Scripture Texts: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19
Let me ask you to pretend for a moment that you are standing in Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago, a part of that first Palm Sunday parade.
You might cheer, shout, weep, or simply watch silently.
Parades are usually stirring and exciting. There is something about them that starts the adrenaline flowing and the body moving.
Parades are one means of honoring heroes, dignitaries, and celebrities, sometimes all too transitory. However, the memories linger on.
The tragedy is that sometimes parades are planned for people who really don’t deserve them.
A parade, or the absence of one, can have a profound effect upon one’s life. You and I have heard the story about the homecoming of one of our great missionaries who had served more than forty years in a remote part of Africa. On that ship with him was a United Nations Ambassador who had spent six weeks in African jaunting about here and there. As the ship came into New York Harbor, fire boats appeared, spouting water festively. Tugboats tooted. Bands came alongside. There was a great tumult of praise and celebration for this returning ambassador.
The missionary began to feel sorry for himself saying, “Forty years for Jesus and nobody knows or cares that I’m coming home.”
At that moment he seemed to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Just remember you are not home yet!”
Wouldn’t it have been grand if someone had planned a parade for this returning missionary?
Let us review some of the exciting and dramatic events of that first Palm Sunday parade in which Jesus was the Central Figure.
First of all, I am sure you are aware of the fact that Jesus planned His own parade. He didn’t wait for His loyal friends to give Him a gold watch.
Up until now, Jesus had maintained some degree of anonymity. He had been trying to keep a low profile, cautioning those who had been healed and helped, “Go and tell no one.”
But now the time has come for some recognition. I believe that Jesus acted totally without any conceit. He needed a parade and He knew that the world needed this particular parade. He planned His parade unashamedly for His own sake, as well as for the sake of His followers, then and now.
Jesus decided to have a parade to make a statement about His greatness. As a boy I was always amazed that He knew exactly where the donkey and colt were. I used to think that somehow He had telepathic powers like Superman. Now, I realized that Jesus had walked up and down those streets daily. I am confident that He had noticed this little donkey and colt, and decided to use them for the parade. He undoubtedly knew the owners, and had made a prior agreement with them for the use of the donkey and colt.
Anything offered to God had to be pure and perfect. So Jesus chose an unused, unbroken animal.
The donkey was a symbol of peace in those days. Horses were symbols of military might. Conquering generals came on horses.
However, an ambassador coming on a peaceful mission rode a donkey. Jesus was the Ambassador of Peace from the Ultimate Kingdom.
The Triumphal Entry, as it is called, occurred on Sunday of Passion week. All four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record this occasion, and its significance.
Having come to Bethphage, “House of figs,” about two miles outside of Jerusalem, it appears that Jesus stayed in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus for several days over the Sabbath in Bethany which was near by. It was the raising of Lazarus from the dead to life that was the miracle that sealed the doom of Jesus, and the religious leaders plotted to kill Him and He would be crucified the next Friday which we call Good Friday.
Jesus sent two of his disciples into the city near the Mount of Olives to find a donkey with a colt, and bring the animals to Him.
Matthew sees this request of Jesus as fulfilling the prophecy recorded in Zachaiah 9:9, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and sitting on a donkey, and a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Interestingly, Jesus tells His two disciples what to say to the owners of the colt: “The Lord had need of him” (v. 31).
Have you ever considered what Jesus might want us to give Him. Let me ask you, “If Jesus were to ask you to give something you consider precious to you, would you give it?”
You might say, I have nothing to give. That might be a cover up of what you do have that you are unwilling to part with. Jesus is looking for people who will serve others with their time, talents, and gifts. Have you ever thought about the many ministries that are in this church? I have observed you and some of you could serve as greeters to welcome new people to the church and speak an encouraging word to regular attenders at our church.
Have you ever considered what the impact would be if you told the pastor you would like to visit with the newcomers to our church on Sunday afternoon and let them know how happy we are to have them as guests at our church? And we want you to come back. We need you.
Some may want to bake a loaf of bread or some brownies for the greeters to take to the homes when they visit. Maybe you would be willing to make a simple phone call.
What is the growing edge in your life? Is it money, home, automobile, position or family. Are you willing to give Jesus something that you are not sure you would ever get back.
Notice the disciples were told that the donkey and colt would be immediately returned after the parade.
Oh, I wish I could take you to Mount of Olives this morning. It is one of the most amazing sites around Jerusalem. I have been there.
It played an important role in the life of Jesus. He came here often. It was from this hill that Jesus prophecied to His disciples that the Temple would be destroyed. After He celebrated the last supper with His disciples, He went out to Gethemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives to pray. It was here that Judas arrived with a company of officials and soldiers to arrest Jesus. It was from the summit of this mountain that Jesus ascended back to heaven, and sent leadership gifts to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. He is now at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.
At the top of the Mount of Olives you will gain a panoramic view of Jerusalem in all of its glory. It is spectacular.
When Jesus saw the City, the Scriptures tell us that He wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in your day, the things which belong to your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. . . He goes on to tell of judgment that is to follow because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
How often do we experience the presence and visitation of the Lord in our worship services? Do you want to shout, cry out, to praise God? What is holding you back? I recommend that you just be obedient to what you are feeling in your spirit.
Embedded in the crowd of people were the Pharisees, the religionists who will always try to throw cold water on any move of the Holy Spirit and the demonstration of praise and worship. The Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."
And He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out" (Luke 19:40).
As we approach this Palm Sunday of 2018, let us not miss out on the spontaneous and joyful shouts of praise as we wave palm branches in a concert of worship.
This first Palm Sunday Parade had several purposes.
One—it fulfilled the prophecy of Zacharias that the Messiah would come into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. This parade had political and personal purposes, which is true for most parades.
Jesus was making His move, His hour had finally come when He should go to Calvary to die for the sins of the world. He was saying to the Jewish authorities. Now is the time. Do what you will. This is the moment of opportunity.
I would like to say that for each person in the crowd that day, and for each person here today in this worship service, there is a decision we must make about Jesus. He has something to say to us about our personal lives and our destinies. Will you give your heart and life to Him this day? Or will you delay and walk away? What if you walked out of this church today and are killed in an automobile accident? Would you be ready to meet God? The only way is through Jesus Christ, Who is the door, and the way to heaven and eternal life.
Let me say, that parades are for those who watch them too. Although the Palm Sunday parade was for Jesus and His disciples, it was equally for the crowd that joined in the praises. Jesus was offering the people one more opportunity to respond to His gracious offer of forgiveness and eternal life. He was giving an opportunity to say, “Yes, I want what You have to offer. Or, will you say, “No, deal me out.”
In that original crowd was Bartimaeus, who was once blind and now could see. There was Lazarus, once dead and now alive. The parade began in his hometown. Nicodemus was in the crowd, a secret disciple who ultimately stood up to be counted.
Today, we are all those people and more. This parade gives us one more opportunity to respond to the King and receive His salvation. Will you receive Him today?
In closing, I want you to take your palm branches and together we will wave them in victory shouting with an antiphonal chant.
Those on my right, I want you to shout Hosanna.
Those on my left, I want you to shout Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Then, all together. Let us shout Hosanna in the Highest!
[Editor's Comment: I preached this Palm Sunday sermon in 2011 at our church. I love Palm Sunday. I want to invite you to our church today if you live within driving distance of Athens, GA. You will be blessed by the music and worship. I know that our pastor, Terry Kesling, has prepared a sermon for the occasion. He is a gifted communicator and an anointed preacher of the Gospel. I look forward to being in church with God's people. Our morning worship service begins at 11 o'clock.
Christian Life Worship Center is located at 125 Kathwood Drive, Athens, GA.]
Let me ask you to pretend for a moment that you are standing in Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago, a part of that first Palm Sunday parade.
You might cheer, shout, weep, or simply watch silently.
Parades are usually stirring and exciting. There is something about them that starts the adrenaline flowing and the body moving.
Parades are one means of honoring heroes, dignitaries, and celebrities, sometimes all too transitory. However, the memories linger on.
The tragedy is that sometimes parades are planned for people who really don’t deserve them.
A parade, or the absence of one, can have a profound effect upon one’s life. You and I have heard the story about the homecoming of one of our great missionaries who had served more than forty years in a remote part of Africa. On that ship with him was a United Nations Ambassador who had spent six weeks in African jaunting about here and there. As the ship came into New York Harbor, fire boats appeared, spouting water festively. Tugboats tooted. Bands came alongside. There was a great tumult of praise and celebration for this returning ambassador.
The missionary began to feel sorry for himself saying, “Forty years for Jesus and nobody knows or cares that I’m coming home.”
At that moment he seemed to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Just remember you are not home yet!”
Wouldn’t it have been grand if someone had planned a parade for this returning missionary?
Let us review some of the exciting and dramatic events of that first Palm Sunday parade in which Jesus was the Central Figure.
First of all, I am sure you are aware of the fact that Jesus planned His own parade. He didn’t wait for His loyal friends to give Him a gold watch.
Up until now, Jesus had maintained some degree of anonymity. He had been trying to keep a low profile, cautioning those who had been healed and helped, “Go and tell no one.”
But now the time has come for some recognition. I believe that Jesus acted totally without any conceit. He needed a parade and He knew that the world needed this particular parade. He planned His parade unashamedly for His own sake, as well as for the sake of His followers, then and now.
Jesus decided to have a parade to make a statement about His greatness. As a boy I was always amazed that He knew exactly where the donkey and colt were. I used to think that somehow He had telepathic powers like Superman. Now, I realized that Jesus had walked up and down those streets daily. I am confident that He had noticed this little donkey and colt, and decided to use them for the parade. He undoubtedly knew the owners, and had made a prior agreement with them for the use of the donkey and colt.
Anything offered to God had to be pure and perfect. So Jesus chose an unused, unbroken animal.
The donkey was a symbol of peace in those days. Horses were symbols of military might. Conquering generals came on horses.
However, an ambassador coming on a peaceful mission rode a donkey. Jesus was the Ambassador of Peace from the Ultimate Kingdom.
The Triumphal Entry, as it is called, occurred on Sunday of Passion week. All four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record this occasion, and its significance.
Having come to Bethphage, “House of figs,” about two miles outside of Jerusalem, it appears that Jesus stayed in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus for several days over the Sabbath in Bethany which was near by. It was the raising of Lazarus from the dead to life that was the miracle that sealed the doom of Jesus, and the religious leaders plotted to kill Him and He would be crucified the next Friday which we call Good Friday.
Jesus sent two of his disciples into the city near the Mount of Olives to find a donkey with a colt, and bring the animals to Him.
Matthew sees this request of Jesus as fulfilling the prophecy recorded in Zachaiah 9:9, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and sitting on a donkey, and a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Interestingly, Jesus tells His two disciples what to say to the owners of the colt: “The Lord had need of him” (v. 31).
Have you ever considered what Jesus might want us to give Him. Let me ask you, “If Jesus were to ask you to give something you consider precious to you, would you give it?”
You might say, I have nothing to give. That might be a cover up of what you do have that you are unwilling to part with. Jesus is looking for people who will serve others with their time, talents, and gifts. Have you ever thought about the many ministries that are in this church? I have observed you and some of you could serve as greeters to welcome new people to the church and speak an encouraging word to regular attenders at our church.
Have you ever considered what the impact would be if you told the pastor you would like to visit with the newcomers to our church on Sunday afternoon and let them know how happy we are to have them as guests at our church? And we want you to come back. We need you.
Some may want to bake a loaf of bread or some brownies for the greeters to take to the homes when they visit. Maybe you would be willing to make a simple phone call.
What is the growing edge in your life? Is it money, home, automobile, position or family. Are you willing to give Jesus something that you are not sure you would ever get back.
Notice the disciples were told that the donkey and colt would be immediately returned after the parade.
Oh, I wish I could take you to Mount of Olives this morning. It is one of the most amazing sites around Jerusalem. I have been there.
It played an important role in the life of Jesus. He came here often. It was from this hill that Jesus prophecied to His disciples that the Temple would be destroyed. After He celebrated the last supper with His disciples, He went out to Gethemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives to pray. It was here that Judas arrived with a company of officials and soldiers to arrest Jesus. It was from the summit of this mountain that Jesus ascended back to heaven, and sent leadership gifts to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. He is now at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.
At the top of the Mount of Olives you will gain a panoramic view of Jerusalem in all of its glory. It is spectacular.
When Jesus saw the City, the Scriptures tell us that He wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in your day, the things which belong to your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. . . He goes on to tell of judgment that is to follow because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
How often do we experience the presence and visitation of the Lord in our worship services? Do you want to shout, cry out, to praise God? What is holding you back? I recommend that you just be obedient to what you are feeling in your spirit.
Embedded in the crowd of people were the Pharisees, the religionists who will always try to throw cold water on any move of the Holy Spirit and the demonstration of praise and worship. The Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."
And He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out" (Luke 19:40).
As we approach this Palm Sunday of 2018, let us not miss out on the spontaneous and joyful shouts of praise as we wave palm branches in a concert of worship.
This first Palm Sunday Parade had several purposes.
One—it fulfilled the prophecy of Zacharias that the Messiah would come into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. This parade had political and personal purposes, which is true for most parades.
Jesus was making His move, His hour had finally come when He should go to Calvary to die for the sins of the world. He was saying to the Jewish authorities. Now is the time. Do what you will. This is the moment of opportunity.
I would like to say that for each person in the crowd that day, and for each person here today in this worship service, there is a decision we must make about Jesus. He has something to say to us about our personal lives and our destinies. Will you give your heart and life to Him this day? Or will you delay and walk away? What if you walked out of this church today and are killed in an automobile accident? Would you be ready to meet God? The only way is through Jesus Christ, Who is the door, and the way to heaven and eternal life.
Let me say, that parades are for those who watch them too. Although the Palm Sunday parade was for Jesus and His disciples, it was equally for the crowd that joined in the praises. Jesus was offering the people one more opportunity to respond to His gracious offer of forgiveness and eternal life. He was giving an opportunity to say, “Yes, I want what You have to offer. Or, will you say, “No, deal me out.”
In that original crowd was Bartimaeus, who was once blind and now could see. There was Lazarus, once dead and now alive. The parade began in his hometown. Nicodemus was in the crowd, a secret disciple who ultimately stood up to be counted.
Today, we are all those people and more. This parade gives us one more opportunity to respond to the King and receive His salvation. Will you receive Him today?
In closing, I want you to take your palm branches and together we will wave them in victory shouting with an antiphonal chant.
Those on my right, I want you to shout Hosanna.
Those on my left, I want you to shout Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.
Then, all together. Let us shout Hosanna in the Highest!
[Editor's Comment: I preached this Palm Sunday sermon in 2011 at our church. I love Palm Sunday. I want to invite you to our church today if you live within driving distance of Athens, GA. You will be blessed by the music and worship. I know that our pastor, Terry Kesling, has prepared a sermon for the occasion. He is a gifted communicator and an anointed preacher of the Gospel. I look forward to being in church with God's people. Our morning worship service begins at 11 o'clock.
Christian Life Worship Center is located at 125 Kathwood Drive, Athens, GA.]