Tabor Baptist Church

• 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