Sermon nuggets Fri Aug 1
Theme- Triumphal Entry
Verses- John 12:16-19 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"(NIV)
The Significance of the Crowd
There will be a day when all of the world will be shouting Hosanna in the highest. The event of this experience was a foretaste of the entrance once again into Jerusalem at the second coming of Jesus.
There was not this celebration in mass when Jesus rose from the dead, but there will be one greater when He returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All will know his power and ultimate victory.
The parade had more prophetic implication than what anyone would guess. The disciples think back over the event years after it happened and realized what was really happening that day. Palm Sunday is always about the Lordship of Christ. These symbols of Palm Sunday were more significant than just mere coincidence. The praise of fickle men that day was prepared by the Father to glorify the Son.
Most of the people missed what was going on and even the disciples didn't fully understand until after Jesus ascension. But Christ is still rejected today. It is not uncommon for the orthodox Jew today to see their leaders as doing the work of the Lord in establishing the strong nation of Israel. Yet today there is still a rejection of anything to do with Jesus. Not that long ago Israel's supreme court has ruled that Messianic Jews are not entitled to automatic Israeli citizenship. The ruling clarified the state's 1950 Law of Return-which grants automatic citizenship to virtually all Jews-by further defining what it means to be a Jews. They said that those who believe in Jesus are in fact, Christians and therefore as members of another faith are ineligible for automatic citizenship, regardless of their nationality or birth race.
Israel has perpetuated a long-standing rejection of Jesus by organized Judaism which accepted atheists and they make up a good share of Israeli political leadership. It was not only then, but also now that there is a cost to following Him. Palm Sunday is always an issue of the Lordship of Jesus.
The rejection is also world wide. People do not like to submit thier wills to anyone. Most in the world do so out of force and laws of the land. When Chirst now presends Himself it requires the heart to follow. Many wanted Jesus to be what they wanted him to be. Then they would follow, but if he did not fit their vision, they left. Others saw Him as Lord to be followed whether or not they understood all that was happening or was going to happen. Many folowed once they become aware of His resurrection power. Yet in this event people did not see the strength of Christ, but rather his humility. Yet in his humility was strength. It was the strength to obey in the face of opposition. His obedience was a mark of his divinity.
Those who believed then and those who believe now, see the reason for the celebration. He is Lord.
Pastor Dale
