friends and followers. a means of support after two hard days with more yet to come Thursday Maundy Thursday Peter and John sent ahead to prepared for the Passover meal they would share together 8
Jesus washed his disciple s feet, with this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrated by example how they were to love one another after he was gone as humble servants. Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and truly, that is who I am. 14 So if your Lord and Teacher washes your feet, then you should wash one another s feet. 15 I am your example; keep doing what I do. John 13 12-16 [Voice] "And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.' Luke 22:19-20, [ESV] We will have the privilege to remember, follow his example and keep doing what he did when we gather on Thursday @ Love Feast After the meal - went with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to prayer fearful, anxious "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Luke 22:44, [ESV] Betrayal by Judas with a kiss Arrested Taken to High Priest House.Caiaphas Peter denied him 3 X s Multiple Trials FRIDAY GOOD FRIDAY? 9
Trials Pilate found no guilt, no fault the CROWDS are back and Pilate was going to give the crowd the choice. BUT Matthew 27:20-20 Meanwhile, the high priests and religious leaders had talked the crowd into asking for the pardon of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. 21 The governor asked, Which of the two do you want me to pardon? They said, Barabbas! 22 Then what do I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ? They all shouted, Nail him to a cross! 23 He objected, But for what crime? But they yelled all the louder, Nail him to a cross! Pilate has laid his own trap. He realizes he has given the crowd a choice, but the crowd doesn t choose as he expects them to 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, I m washing my hands of responsibility for this man s death. From now on, it s in your hands. You re judge and jury. 25 The crowd answered, We ll take the blame, we and our children after us. 26 Then he pardoned Barabbas. But he had Jesus whipped, and then handed over for crucifixion. What a week Began with cheers, Excitement, Anticipation, Expectation One Commentator states: They welcomed Him out of their desire for a messianic deliverer, someone who would lead them in a revolt against Rome. There were many who, though they did not believe in Christ as Savior, nevertheless hoped that perhaps He would be to them a great temporal deliverer. These are the ones who hailed Him as King with their many hosannas, recognizing Him as the Son of David who came in the name of the Lord. BUT, when He failed in their expectations, when He refused to lead them in a 10
massive revolt against the Roman occupiers, the crowds quickly turned on Him. Within just a few days, their hosannas would change to cries of Crucify Him! [Luke 23:20-21]. Those who hailed Him as a hero would soon reject and abandon Him. How could they Hail Him on Sunday & cry out to Nail Him on Friday? What a difference a crowd makes What a difference when a crowd is influenced Sunday they were influenced by Miracles, healings, hopes, dreams, great joy! Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna!! Friday they were influenced by jealousy, greed, disappointment, fear, sin! Crucify Him Crucify Him Crucify Him!! Do you have expectations of who you need Jesus to be for you? Something you need to believe? To know Him and trust Him? Are you able to accept him as your Savior Messiah King? What crowd will you find yourself with? Who influences you? This is a great week to reflect to be still to discern to listen This is Sunday.what will your week bring as you follow Jesus? PRAY..AMEN 11