Palm Sunday
We are living in an age that is obsessed with image
The Lord Jesus was not concerned with impressing others
He went on a donkey, in ordinary clothes, surrounded by ordinary people, no ceremony
Simplicity, lowliness
Luke 19, Mark 11, John 12 – in all four Gospels
His Person (Who is this King?)
He is the Messiah – Zech 9:9
He is openly declaring Himself as the Son of David
The two blind men had just called out ‘Son of David’ (20:30-31) and Jesus receives this title
The people in the surrounding areas come out and cry ‘Son of David’
Who is the Messiah?
A prophet, priest and king
Anointed by God
Deut 18:18 – A prophet was to come
Like a priest He cleanses the temple
He is the meek one
He comes in normal clothes surrounded by normal people
He rides a donkey
The common people heard Jesus gladly
He was real, He was sincere
He did not impress people, there was no beauty in Him
Can you approach Him in your heart this morning?
He is so gracious – He brought both the foal and the mother donkey
Are you weighed down this morning and oppressed by sin, draw near to Jesus
He is majestic
He is omniscient and knows all things
He travels slowly on a donkey, not in a rush
Mark 11:11 – Returns to Bethphage for the night and returns the following day to cleanse the temple
He took His time
He cleansed the temple and healed the blind
Gen 49
His Praise (How is He to be worshipped?)
The crowd who praised Him on Sunday shouted to crucify Him on Thursday/Friday
Was their praise false?
The Pharisees were indignant at the praise Jesus received
This is worship that Christ receives
True Praise
The people come from Bethphage
It is spontaneous – true praise comes from the heart
It is from the mind – the people are quoting from one of the passover Psalms [118:26]
It is self-sacrificial – the people threw their coats on the floor
It is from children – they continue to sing in the temple (v15)
False Worship
The Pharisees and Scribes were in the temple
They were making money in the temple
The temple was supposed to be a place for worship but had become about self
False worship is all about putting man at the centre
False worship happens even today, even in Christian circles
Jesus cleanses the temple, overturns the tables, ends the buying and selling
After the temple is cleansed, then the healings and miracles and blessings come
We must condemn false fire but we must be careful not to criticise how others worship
The old men rebuke the children for singing
The wife criticises David for his dancing before the Ark of The Lord
His Purpose (What was this all about?)
Eternity had planned that He should come
He set His face that He should come to Jerusalem
John’s Gospel records “His hour had come”
He was delivered to Calvary to deliver His people from sin
The disciples did not understand what was happening until He had been raised from the dead
Hosanna means “save now”
Christ was going to make peace for people
Mankind is under God’s wrath
This wrath lasts an eternity and takes the unbelieving to Hell
Christ came to reconcile us to God, to bring us peace and take away God’s wrath
Come to Jesus Christ and worship in truth