WEBVTT 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:06.480 Matthew 21, verse 1 through 17 through 11. 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:16.079 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage in the Mount of Olives, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, telling them, Go into the village ahead of you. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:19.600 At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:21.519 Untie them and bring them to me. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:27.120 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them at once. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:31.679 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:40.079 Tell, daughter Zion, see your king is coming to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the full of a donkey. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:43.600 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:49.039 They brought the donkey and the colt, then they laid their clothes on them, and he sat on them. 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:52.320 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:56.159 Others were cutting branches from the trees and spraying them on the road. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:01:06.079 Then the crowds who went ahead of him and those who followed shouted, Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:08.640 Hosanna in the highest heaven. 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:14.400 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in uproar, saying, Who is this? 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:19.840 The crowds were saying, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:21.439 Let's pray. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:38.560 Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather this morning that we can freely come here and praise, worship, fellowship, and get in your word, that your word is living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword to pierce the deepest of places, Lord. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:54.000 We thank you that you can work from the inmost being, from the inside of us, that you know every thought, every desire of our hearts, every distraction this morning. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:57.599 And I pray that you would quiet our minds and our hearts. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:04.319 That you would apply this in a real way and settle it deep in our minds and apply it there. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:08.879 And that you would work in and among us this morning. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:10.800 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:12.400 You may be seated. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:16.159 Is it loud enough? 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:17.199 Can you hear me okay? 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:18.800 Awesome. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:21.759 Okay. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:30.080 So let's get let's get our minds into what's happening this morning in the passage. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:33.439 It's Palm Sunday, the triumphal entry. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:34.800 What does that mean? 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:37.520 But let's put ourselves in that place. 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:47.680 At this moment in time, Jesus has been in his public ministry for three years. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.960 Rome is oppressing, they're ruling, they're the ruling nation. 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:55.120 They're oppressing the Jews. 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:57.520 There's persecution. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:59.840 They're trying to keep the peace. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:06.879 But it's not all, it's but there are a lot of discontented people. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:10.639 The Jews are not happy with the Roman oppression. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:15.840 The nation at this moment in the passage is preparing for Passover. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:17.919 And this was a big deal. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:21.919 People coming from around the area, from out of traveling. 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:25.120 This was a mandate they would come up for Passover. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:34.960 In a handful of days, and this is in Exodus 12, if you want to kind of walk through it, this is this is very just by the book. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:37.840 They will be cleaning their houses of leaven. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:39.439 And that was symbolic. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:43.680 They were supposed to be cleaning their, not just clean your house, right? 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:47.120 This was supposed to be like, let's think about sin. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:50.000 Like we need to clean our houses of leaven, right? 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:51.759 That's what Jesus meant by that. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:54.080 Get your houses clean of that, of sin. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:58.479 Think about what those, and it's not about us cleaning up, right? 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:02.879 We know it's about Jesus cleaning up us, but but in that day, it's clean, clean your house of leaven. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.599 In a day or so, they will be picking out a lamb. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:09.759 As long as they can afford it, maybe another animal. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.599 They're gonna be choosing a lamb, pure and spotless and male the first year, right? 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:15.439 You know, choosing, be choosing a lamb. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:20.959 All these things, you know, you get into Christmas, you start thinking about gifts and shopping and preparing a meal. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:22.720 Well, they're getting it ready. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.600 I'm gonna be adjusting the mics throughout, pardon. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:29.360 Um, they're getting ready for Passover, just like we would get ready. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:31.360 We might be getting ready for Easter too, right? 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:32.000 But similar. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:34.480 You're thinking about your meal, you're thinking about other things. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:36.639 Well, they're also thinking about their lamb. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:42.240 They're gonna keep it for four days, then kill it at twilight on Passover. 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:44.560 Put his blood on their doorpost. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:45.920 That was the covering. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:57.920 Jesus had performed miracles, taught with wisdom, understanding beyond his years of the scriptures, he had sacrificed of himself, ministered to the lowest of low. 00:04:58.240 --> 00:04:58.639 Right? 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.360 This was this was the place they were at. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:08.399 And Jesus said over and over in John, he said, My hour is not yet come. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:10.560 My hour has not yet come. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:13.120 No, no, they're not gonna arrest me. 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:16.560 No, I mean I can't do this, he told his mom in John 2. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:19.680 Well, his hour is about come. 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:27.040 Jesus is approaching Jerusalem in a week that will change the world. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:35.279 So we're taking a moment this week because this entry is the beginning of a week that changes the world. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:41.920 The fulfillment of prophecy and scripture, the redemption of souls for eternity. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:46.240 There is big stuff in the works as we speak in this passage. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:51.199 They're saying today, Hosanna to the son of David. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:57.279 That's save a son of David, you are a king in five more days. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:00.879 Another group will say, crucify him. 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:03.279 Roller coaster. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.319 Let's dive into verse one. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:10.959 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:16.480 So if you've been to the top of maybe Pine Mountain, think of this, you can look down on City Hall. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:22.560 So think about a half a mile away, you're dropping down and towards Jerusalem. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.959 It's longer than half, but as the crow flies, you're a half a mile away. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.079 You're maybe not up that high, but you're looking down on the Temple Mountain. 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:34.560 Nowadays you can you'll get there and you can see the rock of the dome. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:36.319 I mean, it's right there before you. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:39.839 This is the final walk into Jerusalem. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:43.360 You can imagine what was going through Jesus' mind and heart. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:50.079 Continuing in verse 1, Jesus sent two disciples, a little task here. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:52.160 He says, Go into the village ahead of you. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:57.199 At once you'll find a donkey tied there with her colt, untie them and bring them to me. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:59.920 If anyone says anything to you, he's giving them a plan, right? 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.560 He's thinking something that they may think things are awry. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:05.040 He says, say the Lord needs of them. 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:06.480 He'll send them at once. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:10.720 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.000 Tell daughter Zion, see your king is coming to you. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:18.879 Gentle and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the full of a donkey. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:23.439 Did Jesus really need a donkey to walk a half a mile? 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:25.120 Or it's like a mile and a half. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:26.800 Did he really need a donkey? 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:28.800 He actually did. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:33.600 This fulfills Scripture from hundreds of years prior. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:36.639 It's not just about fulfilling scripture. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:39.920 This was highly symbolic. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:41.439 Not even symbolic. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:46.800 Jesus was, as we'll see, this is about his entry as royalty. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:48.800 Why not a horse? 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:50.959 You think this could make a big statement, right? 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:54.720 Just a horse, Jesus, I could be bigger. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.040 But horses were used for battle. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.360 And we see them, you can do a scriptural study. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.439 We see horses in Exodus 15. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:04.639 Guess where we see them? 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:10.240 The Egyptians pursuing Israel in battle to chase him down, right? 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:17.759 Well, a horse coming into Jerusalem would be like showing up in your Humvee. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:21.519 Not the statement Jesus was after, right? 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:25.040 Not the lowly entry. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:27.920 So not no horses, right? 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:29.839 Okay, so donkeys. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:34.480 Donkeys in the day, bigger, and this is my this is my homework, right? 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:36.000 Some of you may know more about donkeys. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:38.879 Well, donkeys were bigger in that day, because I'm thinking, donkey? 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:40.879 I mean, I've seen donkeys, they're not that big. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.080 They were bigger. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:46.799 Nonetheless, they had a couple purposes. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:51.679 Donkeys used for transportation, packing, shipping, moving goods. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:56.399 The other thing was royalty used donkeys for transportation. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.639 So steady feet. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.440 Donkeys were known for being stable, stable with a load. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:10.960 And you sure don't want to be unstable if you're royalty on livestock. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:17.840 Well, Abraham and Genesis, Moses and Exodus, they all use donkeys. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.039 This is not a new thing. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:19.759 But guess what? 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:21.200 It was a royalty. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:27.600 This was something the people would understand as part of this royal entry. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:35.840 So the way I think of a donkey is maybe more of like a present-day black SUV, right? 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:37.919 Functional, big. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:50.000 Clearly, someone shows up out, you know, around town in a black SUV with a suit on, you kind of think, oh, you know, maybe they have security, people around them, pomp and circumstance. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:52.720 It was an indication to them. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:57.519 So to see Jesus on a donkey, they would see him as royalty. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:02.639 Well, the other, the, as we said, part of this is the fulfillment of prophecy. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:12.240 So while we're doing, while we're going through this next little part, turn to Zechariah chapter 9, about two books back into chapter 9. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:17.039 I think it's easier to see this and read it than just to talk through it. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:35.600 So Zechariah chapter 9, as it says in our passage, this was the fulfillment of prophecy hundreds of years before Zechariah wrote, Zechariah 9, 9, rejoice greatly, daughter Zion. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:41.440 Shout in triumph, daughter Jerusalem, look, your king is coming to you. 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:46.080 He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:48.879 On a colt, the full of a donkey. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.759 First off, what's a cult? 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:54.000 Not a cult, a cult. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:08.799 Well, a colt, and this says the foal of a donkey, and in the wording, that just means it's the offspring of a donkey, as in not a horse, but a colt under four years old. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:09.200 Okay? 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:17.840 Donkeys were getting about full grown three to five years, so he's still a cult, a young donkey. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:28.240 And the best I can see this is that have you ever seen a donkey and have you been scared when you've seen a donkey? 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:35.360 I don't get this, I don't get a sense of fear when I see donkeys. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:46.879 And to see a man, a full-grown man, on the back of a young donkey, it can it conveys to me peace and humility. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:54.000 He's not picking the biggest uh male, right, of the uh that he could. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:12:01.360 And and Luke and Luke 19 and Mark, it says it had never been sat upon before. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:05.200 And I kind of look at this and I think, well, that's like the sanctification. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:07.919 Like this donkey has never been used. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:17.200 The first time this donkey has sort of been preordained and arranged for the Messiah to sit upon in his triumphal entry. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:36.240 Part of what we're looking at in the passage is that here and in as in the next couple verses is that the people may have had a little bit different perception and expectation of what Jesus, what was happening with this entry. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:40.879 Zechariah 9, I mean, then they would have known the scripture. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:46.639 Shout in triumph, look, your king is coming, righteous and victorious. 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:51.039 This expectation, well, was he king? 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:52.320 Well, yes, he was king. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.000 Was he righteous? 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:58.080 He was fulfilling the law and the prophets, right? 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.679 Was he humble? 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.600 Like no other, humble and meek. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:11.679 What Jesus wasn't doing, yes, he was coming triumphant, but he wasn't coming to conquer Rome or to sit on a throne. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:24.559 So let's go into the next verse in Zechariah, because what we're seeing in Matthew is that it says he fulfills Scripture, but it only quotes verse 9. 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.320 Let's read verse 10. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:32.879 I think this may help to kind of clarify the coming to pass of Scripture. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:38.720 Matthew quotes verse 9, verse 10, Zechariah 9, verse 10. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:43.120 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:47.919 The bow of war will be removed, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:54.240 His dominion will extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:59.039 So, verse 9, the king is bringing salvation and humility. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.080 Verse 10 is a picture of the end times. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:12.240 So, the fulfillment of scripture we're seeing in Matthew, they identify, oh, he's fulfilling verse 9, and then millennia later, verse 10. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:14.159 It's not the same picture, right? 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:17.039 We're seeing the scriptures were then. 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:24.480 Now the people may have been expecting verse 10, maybe just all coming at once, but Jesus' plan was verse 9. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:26.720 Verse 10 is to come. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:35.840 A donkey now, but the horse will come. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:46.080 In Revelation 19, 1911, it says, John says, Then I saw a heaven opened and there was a white horse, it which rider is called faithful and true. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.120 With justice he judges and makes war. 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:53.120 So though it's a donkey now, it will be a horse. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:57.919 But the expectation in triumph and victory isn't victory over Rome. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:08.960 Jesus had said this, and he made it clear, for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.919 It was coming. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.200 Just wasn't time. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:20.639 And in verse 3, if anyone says anything to you, say the Lord needs him, and he will send them at once. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:22.240 Did someone say something? 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.720 Yes, we go to the other gospel accounts. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:30.879 The owner was a little bit uh interested that they were untying his donkey. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.320 What'd he do? 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:35.039 He said, Well, we'll return it at once. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.360 Right away, it says in Mark. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:46.320 Can you imagine being this owner and denying them to take the donkey that would carry Jesus to Jerusalem? 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:55.759 It makes me want to be very free with my things, to be the guy who lets my donkey get used to carry the Savior of the world. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:04.080 I think if I were a disciple and I went and found the donkey where he said it would be. 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:14.559 And to see this come, you can see the disciples just understand the providence, the power, and the omniscience of Jesus. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.759 Moving to verse 6. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:20.480 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:25.279 They brought the donkey in the colt, then they laid their clothes on them and he sat on them. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:28.080 A very large crowd spread their clothes on the road. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:31.840 Others were cutting branches from the trees and spurting them on the road. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:36.799 What's this them thing? 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.120 Are there two donkeys or one? 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.879 Matthew speaks of two donkeys. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.840 Does this matter? 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.720 We'll see. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:52.159 Luke, Zechariah, they mention one donkey, they mention a colt. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:55.679 And so I, of course, I'm thinking, man, I just can't let this be. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:04.240 They took two donkeys, they put clothes on two donkeys, and he he said it says he sat on them. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:11.279 Some say, well, if you're gonna take a cult that's never been ridden, you should probably bring its mother. 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:20.480 Some conjecture that maybe he alternated between the two, maybe he rode the mom, and then the finally the cult, and I don't know. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.599 I I don't know. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:25.920 But it's still, he still rolled the cult, he still fulfills prophecy, right? 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:34.720 Umetheless, Matthew's saying he rode the donkeys. 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:40.480 He took the donkeys, he sat on them, very much conveying the entry of royalty. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.480 And what about the clothes? 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:48.319 They lay their clothes in the donkeys, they put their clothes in the ground. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:51.119 Think of this like the red carpet treatment. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:58.079 Um, I kind of think it like uh like you put your clothes in the shopping cart before you put your baby in the cart, right? 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:03.359 I know there's a cleanliness, but your king gets on a donkey, you want to make sure it's clean. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:10.720 They're laying their clothes, they're saying, Look, my comfort over yours, I'm submitting and laying my things out on the ground. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.480 No, keep the dust down. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.799 Your comfort over mine. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:17.680 They were submitting and showing honor and support. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:21.119 Branches, we're on Palm Sunday, right? 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:24.000 Matthew doesn't mention a thing about palms. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.319 But John does. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:30.559 So the palms are in John, and in Mark he talks about leafy branches. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.759 They're cutting them. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.519 Hopefully, no one's getting angry, they're pruning their trees. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:47.359 But uh where these come from, the best I best I can sort of see of this is that a lot of people hearken us back to the Maccabees. 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:57.519 When the Maccabees brought victory and independence and freedom and cleanse the temple, there was there were a lot of, there was waving. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.480 Remember the waving? 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:02.400 Trying to find the waving of the palm branches in in the Gospels. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:06.319 They were waving the branches, they've laid them down on the ground. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:11.039 This to the people meant victory, independence, and peace. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.480 It meant we have peace. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:20.079 They they recognize and associated these branches with a vi with victory and peace and independence. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.359 Verse 9. 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:37.119 Then the crowds who went ahead of him, and those follow those who followed shouted, Hosanna to the son of David, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:39.200 Hosanna in the highest heaven. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:43.920 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in uproar, saying, Who is this? 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:49.279 The crowds were saying, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:57.839 The people are quoting from Psalm 18, Psalm 118, sorry. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:05.119 This Psalm would have been read, they would have been reciting this, it would have been read during the Passover. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.200 This is this is part and parcel. 00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:17.519 For years and for years and years, they would have been reading this and familiar with this psalm, the Psalm 118, and what are they doing? 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:24.240 But they're they're acknowledging, look at the Hosanna, that that's literally, oh save or save now. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.000 What's Jesus' name mean? 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:31.599 Literally, literally, um, they're saying, save us. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.440 Jehovah is salvation. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:39.680 They're saying, save us to the one whose name is salvation, the one who is salvation. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:46.240 Son of David, they're recognizing Jesus and his place on the throne. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:52.000 They are sitting here declaring who Jesus is and they're worshiping him. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:55.119 They are in celebration of what is to come. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:04.799 Now, they may not quite know exactly what victory and triumph mean, but they're still correctly honoring and celebrating Jesus' coming. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:14.799 Meanwhile, in verse 10, you can see that clearly this isn't just a guy coming into Jerusalem on a donkey. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:23.039 They probably would have written him off, but in Luke 19, pretty clearly it's riling people up. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:27.279 The Pharisees say, teacher, rebuke your disciples. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.559 They were praising him. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:31.200 They were identifying the son of David, right? 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:40.000 They were not happy that the people were honoring and praising and worshiping Jesus as a king. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:59.440 So Jesus is not not gonna start, uh, he's gonna he's not gonna take it from the Pharisees. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.359 He knows it's his time. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:08.000 He knows that he is he is on his way to triumphing. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:11.519 Why is it called a triumphal entry though? 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:15.440 Did he triumph over Rome? 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.799 What was he triumphing? 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:26.480 This was a man in procession about to conquer not Rome, but sin and death. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.880 And we can say that easily now, right? 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:31.920 But the people were there experiencing this at the time. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:35.440 I like Philippians 2. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:44.880 I think it puts this perspective into as Jesus is walking into Jerusalem with all of these things ahead of him, right? 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.640 A big week. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:56.640 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who existing in the form of God did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:03.200 Instead, he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:12.240 And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death to death on a cross. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:20.960 In the coming days, the people would be choosing a lamb, right, for Passover, like we said. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:24.160 They'll be cleansing their houses of leaven. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:30.960 Jesus will be having a Passover meal, and not just the Passover meal. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:36.960 He'll be instituting the first communion, taking those elements, right? 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:40.400 So, I mean, our weeks are gonna fly by. 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.680 I don't know about you. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:44.240 Hit Monday, it's gonna be Friday. 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:56.960 A lot's gonna happen, and by Friday, Jesus will experience betrayal, prophesied, he knew it was coming. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:00.400 Nonetheless, he'll go to Gethsemane and sweat blood. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:04.880 He will plead with the Father if there be any other way. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.440 What does that tell you? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:15.839 Would Jesus have gone to the cross and been mocked and spat upon and tortured if there is any other way? 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:26.000 Jesus will prepare himself to be poured out, submitting to the will, to the will of his father. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:34.559 Not as I will, but you will, he said, emptying himself of his deity, enduring agony, darkness, separation from the Father. 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:39.359 In five days from this point, he'll be mocked and killed. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:43.440 In seven days, he'll rise again. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:51.920 Today in the passage, Jesus is honored and worshipped and celebrated. 00:24:54.799 --> 00:25:00.960 Today, we, as we sit, we're celebrating Jesus' procession on his way to victory over sin. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:04.559 So I've got some questions for us. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:11.039 In what or in whom do we see victory? 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:21.359 We can really easily say, they didn't even understand that this was not, Jesus was not going to come and conquer Rome and take up a throne. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:31.599 But in our day-to-day, it's very similar. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:43.119 So the a question, and this can take some meditation or some thought, in what do we see victory in now? 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:45.680 Is it in healing? 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:50.319 Is victory only if you are healed? 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:53.440 Is it removal of sin's presence? 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:58.000 If there's sin's presence in your life, is that victory? 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:04.480 What about political wins or votes? 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.880 Or those in power? 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:14.559 There were many who were rightly seeing Jesus as king. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:21.519 Whether those saying Hosanna were the same as those saying crucify him, I'm not sure if those were the same. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:29.200 I think there were people really rightly seeing Jesus and so anticipating his reign and rule. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:36.960 They expected him to remove their enemies, to remove oppression, right? 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:39.359 And that was that will be coming. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:41.039 Jesus will sit on the throne. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:44.720 He's going to take care of sin and evil and suffering. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.559 It's just not yet. 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:54.240 It's time for that, Zechariah 9, verse 10, in Revelation 19. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:56.319 That's the conquering king. 00:26:57.039 --> 00:27:11.119 In the meantime, as we're really getting ready for Palm, on Palm Sunday, getting ready for Easter week, for this big week, one way we can look at this is the preparation of our hearts. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:15.839 We can be thinking that there's victory, but it's not coming, right? 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:21.279 Because there's sickness, there's crises, there's turmoil. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:40.799 Well, Jesus said, and I think this is in this is the way I like to look at this, is we've been saved from the penalty of sin, and we're being saved and set apart from the power of sin, and we will one day be set apart from the presence of sin. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:48.880 And in a similar way, Jesus is about to save people from the penalty of sin by going to the cross. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:57.759 But in the same way he won't free them from the Romans, we aren't yet free from the presence of the Romans. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:05.359 We're yet free from the presence of sin, from the presence of oppression and suffering. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:07.599 And that's still yet coming. 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.640 The other question. 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:16.960 They would be choosing their lambs in the coming day. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:24.480 As we're getting ready for Easter week, a week that flies by, and before we know it, we're at resurrection someday. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.160 They were choosing their lambs. 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:31.920 The lamb had to be pure and spotless. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:43.920 In the day, your lamb, it wasn't how righteous and good you were, it had nothing to do with you getting yourself cleaned up and getting yourself right. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:48.000 It was about the perfection of your sacrifice. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:55.200 So as they did this, they knew specifically they had to get a pure and spotless lamb for their family. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:02.240 Blood is what covered your sin. 00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:07.359 It wasn't what you did in fulfilling the law, it was your sacrifice. 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.599 So it was about the blood. 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:13.519 Well, Jesus was going to shed his blood once and for all. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:17.759 So today, who is your lamb? 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:25.759 If you haven't chosen Jesus to be your lamb, you can choose your lamb today. 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:32.079 There is no other, no more important decision than choosing our lamb. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:35.039 The lamb they had to do year after year. 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:37.279 Jesus went to the cross once and for all. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:42.640 He shed his blood once and for all, that his righteous blood would cover our sin. 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:44.319 There's nothing else we did. 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:55.599 Today you can recognize that sin and ask Jesus to cover your sin and to forgive your sin by the work he did on the cross. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:13.440 This week, as we go and we maybe lay our clothes before Jesus, right, as we as we think and prepare our hearts, we think and meditate on the victories that he has. 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:21.680 Let's think about victory in our lives in the sin that he's in the sin that he's forgiven us from. 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:32.720 And let's praise God for the land that he's sent and and uh that he sent for the covering and the forgiveness once and for all for our sin. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.000 Let's pray. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:35.839 Thank you. 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:39.920 Father, we thank you for Jesus. 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:46.720 Without a doubt, he came to rescue us from sin and death. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:31:03.359 And he knew so much that it wasn't the oppression and the circumstances that needed to really needed to be saved from, but it was really from ourselves, from our sin, from the things that separate us internally from you. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:21.920 We thank you that he didn't baton-eye the cross, that he went there freely, knowing the suffering and the agony and the shame that it would bring, but for the joy set before him, he endured the cross. 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:30.240 Father, we we pray that you would set our minds on the on uh the coming events of the week. 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:36.400 In celebration and reflection, we thank you for all you've done. 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:40.240 And uh we ask that you go before us in Jesus' name. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.039 Amen.