Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week.

High highs >>> lowest lows >>> highest highs

Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday):
Luke 19, John 12, Matthew 21, Mark 11

Then, it goes downhill from there.
The Last Supper (Passover; Exodus 12)
Arrest
Beatings and trials
Crucifixion

WE WANT A KING ON OUR SIDE.

WHAT WE GOT...
WHAT WE NEED IS A PERFECT KING IN OUR PLACE.

ISAIAH 52-53
Written either in 700s BC or 500s BC. About events in 500s BC.

3 LAYERS:
1. FOR ISRAEL, REGARDING THEIR EXILE AND DELIVERANCE IN 500s BC
2. ABOUT JESUS, AND HIS DELIVERANCE FOR ALL WHO WILL TURN TO HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR
3. FOR US, WE REBEL AND CREATE DESTRUCTION/DESERVE DEATH AND PUNISHMENT. BUT FAITH IN JESUS BRINGS US SALVATION.

WE NEED THE PERFECT KING TO STAND IN OUR PLACE

This is about Israel being conquered by Assyria and taken prisoner into captivity, because they have been rebellious.

But GOD will deliver them, or at least those who turn to Him and call on His name.

It will be known that it is the LORD who has done this.

Jesus will take all who call on his name and save them from rebellion.

This is the part that's for us as well: God will redeem those who turn to him and away from their rebellious evil ways.

"How beautiful... the feet of those who bring good news" (also in Romans 10)

Look at this part:
"The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
The salvation of our God"

Chiastic Structure highlighting importance and parallel:
A
>B
>B
A

B = "sight"/"see" and "all the nations"/"ends of the earth"
A = "holy arm" meaning power and action of the LORD = "Salvation of our God" his plan to redeem us = ultimately, that's JESUS (The LORD is Salvation)

Starting here, through the end of 53, this is talking more and more clearly and specifically about the coming Messiah and what He will do: THIS IS ABOUT JESUS.

v14 refers to his disfigurement from the beatings and the crown of thorns on his head.

53:1 "...arm of the LORD" this is Jesus!

53:2 coming out of obscurity / not an impressive place. Nothing to make him desirable. Doesn't look like the kind of king we want.
We tend to want a king like Saul (first king of Israel) who was tall, handsome, and strong. But he had a corrupt heart and turned from God.

53:3 Jesus fulfills this as he is tortured, spat on, and mocked. Even the disciples ran from him and denied association with him when he was arrested and on trial.

WE have gone astray...turned our own way...
OUR pain, suffering, transgressions, iniquities, punishment...
ON HIM (JESUS)

HE GIVES US: RIGHTEOUSNESS ... healing ... peace.

JESUS IS PERFECT.
WE ARE SINNERS WHO CAUSE CORRUPTION AND DEATH.
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.

JESUS TAKES ON OUR PENALTY FOR SIN.
WE GET HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (PERFECTION).

HEB 10:14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

2 COR. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

WE HAVE ALL SINNED. JESUS PAID FOR OUR FREEDOM.
WE GET HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PERFECTION.

WE NEED A PERFECT KING TO TAKE OUR PLACE.

Calm. Meek. Humble. Quiet.
LIKE A LAMB!
Like the PASSOVER LAMB. ONCE AND FOR ALL.

And here we see another promise, not only will God be with Israel through what is coming to them. Not only will he save them, and restore them.

This servant is to be a light to the gentiles as well—a promise that God’s salvation will go out to the ends of the earth. Available to all.

SO WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?
Take some time to reflect:

>>> Maybe you need to, for the FIRST TIME EVER, declare Jesus is LORD and admit/believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.
If so, come talk to us, because the biblical response is baptism.

>>> Maybe you are already saved, but you still have a burden of sin you need to offload. Maybe you realize you have wandered a bit lately. It's time to repent and give that to Jesus and receive his forgiveness and righteousness again.

>>> Maybe you're in a good place with Jesus right now. You're feeling that freedom. It's time to step into something beautiful: SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.

Take time to pray. Get on your knees if you need to. Bow your head to the ground. Reach out to the cross. Lay your burdens down. AND FIND PEACE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF THE ONE WHO SAVED YOU.

WE HAVE A KING WHO TOOK OUR PLACE AND GAVE US SALVATION