Palm Sunday

CLUE FOR SUNDAY SERVICE SERMON

Religious News Sermons

DATE: 5th April, 2020

THEME: THE VICTORIOUS CHRIST

SCRIPTURE READINGS

ISAIAH 50:4-9

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11

MATTHEW 21:1-11

PSALTER: PSALM 31:9-16


INTRODUCTION

Today is Palm Sunday, which we often call the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. One writer set the stage for this event and those that followed by saying…

Palm Sunday

“It’s early in the final week. The props and players for Friday’s drama are in position. Six-inch spikes are in the bin. A cross-beam leans against a shed wall. Thorn limbs are wrapped around a trellis awaiting the weaving of a soldier’s fingers.

The participants are nearing the stage. Pilate is concerned at the number of Passover pilgrims. Annas and Caiaphas are restless over a volatile Nazarene. Judas views his master with evasive eyes. A centurion is available, awaiting the next crucifixions…”

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” Today, Jesus is entering the most troubled place in the world. It is a place of struggle, conflict confrontation and plagued with COVID-19 pandemic. It is a place in turmoil. The most troubled place in the world is not, however, a geographic location. The human heart is the most troubled place in our world. It was then and it is now.

Turmoil challenges our beliefs and faith, confronts the way we have always done things, and makes us question where we are going. Blessed be the name of Jesus the Christ who comes victoriously to win these life battles for us.

THE BACKGROUND

Jesus approaches Jerusalem with an entourage of his disciples and others who are headed into Jerusalem from all over the known world. Thousands of people from all over the ancient world come to Jerusalem to celebrate what was their greatest religious festival – the Passover. Passover reminded them of God’s saving power and provision as he led them out of 400 years of slavery to the Egyptians. 40 years later Josephus estimates that over 2 million people participated in the Passover. Accompanying the Passover the Jewish nation would sing the Hallel Psalms (Psalm 113-118) – songs of praise. (Psalm 118:25-27) Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna!  We should join them in crying out Hosanna because…

  • Jesus is a peaceable king
  • Jesus is a savior who loves.

BODY

A. WHO IS THIS?

This is the great question with which Matthew has been dealing with from the very first verse of this Gospel—beginning with the genealogy that identified

  • “Jesus Christ” as

▪“the son of David, the son of Abraham” (1:1).

▪He is “Jesus Christ” (1:18)—”Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’ ” (1:23)—etc., etc., etc.

“This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee” (v. 11). The crowd OUTSIDE Jerusalem greeted Jesus as “the son of David” and “he who comes in the name of the Lord” (v. 9), but this crowd INSIDE Jerusalem identifies him only as “the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth.”

B. JESUS PRESENTS HIMSELF AS MESSIAH

The first thing we learn from this passage is that at the triumphal entry Jesus presented himself as Messiah.

i. The Fastened COLT

The fact that the donkey had never been ridden was significant. Animals that were meant for sacred or royal use were not used for ordinary tasks but set apart for their greater purpose.

ii.         The name “Lord” – ‘The Lord needs it.’”

It could refer to God, or to a master, or even just to the owner of something. In fact when Jesus first instructs his disciples to say, “The Lord needs it,” the meaning could have been as simple as saying, “His owner needs it.”

The name “Lord” was a messianic title. Psalm 110 is a messianic psalm.

C. THE PEOPLE PROCLAIM JESUS AS MESSIAH

The people also proclaimed Jesus as Messiah.

a)         The entry on the Donkey

Jesus’ entry on the donkey is highly significant. According to Luke 19:35 ‘the disciples put Jesus on the donkey,.

Why is Jesus riding on the donkey important?

▪By placing Jesus on the donkey for his entry into the city, the people were proclaiming him as king.

▪It is significant that Jesus rode into the city on a donkey rather than a horse. When the king rode into the city on a horse, it signalled military victory. The donkey was used for civil ceremonies and peaceful occasions.

By choosing a donkey rather than a horse, Jesus showed that he was coming in peace.

b)         The spreading of the Cloaks

The spreading of the cloaks was also significant. The spreading of the cloaks was a sign of respect for the king. (2 Kings 9:13)

The symbolism of spreading your cloaks under the feet of the king was that of submission. It indicated your willingness to bow before the king and yield the right of your possessions to him and his rule.

D. JESUS ACCEPTS THEIR PRAISE OF HIM AS MESSIAH

a. Jesus’ affirmation of the people’s Praise

The sound is increasing. The enthusiasm is building with a carpet of clothing and branches on the road, with singing, and with rejoicing. People in the crowd are now shouting out clearly messianic phrases:

•  “Hosanna to the Son of David! (Matthew 21:9)

•  “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ (Luke 19:38)

•  “Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:13)

The Pharisees present in the crowd are angry. They are deeply offended and can’t suppress their disdain.

In fact, instead of Jesus rebuking them, he actually affirmed the people’s praise. “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

But whichever Jesus meant, it is clear that he affirms the peoples’ praises over the Pharisees’ objections.

E. THE VICTORIOUS CHRIST

Up until now Jesus has been very guarded about his identity as Messiah. If Jesus had previously acknowledged publicly that he was the Messiah, the political implications would be such that he could not complete his intended ministry of teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom. But now that ministry is complete.

All that remains is to accomplish his “exodus” in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Now He is matching Viciously to Jerusalem to complete his purpose on earth.

APPLICATION

What are we disciples to make of this triumphal entry? As I ponder the passage I see several lessons:

1. We are to obey Jesus when he tells us to do something.

2. We must be ready and willing for Jesus to claim use of our possessions and positions.

3. Praise can be received with humility.

4. We must not operate out of fear or self-absorption, but be sensitive to what God wants to do and then cooperate with that.

5. Rejoicing and pain can co-exist.

Palm Sunday

CONCLUSION

Precious One! of course, one of the strongest lessons of this passage is that Jesus IS King! He IS the Messiah, the Son of David, and as such, it is fitting that we worship him. He is moving victoriously to Jerusalem to accept death in our place.  Happy Palm Sunday.

Stay BLESSED.

Stay PROTECTED

Stay SAFE

Stay at HOME

PREPARED BY

VERY REV. DR SAMUEL YAW DUA DODD

CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH

ADABRAKA-ACCRA

[covid19 country=”Ghana” title=”Ghana”]

  • 87%
    Like
    Like
  • 0%
    Sad
    Sad
  • 13%
    Love
    Love
  • 0%
    WOW
    WOW

1 thought on “CLUE FOR SUNDAY SERVICE SERMON

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *