PALM SUNDAY March 28, 2021

HOLY WEEK

During this week, the Jews are preparing for the Passover celebration.

Saturday: Jesus dines in Bethany at the house of Lazarus, Martha, & Mary.

Sunday: The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 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 it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” John 12:12-15, ESV
But as He came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.” Luke 19:41-44, NLT

Thursday: Jesus washes the feet of the disciples, institutes the Lord’s Supper, & goes to Gethsemane.

Friday: Jesus is arrested, paschal lambs are killed, & Jesus dies on the cross.

Sunday: Jesus is resurrected & lives!


PALM SUNDAY’S SETTING

1/ The Crowds

There was an influx of people during this week to Jerusalem (est. 2 million).

The people were looking for a militant, political leader, not a Messiah.

“Look, the world has gone after Him!” John 12:19, ESV


2/ The Donkey

A donkey was considered a vessel of peace. A horse a vessel of war (Judges 5, 1 Kings 1, 2 Samuel 16).

The imagery of the donkey connects Jesus with Isaac & Esau.


3/ The Palm Branches

This celebration extends back to the Maccabean Revolt, for victorious warriors.
4/ The Signs

A number of things pointed to Jesus as Messiah & sacrificial Lamb, but they missed it.

“The Procession of the Lambs” & “Lamb Selection Day”


MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT GOD IS DOING

His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered. John 12:16, ESV

Misunderstanding God’s activity seems to be a common thread (Abraham, Jonah, Martha, Pharisees, early church heresies, etc.).

1/ Misunderstanding God can breed resistance.

This is seen in Peter’s foot washing.

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” John 13:7, ESV


2/ Misunderstanding God can breed bitterness.

This is seen in Israel’s wilderness experience.

The danger in this is that bitterness against the Lord often goes unspoken.


3/ Misunderstanding God can breed confusion.

This is seen in the disciples as they scattered during Jesus’ arrest.

Bob Ross understands.


4/ Misunderstanding God can breed discontentment.

This is seen in Israel selecting Saul as king.

“One of the forms of God’s judgment is giving us what we want.” Michael J. Gorman, Scripture & Its Interpretation


5/ Misunderstanding God can breed carnality.

This is seen in Moses striking the rock & Abraham sleeping with Hagar.


UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOD IS DOING

Sometimes God withholds what He is doing. Our job is to position ourselves for better understanding.

1/ The Word of God: “What is God’s Word saying about this situation?”

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105, ESV


2/ The Counsel of God: “What is the Spirit speaking about this issue?”

Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him… 1 Sam 23:4, NIV


3/ The Church of God: “What are my spiritual leaders saying about this concern?”

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children. Ephesians 4:11-14, ESV


4/ The People of God: “What are my wise, godly friends telling me?”

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12:15, ESV


5/ The Perspective of God: “Am I seeing this through an eternal lens?”

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:8-9, ESV

The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:8, ESV



CLOSE

To misunderstand the activity of God may mean to miss God.

“…you did not recognize it when God visited you.” Luke 19:44, NLT