Palm Sunday Essay, Research Paper

? March On! Even after the Parade! ?

ILL.

It was Palm Sunday and Jesus was coming into Jerusalem. He was siting on a blinding white entire and kicking up a cloud of dust as he rode along. He was looking for problem. The people that he passed on his manner were in awe of such a beautiful animate being but they were even more awed by the adult male who was siting it. As Jesus passed by, you could hear the people say, & # 8220 ; Who was that masked adult male? & # 8221 ;

There were bad cats on the loose and Jesus had a occupation to make. As he rode into Jerusalem he rapidly sized up the state of affairs and formed a program to capture the ring leader of the problem shapers, his name was Diablo or Satan. There was a short hassle and Jesus won conveniently over Diablo. He hog-tied the Satan and threw him in gaol.

As a big crowd of people gathered to see what the disturbance was all about, Jesus mounted his Equus caballus and pulled on the reigns. The entire stood on its hind legs, nayed aloud, and pawed the air with its front legs. When it stood every bit tall as it could stand, Jesus leaned frontward in the saddle. Keeping the reigns with one manus while raising his white chapeau in the air with the other, He shouted with a loud voice, & # 8220 ; Hi Ho Stallion, and off! & # 8221 ; As Jesus route off into the sundown, you could hear the William Tell Overture in the background. Du du dunt. Du du dunt. Du du dunt dunt dunt.

Of class that is non how it happened, but that is how most of us would hold done it if we were Jesus.

Let? s read how Jesus did it.

Matthew 21:1-11

Pray

As your curate, I? m tempted to prophesy on hosanna and hallelujah, people singing and shouting for joy and beckoning palm subdivisions in the expansive parade of Palm Sunday.

Alternatively of speaking about the decease of Jesus, I could merely hesitate here at the Palm Sunday emanation and speak about how of import Christian congratulations is, possibly even sing some congratulations choruses.

I could merely jump right over Maundy Thursday and Good Friday today, and following Sunday you could come and hear about the victory of Easter and the Resurrection.

We could merely travel from one jubilation to another.

We could travel from Sunday to Sunday in victory, and ne’er have to cover with all that messy material in between, merely look the other manner, and feign it ne’er happened.

But, you see, as your curate, I take my duty to foster your religious growing earnestly.

And you can non turn being fed a steady diet of babe nutrient.

So I can non and will non jump from Palm Sunday to Easter forenoon and avoid speaking about what happened in between.

You can non acquire from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday without traveling through Good Friday.

Before Jesus could be resurrected, he had to decease.

So I have to speak about the hurting this forenoon, because the same crowd that shouted & # 8220 ; hosanna & # 8221 ; to Jesus on Palm Sunday are the same people who, will recognize that Jesus is non precisely the sort of Messiah they had wanted.

And before the hebdomad is out, they will turn against Jesus and demand his decease.

To be involved with Jesus involves speaking about decease.

Make you retrieve what Paul said in his first missive to the church at Corinth?

& # 8220 ; I decided to cognize nil among you but Jesus Christ, and him crucified & # 8221 ; ( 1 Cor. 2:2 ) .

The New Testament is filled with talk about the decease of Jesus.

Excessively many people today seem to be looking for a riskless, cost-free, painless, exsanguine religion.

Like the ouch-less bandaid, they want an ouch-less Christian religion.

Jesus was crucified. Why?

Many people ask that inquiry about Jesus.

& # 8220 ; If God loves us so much, and if God is almighty, why couldn? t God merely speak, like at the creative activity when God said, ? Let there be light! ? and? fagot! ? there it is, merely like that! So why couldn? t God merely state, ? I forgive you, ? and allow it travel at that? Why did Jesus hold to decease? & # 8221 ;

Let me reply that with an illustration.

ILL.

Suppose a hubby has been unfaithful to his married woman. He goes to her and tells her what he? s done and how sorry he is and how bad he feels about it and he promises ne’er to make it once more if she will merely forgive him. And when the confession and apology are finished, what would it intend if all his married woman said was, & # 8220 ; Oh, that? s O.K. . Don? T worry about it. Happens all the clip. No large trade. Let? s merely bury about it. & # 8221 ; Is the hubby traveling to experience like he has been forgiven? No, he? s non. What his married woman has said to him is, & # 8220 ; I truly wear? T attention what you do one manner or another. You? re non of import plenty for it to do any difference to me. I? m non traveling to lose any slumber over anything you do. & # 8221 ; What would it take to convert the unfaithful hubby that his married woman has forgiven him? merely words? & # 8220 ; That? s O.K. . No large deal. & # 8221 ;

No, that wouldn? T do it. There? s no forgiveness at that place. Would it non take some action on the married woman? s portion? making out, taking his manus, and taking him into her weaponries? And yet how dearly-won that would be! She would hold to give up something of herself, wouldn? t she? She would hold to give up her choler and bitterness at holding been betrayed by person she loved. Can you conceive of that go oning? Can you conceive of prosecuting in an act of forgiveness like that? I have to squeal that I? vitamin Ds have a truly tough clip with that myself. That could merely be described as an act of clemency, an act of unconditioned love, an act of grace. And yet, that? s truly what it would take to show forgiveness in that state of affairs, isn? t it? Words won? T do it. You can speak all twenty-four hours and all dark about loving and forgiving and accepting person. Talk is cheap. It? s merely when words are transformed into action that anyone truly believes.

So if God had merely said, & # 8220 ; That? s O.K. . Don? T worry about it, I forgive you? once more, & # 8221 ; would it hold been plenty to convert us, to turn out to us that God? s love and forgiveness are existent?

God shows us His love at Calvary, on a cross.

Vs 1-5

Fulfillment of prognostication.

THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY PART OF GOD? S Plan

This is merely one of the many prognostications sing Jesus & # 8217 ; entryway, apprehension, test and crucifixion.

Jesus was to be Betrayed by a friend? Ps 41:9

Jesus was to be sold for 30 pieces of Ag? Zech 11:12

Jesus was to hold false informants accuse Him? Ps 27:12

Jesus was to be soundless when accused? Isaiah 53:7

He was to be struck and spit upon? Isaiah 50:6

He was to endure in our topographic point? Isaiah 53:4-5

He was to hold his custodies and pess pierced? Ps 22:16

He was to be mocked and insulted? Ps 22:16-18

He was to pray for His enemies? Ps 109:4

He was to hold His side pierced? Zech 12:10

He was to hold soldiers cast tonss for His apparels? Ps 22:18

He was to hold no broken castanetss? Ps 34:20

All that Jesus went through was for the fulfilment of adult male & # 8217 ; s redemption.

To carry through prophecy Jesus needed a colt to sit into Jerusalem.

Made possible & # 8211 ; at least in portion? because one unidentified individual was willing to loan Jesus the animate being He rode!

This nameless individual was willing to React to the fact that Jesus NEEDED what was his!

It & # 8217 ; s ALWAYS that manner!

When we give whatever we have to Jesus & # 8230 ;

Our Endowments,

Our Presence in His house,

Our Money,

Our SERVICE & # 8212 ;

HE receives the congratulations He is due!

Ill.

I heard of a curate in an interior metropolis church in New York City. His mission field was a really violent topographic point. He himself had been stabbed twice as he ministered to the peopl

vitamin E of the community environing the church. Once a Puerto Rican adult female became involved in the church and was led to Christ. After her transition she came to the Pastor and said, “I want to make something to assist with the church’s ministry.” He asked her what her endowments were and she could believe of nothing—she couldn’t even talk English—but she did love kids. So he put her on one of the church’s buses that went into vicinities and transported childs to church. Every hebdomad she performed her responsibilities. She would happen the worst-looking child on the coach, put him on her lap and susurration over and over the lone words she had learned in English: “I love you. Jesus loves you.”

After several months, she became affiliated to one small male child in peculiar. The male child didn & # 8217 ; t speak. He came to Church every hebdomad with his sister and Saturday on the adult female & # 8217 ; s lap, but he ne’er made a sound. Each hebdomad she would state him all the manner to Church and all the manner place, & # 8220 ; I love you and Jesus loves you. & # 8221 ;

One twenty-four hours, to her astonishment, the small male child turned about and stammered, & # 8220 ; I & # 8212 ; I & # 8212 ; I love you excessively! & # 8221 ; Then he put his weaponries around her and gave her a large clinch. That was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon. At 6:30 that dark he was found dead. His ain female parent had beaten him to decease and thrown his organic structure in the rubbish & # 8230 ; & # 8230 ; . & # 8221 ; I love you and Jesus loves you. & # 8221 ; & # 8230 ; .Those were some of the last words this small boy heard in his short life & # 8212 ; from the lips of a Puerto Rican adult female who could hardly talk English. This adult female gave her one endowment to God and because of that a small male child who ne’er heard the word & # 8220 ; love & # 8221 ; in his ain place, experienced and responded to the love of Christ & # 8230 ; ..

When we give Jesus our clip, endowments, and ownerships, He is glorified & # 8230 ; .

What can you give? What is your & # 8220 ; colt & # 8221 ; ?

You and I each have something in our lives, which, if given back to God, could, like the colt, move Jesus and His message further down the route.

Possibly you have a nack for working with kids & # 8230 ;

Or possibly you can sing & # 8230 ; ..

Or possibly you love to welcome people when they enter the Lord & # 8217 ; s house & # 8230 ; .

Or possibly you can put up a web page & # 8230 ;

Or possibly you can compose a cheque & # 8230 ;

Or possibly you know how to utilize a cock

Whatever endowment or ability you have & # 8230 ; . that? s your & # 8220 ; colt & # 8221 ; .

When we give it over to Christ, God is glorified.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday, He entered it publically claiming to be God & # 8217 ; s Messiah. ( Not the Lone Ranger, but the Lone Savior )

This entryway WILL Be FAR OUTDONE AT HIS SECOND COMING

At His Second Coming the last cornet shall sound.

At His Second Coming the angels will be His attenders.

At His Second Coming the clouds will be rolled back.

Not merely did he sit in on a donkey, it was a borrowed donkey.

At His Second Coming He WILL be siting on a white Equus caballus! ( Rev.19:11 )

At Hid Second Coming He will come as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! ! ! !

But in His first visual aspect, He walked the route of HUMILITY. ( EXAMPLE )

ARE YOU WILLING TO WALK THIS ROAD WITH JESUS?

We love to hold the approvals of God, but do we desire to walk with Jesus in humbleness?

Do we truly want to be conformed to the image of Christ?

What would Jesus make?

Well, what DID Jesus make?

He walked in humbleness.

Luke tells us that as Jesus approached Jerusalem He stopped on the Mt. of Olives.

With a position of the metropolis of Jerusalem.

He did something about incredible & # 8230 ; . He cried!

With deep unhappiness, He said through His cryings,

& # 8220 ; If you, even you, had merely known on this twenty-four hours what would convey you peace & # 8230 ; but now it is hidden from your eyes. & # 8221 ;

Picture this & # 8230 ; .

CREATOR shouting for the created & # 8230 ; .

Almighty, Holy God shouting for iniquitous people like you and me & # 8230 ;

GOD CRIED & # 8230 ; because the people He loved so in a heartfelt way had rejected Him.

He wept because He knew that many of them would reject Him and have to endure the painful effects.

If we are traveling to walk this route with Jesus

We must love people every bit much as He loves People & # 8230 ;

ILL.

A female parent sent a small miss on an errand. She took much excessively long in coming back. Her Mother, demanded an account when she eventually did return. The small miss explained that on her manner back she had met a small friend who was shouting because she had broken her doll.

& # 8220 ; Oh, & # 8221 ; said the female parent, & # 8220 ; so you stopped to assist her hole her doll? & # 8221 ; & # 8220 ; Oh, no, & # 8221 ; replied the small miss. & # 8220 ; I stopped to assist her cry. & # 8221 ; Like this small miss, we must be moved by the hurting of those around us who hurt because they have rejected God in their lives.

That & # 8217 ; s what Jesus would make and if we walk as He walked, we will follow His illustration.

Vs 6-8

THEY SPREAD THEIR GARMENTS TO MAKE HIM WELCOME

What have you done to do Christ welcome in your bosom?

What have you done to do His grace welcome in your place?

They spread their garments in regard for Christ.

Vs 9-11

The nazarene on His manner into Jerusalem the crowds Begin to garner, they sang? Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord & # 8230 ; & # 8221 ;

And they began to sing & # 8212 ; -loudly!

Ill.

Shouting for Jesus ( ATF ) Wow! !

3 groups

Hosanna, ( Save us ) to the Son of David.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the Highest

VS 10 says the whole metropolis was & # 8220 ; Stirred, & # 8221 ; ( KJ Moved ) this is an understatement.

The Grecian word here is used to depict temblors.

These people were & # 8220 ; wild with exhilaration & # 8221 ; they were literally swaying the metropolis with their noise and vocalizing.

Luke & # 8217 ; s gospel records that the Pharisee? s ( church of that twenty-four hours ) complained,

& # 8220 ; Teacher, call on the carpet your adherents! & # 8221 ;

And Jesus answered,

& # 8220 ; I tell you, if these become silent, the rocks will shout out! & # 8221 ;

What Jesus was stating was,

& # 8220 ; Don & # 8217 ; t you understand? This is the minute that God my Father has been fixing since the foundation of the universe for you to hold with Your Messiah. I am officially here. And if I stop my adherents from singing, you are traveling to hear a actual stone concert! & # 8221 ;

Many of the people who joined in Jesus & # 8217 ; parade on Palm Sunday rained on His parade five yearss subsequently.

The people were shouting calls of joy, but they would shortly turn to calls of choler.

The calls of welcome would shortly be calls of, & # 8220 ; Crucify Him! & # 8221 ;

It? s easy to shout for Jesus at the Triumphal Entry Parade!

It? s easy to shout for Jesus at ATF!

It? s easy to shout for Jesus at church!

Surely, You Can Join the Parade & # 8212 ; But Can You Keep Marching?

God & # 8217 ; s program was to utilize the state of Israel as a land of priests proclaiming His love to the full universe.

But they missed this because they were self-focused & # 8230 ; .

And you know what? So are we.

Our civilization seems to be every bit self-involved as those crowds around Jesus that first Psalm Sunday.

Self-interest is the manner of the universe & # 8230 ;

But as followings of Christ we need to walk a different way & # 8230 ;

Jesus & # 8217 ; manner is the manner of the cross.

Jesus said, & # 8220 ; If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. & # 8221 ;

This implies obeisance to Christ in every route of life.

Our clip & # 8230 ; our endowments & # 8230 ; our ownerships & # 8230 ; our willingness to love and function others & # 8230 ; nil is excluded.

Your life will ne’er be the same one time you get & # 8220 ; on the route & # 8221 ; with Jesus.