A Palm Sunday Message
“Three True Statements”
John 12:12-15 “On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
Jesus and His disciples are coming from Bethany making their way to Jerusalem.
The most important of all the Jewish feast was about to begin; (Passover) many have estimated that at least 300,000 pilgrims were there for the celebration.
“…When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
This is the first time that Israel calls Jesus King; they are proclaiming Him as the Messiah. They are quoting as they shout a messianic scripture found in Psalm 118:25-26 “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
1. He Saves Now. Hosanna means “Save Now!” Hosan – Save; Na – Now. They are asking their Messiah to save them now!
Psalm 118:25-26 “Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
Psalm 107:4-31 “They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. 8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. 10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons— 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High. 12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. 13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. 15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.16 For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two. 17 Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 20 He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. 23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, 24 They see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. 25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. 26 They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses 29 He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.30 Then they are glad because they are quiet; so, He guides them to their desired haven. 31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
God never rebukes them for crying out in their trouble; He only wants thankfulness to be a life style for them.
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion…”
2. Do Not Fear. “Fear not” is the most frequently repeated command in the Bible; it is an imperative (Vital) but it is not a negative imperative but a positive one! The first time “fear not” is spoken is in the book of Genesis chapter 15:1; Genesis means beginning. From the very beginning God is telling us to relax, don’t fear – He has everything under control.
“… behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
3. He does not come as we expect. They were anticipating a king to come and save them from their temporary circumstance; they wanted a temporary answer to their problem. Jesus did not come into Jerusalem that day to give them a temporary answer and fix to their problem; He came to bring a permanent solution.
Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 21:1-2 “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.
Jesus the King came into Jerusalem that day riding on the colt with the colt’s mother walking next to Him. He is riding on the lowest animal; He was not coming to be what they wanted Him to be, He was coming so He could be what the needed Him to be! When Jesus was being whom they wanted Him to be (A King) they gave Him palm branches; but when Jesus became whom they needed Him to be (A Savior) they gave Him thrones. This time He came in peace; He came as the Lamb riding on a donkey.
He would enter to become broken; to break sin in His house and clean the temple. The alabaster Jar would be broken for His anointing; He would break bread with His disciples establishing a New Covenant. He did not come to rule He came to be rejected. He did not come as they expected Him to come!
Next time He comes He will be the Lion riding on a white horse.
Revelation 19:11;14;16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.” 16 And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
He came the first time as the Lamb because only the blood of the Lamb could wash away sin!
The Lamb came in peace but the Lion will come to make war and judge; He (The rejected One) will come to rule from Jerusalem!