Palm Sunday, Matthew 21:1-11 4/1/12

April 1, 2012 PALM SUNDAY = MATTHEW 21:1-11*

The Triumphal Entry
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, tell him 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 the Daughter of Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]
“Hosanna[d] in the highest!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Luke 19:39-42, 45-46
1939 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. …….. 45 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’[c]; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]”

Who is Jesus series ends today

What do we learn from these passages about Jesus

There is precedent for such a parade.
Cesar. Conqueror. Riding a war horse. Sword drawn. Headband of woven leaves. The city comes out to pay homage. Or die. Palms and cloaks. Shouts of victory. A sacrifice is made in the temple to thank the gods

Jesus is humble
Jesus comes on a donkey. No sword. No headband. – humble and kind

In his kingdom no one is coerced
The city does not come out in mass. No one is forced. Palms and cloaks. Shout of praise. – god does not force anyone

Jesus squares off with Pharisees
The moment we think we are something, we get on Jesus list
The moment that we point the finger at someone else, we are on his list.
This week I read that Jesus was in trouble with the Pharisees not for hanging with repentant sinners, but for hanging with sinners.
He was deeply engaged with normal people

Jesus is master of creation
All of creation praises God

He clears the temple- he expects our worship to be sincere
My house shall be a house of prayer, you have made it a den of thieves
the whole thing became a business- completely human

Jesus weeps for his people.
He has a heart for you
My friend gayanne vandermead

there is a question asked at the end of the story- who is this?
They don’t remember Jesus
They have been busy.
Population of Jerusalem in 30AD = 50-100k
You would think that you would remember the man who healed the blind, cleansed the lepers and raised the dead.

They still don’t know who he is – maybe they encountered him but
Their understanding of him has not changed or grown
They were going about their life….. doing their thing.
Going to movies
Going to sporting events
Getting out in the yard
Going on weekend trips
They missed the parade
It was their only day to sleep in
And so we miss Jesus, we miss who he is and what he might do

When bob Tuttle came to speak
What would happen if we announced that Jesus was coming to speak?
Some would come, others would not and would wonder, who is this?

You have known him for many years. But who is he to you?

This is holy week. It is a great time to make a new decision about jesus
This is why the church gives us Lent
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday

Over the years have you allowed him in?
To give you a humble heart
To wash away every angle of hypocrisy
To give you a heart for the things of God
A heart that weeps for the things that God weeps for

He still stands, open hands, open heart, weeping tears for his people
And the question is still asked- who is this?

Who is Jesus to you??
Lets pray