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What a great way to enter into this passage today.
Y'all, I'm excited to be up here. If I haven't met you, I'm Derek and looking for the clicker.
I'm one of the pastors here. Really excited about this passage today.
Okay, it's a familiar one to you, but maybe we can see some new elements to it.
It really rocked my world when I got to study it, and I'd heard it many times.
But I want to start today by discussing three different scenes that will help us.
First would be a military welcome.
July 26, 46 BC, a historic military welcome took place.
Following his decisive victory in the Gallic Wars, Julius Caesar astride,
a majestic warhorse led a triumphant procession through the streets of Rome.
Okay, and the spectacle of Caesar's triumph embodied the power and the glory of Rome's military conquests.
Scene number two, a celebrity arrival.
In February 1964, a historic celebrity arrival took place.
The world stood still as the Beatles, the legendary British rock band,
touched down on American soil for the very first time.
Amidst a frenzy of screaming fans and flashing cameras,
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr
stepped off the plane at JFK Airport in New York City,
ushering in a new era of music and a cultural revolution.
Scene three, a homecoming parade.
On January 13, 2018, a historic homecoming parade took place in, you guessed it,
Will, Clemson, South Carolina.
Tigers 44-16 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide,
which won them the 2018 College Football National Championship.
Led by Coach Dabo Swinney and star quarterback Trevor Lawrence,
the team waved to the adoring crowds,
basking in the glow of their hard-earned victory.
Well, in today's passage, another crowd is gathered for an exciting event,
a welcoming event, and with all the excitement and all the elements
of a military welcome, of a celebrity arrival, and of a homecoming parade,
there's a crowd that's followed Jesus to Jerusalem to welcome him
and to try and figure out what he's all about.
So maybe today we can join in.
They're chanting, they're praising, they're singing,
but they're also trying to figure out what he's all about.
So let's join in.
We're going to start by reading verses 12 through 16.
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out,
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
even the King of Israel.
And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it,
just as this is written,
Fear not, daughter of Zion,
behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.
His disciples did not understand these things at first.
But when Jesus was glorified,
then they remembered that these things had been written about him
and had been done to him.
So the first thing we're going to look at here is the triumphal entry.
So it's Passover time.
And Passover, if you remember, this was a large spring festival.
It's at the heart of Jewish life.
And Passover celebrates when God set his people free from slavery in Egypt.
Okay?
You remember there was the lamb's blood was painted on the doorposts.
Also God parted the Red Seas that they could pass over.
So excitement is in the air.
The crowds are gathered for the Feast of Tabernacles.
It's like the Disney World fireworks show of the Passover celebration.
The grand event.
People are traveling from all over.
And instead of signs in their hands,
they're waving, holding, and waving palm branches.
And then they're laying them down on the road as Jesus enters in.
So it's a military welcome.
It's a celebrity arrival.
It's a homecoming parade.
But why palm branches?
So palm branches had been used as one of the national symbols of Judea since the days of the Maccabees.
Okay?
So in 164 BC, after Judas Maccabeus had defeated pagan invaders and had cleansed the Jewish temple,
his followers entered Jerusalem, waving palm branches in celebration.
Now this is commemorated in the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah,
when the Maccabees became the quote-unquote kings of Israel.
Now, it's not Hanukkah here in the Scriptures,
because Hanukkah is usually celebrated in midwinter.
But now Jesus' followers here in spring are waving palm branches and laying them down as he enters.
Why?
Because it's that same symbol, but now redefined in Jesus,
of victory and triumph.
The people are creating a military welcome for the conquering Messiah King,
the King of Israel.
And they're chanting,
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
even the King of Israel.
Now, why Hosanna?
Because Hosanna is referring back a bit to Psalm 118.
Hosanna means, O save!
O save!
Psalm 118 says,
Save us, we pray, O Lord.
O Lord, we pray, give us success.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
Now, why are they so excited?
Why so excited?
This is a fulfillment of Zechariah 9, 9.
Okay?
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Behold, your King is coming to you,
righteous and having salvation as he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Okay.
It's 500 years later after this was written.
And the prophecy is fulfilled
when Jesus, after being welcomed as the conquering Messiah King of Israel,
in verses 14 and 15,
he finds a young donkey
and he sits on it
and he rides into town
while receiving the praises
of all the people gathered.
And they say,
Fear not, daughter of Zion.
Behold, your King is coming,
sitting on a donkey's colt.
Okay?
The words fear not
mostly, most likely are referring to this
in Isaiah 40.
Go up on a mountain, O Zion,
herald of good news.
Lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news.
Lift up.
Fear not.
Say to the cities of Judah,
Behold, your God.
Behold, the Lord God comes with might
and his arm rules for him.
Behold, his reward is with him
and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd.
He will gather the lambs in his arms.
He will carry them in his bosom
and gently lead those that are with young.
It's about 700 years after this was written.
And now the one who will tend his flock
like a shepherd,
the one who's descended from the tribe of Judah,
rides into Jerusalem on a donkey
to gather his lambs into his arms.
This is a really big deal.
That is why everyone is so excited.
I want to talk about something really awesome
for a second.
The Bible.
Okay?
Among all the books ever written,
the Bible is absolutely unique.
It's not just a book.
In fact, it's 66 books.
And the Bible was written over a period
of roughly 2,000 years
by 40 different authors
from three continents
who wrote in three different languages.
And one of its most remarkable qualities
is the complete unity
of the overall message,
despite having so many different authors
writing over so many centuries
on so many different subjects.
Natural explanations
fail to account
for the Bible's unity.
Statistical impossibilities
exist for the Bible
to be so unified.
It's because it is a supernatural book.
Okay, this chart right here
is by a guy named Chris Harrison.
The bar graph that runs along the bottom
from left to right
represents all of the chapters
in the Bible.
So, starting with Genesis 1 on the left,
then the books alternate in color
between light and dark gray.
With the first book of the Old Testament
in white,
and the length of each bar
denotes the number of verses
in that chapter.
So, the one in the middle,
the longest bar,
is the longest chapter in the Bible,
Psalm 119.
Each of these lines up top
or threads
number 63,779
cross-references
that the Bible makes to itself
from Genesis to Revelation.
The length of each bar,
sorry, the length of each line
is colored
depending on how far it is
from the other reference,
and it's noted in a single arc.
So, the color corresponds
to the distance between the two chapters
creating this rainbow-like effect.
One well-known speaker has said
that the Bible can be thought of
as the first ever hyperlinked book.
It's supernatural.
How could this unity exist
across so many thousands of years
and so many different authors,
different languages,
and different continents?
The answer is
an author outside of those human beings.
His name is God.
The Bible is what we need
to instruct us today.
It's amazing.
It's absolutely amazing.
Okay, so back to the passage.
Did the disciples know
all this was coming together?
Did the disciples realize
all of these prophecies
being fulfilled?
It says they didn't.
Not at that moment.
Right?
His disciples
did not understand
these things at first,
but when Jesus was glorified,
then they remembered
that these things
had been written about Him
and had been done to Him.
So it wasn't until
after Jesus was resurrected
that they start to put
all the things together.
We get the privilege
of looking back
at the entire picture.
What are we doing with it?
Where are we putting it?
The amazing, amazing Bible
we have in our hands
and we can do something with it.
So let's talk about
the crowd now.
Who's in the crowd?
The crowd that had been with Him
when He called Lazarus
out of the tomb
and raised Him from the dead
continued to bear witness.
The reason why the crowd
went to meet Him
was that they heard
He had done this sign.
So the Pharisees said
to one another,
You see that you are
gaining nothing.
Look, the world
has gone after Him.
Now among those
who went up to worship
at the feast
were some Greeks.
So these came to Philip
who was from Bethsaida
in Galilee
and asked Him,
Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
Philip went
and told Andrew.
Andrew and Philip
went and told Jesus.
So besides the disciples,
this crowd is made up
of Jewish people
who lived in Jerusalem,
Greeks,
which could also be
referring to Gentiles,
not necessarily people
from Greece,
but God-fearing people
of non-Jewish descent
who had come to town
to worship
at the Jewish festival.
Then there's the Pharisees
who were the Jewish leaders
who interpreted
the scriptures.
And then what I'll call
the resurrection paparazzi.
Okay?
Do y'all know
what paparazzi are?
They're the people
who want to be
in the it places
taking all the pictures
because they just need
to know what's going on.
Okay?
There was a lot
of resurrection paparazzi
at this event.
In fact,
it was the bulk
of the people.
They're people
who heard about Lazarus
being raised from the dead,
which happened
right before this.
And imagine that.
They've heard about it.
They've seen Lazarus
walking around.
They want to go see
who Jesus is
for themselves.
And in fact,
we see in the verses
we just read,
they actually want
to go talk to him.
So,
because Lazarus'
resurrection occurred,
a lot of people
started to believe Jesus
and as verse 17 says,
started to bear witness
about Jesus.
And as verse 18 teaches us,
that was the reason
why the crowd
went to meet him
and why it was
such a large crowd.
But then in verse 19,
you see the Pharisees,
they're mad
because they fear
losing their power.
So,
they come up
with a solution.
And that was,
that was a,
how the verses
ended right before this text.
But here was their solution,
right?
Destroy the evidence
of the miracles.
Let's get rid of Jesus
and let's get rid of Lazarus.
Then we kill the story.
That really didn't work out
too well,
did it?
So,
then the Greeks
in the crowd,
they get word
to one of Jesus'
disciples,
Philip,
and they ask
if they can speak
with Jesus.
And Philip goes
to tell Andrew
and then they both
go to tell Jesus
and what
does Jesus say?
The hour is here.
And Jesus answered them,
the hour has come
for the Son of Man
to be glorified.
Truly,
truly,
I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat
falls into the earth
and dies,
it remains alone.
But if it dies,
it bears much fruit.
Whoever loves his life
loses it.
And whoever hates
his life in this world
will keep it
for eternal life.
If anyone serves me,
he must follow me.
And where I am,
there will my servant
be also.
If anyone serves me,
the Father
will honor him.
Jesus predicts
his crucifixion here.
Remember,
so many times
he says,
it's not yet my time.
Here he says,
the hour is here.
He calls it
the hour
for the Son of Man
to be glorified.
And then he uses
the metaphor
of a grain of wheat
needing to die
alone
in order to bear
much fruit.
So it's all
starting to come together.
This is the King.
This is the Messiah.
This is the one
who will lead us
into victory,
who will overthrow Rome
and restore
our nation to power,
rule,
authority,
and all of the prophecies
are being fulfilled
right now.
Victory!
is what they're thinking.
Victory!
It's all making sense.
Except for one thing.
There's a very big thing
missing here.
Where is the war horse?
Kings are supposed
to ride war horses
in the victory parade.
Okay, war horses
were bred
and trained for combat.
They symbolized strength
and power
and military might
and throughout history
they charged into battle
with courage
and agility
and they played
significant roles
in military tactics.
In contrast,
donkeys embodied
endurance,
humility,
peaceful service.
They were known
for their resilience.
they navigated
harsh terrains
and they carried
heavy loads
but they did it
with patience
and they represented
the virtue of humility
and the willingness
to serve others.
The conquering king
should be riding
on a war horse
leading his troops
to take over the Romans
and setting his people free.
but here he's riding
on a donkey.
The conquering king
should be restoring
rule and dominion
for his people
and giving them
the best life
in this world
but he's telling them
that he must die
and that they should
hate their lives
in this world
if they want to have
life that they love
in eternity.
So where's the horse king?
He's seated on the donkey.
His victory
will be realized
through humility.
The victory
that we need
then
is so much larger
than a political takeover
that the Jews
actually were seeking.
That's just a surface battle.
That's the one
that we think
is going on.
The true king
has come to fight
a much larger battle.
The true king
has come to set
his people free
from a much
larger slavery
but the lion
that they are seeking
now
must first become
the lamb of sacrifice.
The lion
is the lamb.
The war horse king
is the humble sacrifice
and he must lose
his life
in this world
in order to offer
and protect
eternal life
for his followers.
Now
why does
all of this matter?
what if strength
isn't what
you think it is?
I say
that Christ
is my king
that my life
is bowed to him
but how quick
am I
to take his seat?
I want to be
riding on the
war horse
rather than
bowing
to King Jesus
who rode humility.
I want to make
my life
about living
like a king
and asking people
to bow to my will
rather than
following King Jesus
the servant Messiah
who laid down
his life
that God's will
would be completed.
This undeserving
human
he laid
his life down
for.
You know
a few weeks ago
I was
going through
an unforeseen
week
one of those weeks
that just beats
you down
and I was like
I caught myself
praying to God
and saying
well this shouldn't
be happening to me
and I was like
and I started
actually
acting like
he owed me
something
because I had
done this
and this
it's not
the gospel
how quickly
am I
to abandon
the gospel
to create
my own gospel
than to throw
it back at God
and tell him
what to do
you know
saying save me
save me
Hosanna
but really
trying to make
myself
the king
of the story
and holding
God in debt
to me
by using
his promises
and works
that I've done
in his name
to bow him
to my will
I'm too quick
to do that
I need a savior
to forgive me
of that
I need the
Holy Spirit
to live
the way
that he
calls me
to
and that
pathway
always involves
sacrifice
always
of our
own
wills
and our
own
comforts
and our
own
choices
what if
strength
isn't what
you think
it is
and what
if it's
found
in following
Jesus
into the
things that
are humiliating
like admitting
weakness
like making
space for
people who
you don't
like
and who
add no
value to
you
in fact
they insult
you
and annoy
you
what if
it's found
in following
Jesus
and loving
others
while looking
for absolutely
nothing in
return
you know
some of the
hands that
are waving
those palm
branches would
later be the
voices yelling
crucify them
and perhaps
even holding
crucifixion
hammers
how quick
are we
to switch
sides
what if
strength isn't
what you think
it is
let's think
about the
gospel here
what is the
gospel
how is the
gospel preached
to us
through this
so King
Jesus is
riding in
Jerusalem
and he's
saying
my triumph
is my
weakness
I'm the
lion
and the
lamb
the lamb
who must
die in
your place
and this
is a battle
that you
cannot fight
you are
dying in
your slavery
to your
sin
and I'm
the only
one who
can free
you
the only
one who
can save
you
you are
dead in
your sins
and only
I can
give you
life
but in
order for
that to
happen
I must
die
in
your
place
I must
be
sacrificed
substituting
my life
for your
life
and I'm
going to
do it
on a
cross
and that's
your only
hope of
salvation
that's how
strong I
am
what if
strength isn't
what you think
it is
we all have a
much bigger
problem
than the need
for a change
of political
management
in our
lives
that the
Jews were
looking for
and Jesus
didn't come
to get rid
of the
Romans
he came
to get
rid
of death
Jesus
didn't come
to give
us a life
that we
tell him
to give
us
he shows
us the
life that
we're really
looking for
only God
can provide
the sacrifice
that ends
death itself
we can't earn
it and that's
what grace is
God's riches
at Christ's
expense
unmerited
favor
we didn't earn
it
it's given
to us
as a free
gift
that's what
grace is
and we're
meant to
not only
receive it
but we're
meant to
give it
and that
will never
happen if
we don't
give our
lives to
Jesus
as verse
25 is
talking about
and what
happens when
we do
verse 26
tells us
we will be
where he
is
and the
father will
honor us
but it's
all because
of our
king
our conquering
king
so the
way of the
world
says this
it's always
look for
ways to
gratify
yourself
at the
expense of
someone else
the way
of Jesus
is to
give our
earthly lives
away to
him and
then ask
him to
use us
in this
world as
instruments of
his eternal
mission
sacrificially
giving our
lives to
God for
the sake of
his purposes
dying to
our own
that's the
doorway to
true life
y'all
and that's
where the
adventure that
we're all
seeking
begins
if you're
coming to
church
and you're
wondering
where's
God
so me
may
let me
say something
I'll take a
risk saying
this
okay
here's the
thing I've
observed
feel free to
do what you
want with
it
20
something
years in
churches
this is a
math formula
thinking plus
thinking equals
more thinking
thinking's
going to
drive you
mad
we've done
a lot of
thinking
we've got a
lot of
information
what you're
seeking is a
different formula
and I've
discovered this
in my own
life maybe I
should say
what I'm
seeking
thinking
plus field
work
living these
things out
equals
discoveries
which goes
back and
re-informs
the thinking
which leads
to more
field work
which leads
to more
discoveries
and you
grow in
Jesus as
you do
that
the field
work is
going out
and living
this in
places that
are uncomfortable
perhaps you
only have a
friend group
of Christians
maybe the
start is to
get outside
that friend
group
perhaps you
are inundated
by non-Christians
in your
workplace
perhaps the
start is to
start talking
about your
faith there
and taking a
step out
and having a
community around
you to help
you do that
but we have
all of the
knowledge in
our minds
that we need
to go and
live but the
discipleship that
you're seeking to
become like
Jesus
what Jesus was
saying there is
it happens
through suffering
you don't go
seek suffering
but when we
live for him
we will
suffer and
we don't do
it alone as
Christians
you're not
going to find
it in a
really neatly
packaged lesson
you're going to
find it in a
very messy
life filled
with death
and suffering
that God
uses for his
glory
continuing to
give you joy
and hope and
peace in the
midst of it
and a community
of people looking
forward to a
future hope
as you walk
in this broken
world until he
makes it brand
new
that's what will
form you in the
image of Jesus
that's who you
need
we find him
in his word
we find him
in his spirit
by his people
working in our
lives and his
spirit working in
our own lives
start there
only God can
provide the
sacrifice
that ends
death itself
but imagine
y'all one
day
you're in
heaven
and someone
in heaven
comes and
cross references
you in a
chapter of
your life
that impacted
their life
to say now
we're here
together
that's real
that actually
can happen
but it starts
with you going
out and living
where you are
and taking
these steps
of faith
one theologian
says the altar
is a place
of sacrifice
the altar is
at the center
of the church
and the church
is at the center
of the community
why
because sacrifice
is at the center
of community
what did God
the father
sacrifice for the
community of heaven
his only son
and Jesus is about
to win the battle
and the battlefield
is a cross
the grain of wheat
must fall to the
ground and die
in order to bear
much fruit
what does that
mean
it's a metaphor
for the end
of death
and the hope
of the resurrection
the honor
of the father
and the place
where Jesus
is
okay that
y'all that's
the hope
of salvation
that we talk
about in
Christianity
that we will
be resurrected
that we too
are going
to conquer
death
and the hope
is found
when we follow
him or we
serve him
we lay our
lives down
as living
sacrifices
as Galatians
220 says
I've been
crucified
with Christ
it's no longer
I who live
but Christ
who lives
in me
and the life
I now live
in the flesh
I live by faith
in the son of God
who loved me
and gave himself
for me
what if strength
isn't what you
think it is
and this is the
beautiful thing
that we come
to end on
our king may
have ridden in
on a donkey
but he's going
to return on
something far
more powerful
than a war
horse
he will return
on the clouds
with the army
of angels
on a mission
to make things
brand new
and to take
his servants
home
he's coming
back
and the next
time we won't
need palm branches
because the trees
themselves will be
clapping their hands
for you shall go
out in joy
and be led
forth in peace
the mountains
and the hills
before you
shall break
forth into singing
and all the trees
of the fields
shall clap
their hands
amen
so what if
strength isn't
what you think
it is
here would be
my challenge
where and how
do you hold
space
for God's
strength
in your life
that's a good
question to start
to ask
before we can
serve we've got
to know who
we're serving
and God offers
us his strength
and his purpose
on this earth
until we're with
him in honor
but the cost
he says is our
life
and maybe
you've never
done that
today can be
the day that you
actually ask the
king to ride
into your heart
offering your
life to him
asking him to
be your king
and to save
you and to
set you free
and to give
you true life
by his life
giving spirit
my challenge
to you would
be make this
the day of
salvation
give your life
to Jesus
he's who
you're seeking
and watch the
great adventure
that he sends
you on as you
give your life
to him
stepping out
into the world
that's all
around you
it now becomes
something brand
new
people aren't
just passing
by
they become
opportunities for
you to share
the love of
Christ
and it happens
right where you
already are
maybe you
already know
him
my challenge
would be
this
look for the
spaces in your
life where he's
calling you to
serve others
in his
strength
maybe that
little tug
that you've
got that
person at
work you
just think
about maybe
mention it
to
maybe it's
that person
that's cutting
your hair
and you're
like I just
want to say
something
when they ask
this question
maybe it's
that neighbor
across the street
that drives you
crazy and runs
a boat
factory
does that sound
like I'm
speaking from
experience
runs a boat
mechanical shop
in the driveway
across from your
house that you
need to love
and die to
yourself to
love him
Derek
but look for
those spaces
in your life
perhaps they're
new spaces
perhaps they're
old and they're
forgotten spaces
that you need
to revisit
he's got a
purpose for you
and all those
that's why
you're there
that's why
you're there
and get ready
for what happens
when you start
taking those
steps of faith
because it
it will blow
your world
to pieces
in a great
way
and the stories
bring them
back and share
them
bear witness
as they did
to the resurrection
of Lazarus
okay our God
is a strength
he's a strength
that you can't
find anywhere else
and he offered
his life for you
and he offers
you the opportunity
to serve him
in his strength
a life-giving
spirit that will
live in you
forever
and if he's
your king
then one day
he's going
to welcome
you
and it's
going to be
something far
greater than
a military
welcome
or a celebrity
arrival
or a homecoming
parade
he actually
will give you
an invitation
to call
what's called
the marriage
supper of the
lamb
where we sit
with him
at the table
in eternity
and joy
right next
to Jesus
so go invite
somebody
and watch him
work
and remember
that if you
are in Christ
that's your
future hope
so
only if he's
your king
though
only if he's
your king
I hope that
that encourages
you in some
way today
wherever you
are and I'd
say if you
want to talk
about any of
that kind of
stuff just
come down
front afterwards
because that's
real easy
or call us
we're here
because walking
through life
is tough
and y'all
are getting
beat down
every single
week
and you
need
encouragement
and I hope
that you
find it
here
but sometimes
it means
reaching out
and saying
hey I need
encouragement
we're here
for you
we do
too
right
this world
is a rough
place
but God
has got
something
bigger
for you
and the
hope of
the resurrection
is real
and remember
the Bible
is real
start reading
it start
spending time
with your
savior
watch what
he'll do
with you
we love
you
I'm gonna
end there
I could
talk for
hours
I'm not
going to
because you
know you're
hungry
I love
you
and let's
pray
father
oh goodness
you're amazing
thank you
that we can
stand in
freedom
we can
love you
but Lord
we can
admit
weakness
that that's
what you
say strength
is
your power
is made
perfect
in our
weakness
so God
I embrace
weakness
and I pray
that we do
too
that we don't
fear it
will you use
the people
in this place
to change
this city
will you show
them father
the love
that you
give them
as they
love one
another
will you
give us
the encouragement
from the
Holy Spirit
will you show
us this week
the people
that you've
called us
to impact
by simply
just loving
and showing
up
in your
name
thank you
Lord Jesus
I pray
this in
the holy
name of
Christ
amen
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