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Believe it or not, we come now to the last
week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. We’ve preached somewhere around 70 times
in this “Gospel of Jesus” series thru Matthew, and we’ve covered most of His
life, but the last week will take us at least 20 more messages to do
justice!
Everything from now on takes place during
that final week, and much of it isn’t about the cross or Easter at all.
Much of it is some powerful final teachings He shared with His disciples.
This includes the ‘end of the world teachings’ we are about to begin in a
couple weeks in chapters 24-25. It sounds like the book of Revelation at
that point and I believe Jesus is speaking directly to us today about things
we see going on right here and now!
Jesus is now on His way to Jerusalem to
present Himself as the Passover Lamb. He knows what lies ahead for Him.
People are converging on Jerusalem from all directions, 2-3 million of them
perhaps.
Imagine the crowded streets everywhere you
look. Up ‘til now Jesus has for the most part avoided the big crowds and
kept a low profile. But now He comes front and center, and allows His
disciples to announce Him as the Messiah. Why? He’s moving things toward
His ultimate rejection by the religious leaders, putting the wheels in
motion for His ultimate sacrifice.
From this point on in the week chaos ensues,
it appears, but actually Jesus is in full control, guiding all things. And
today those in Washington just think they are in control, the UN may think
the same as those in the European Union, or in Russia, or in the Middle
East. Those who follow Allah may think they are guiding where the world is
going, but God is still on the throne, and the king’s heart is still in the
hand of the Lord!
Jesus said in John 10, no man taketh my life
from me, but I lay it down. He wasn’t a victim or a martyr, He is the
loving sacrificial Savior!
1. The King’s Preparation.
All His earthly life He was preparing for the
events to come in this week, and it quickly becomes evident that He is
ready!
a. He has the power to fulfill
prophecy.
v. 4-5 He is fulfilling the prophecy of
Zech. 9:9. This is just one more example of how the prophecies about Jesus
and His coming to earth were fulfilled...and mark it down, just as surely as
they were, the prophecies about His second coming will come to pass just as
they have been written. He’s coming back any time on a cloud FOR His own,
and following the tribulation He’ll return again in the sky WITH His own.
b. He has the power to control
nature.
v. 2-3 Just as God allowed a donkey to
speak in the OT, He made this unlikely situation work out, that people would
just give their property away to someone they don’t know, for no good
reason. Further, Mark’s gospel says this donkey had never been ridden
before. It’s not tame, and I can tell you you’d have to have dominion over
the animals as their Creator for this to work out. To do this you’d have to
be able to walk on water, calm a storm, or heal with a touch.
Ill.—pony story from our vacation
2. The King’s Presentation.
a. Jesus in His lowliness.
v. 6-8 This King is on a donkey, not a
chariot. The Roman authorities were used to royalty, but not like this.
The Jews had had kings before, but none so common. The red carpet is
replaced with branches from the trees and people’s shed clothing.
No doubt some scoffed at the Jesus
parade...some king this is, they may have said as they looked at it go by.
I imagine Zacchaeus being in the parade saying, I used to be dishonest, but
no more...and there’s the man that changed me. Blind Bartimaeus could say I
once was blind but now I see. The maniac of Gadara could be in the parade,
but he’s a different man, but the crowd still thinks he must be crazy to
follow this guy. Beggars, harlots, outcasts could have marched with Him
along the route, singing His praises while onlookers made fun of such a
bunch.
And our world laughs still today, but I for
one am proud to be a part of the Jesus parade! I was blind, a beggar, and
outcast, but He saved me! Like Paul I want to say out loud, I’m not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ!
Lowliness...
b. Jesus in His loftiness.
v. 9 These are quotes from Psalm
118. Not all of these are dedicated followers. Many of these are fickle
crowd followers who in a few days will cheer on his crucifixion! Even His
most dedicated followers will flee the scene then.
Don’t worry about what the crowd says. The
crowd will proclaim you a hero one minute and a zero the next. You can know
who you are whether they see it or not. And Jesus wasn’t lifted up w/ pride
by this reception, any more than He was angered by their later deception.
He knew Who He was, and that some of them would truly believe.
3. The King’s Proclamation.
v. 12-13 Here’s some background: in those
days you went into the temple for 1 reason, which was to make an animal
sacrifice, but your sacrifice had to be approved by the temple priest. The
priests started setting up shop, selling sacrifices at high prices. Or they
wouldn’t accept their money and would make them exchange for a big loss.
Israel was supposed to be the light of the world but had become a dark
place. The temple that was supposed to be about missionary work indulged in
mercenary work.
Jesus was livid. Some picture Him so meek
and mild they make Him into some wimp or sissy. But He was a man’s man, and
when He wanted to make a point He made it with money and goods flying thru
the air! On another occasion He used a whip and drove them out of His
Father’s House!
v. 14 Suddenly He’s healing people,
now that’s where He is meek and mild. This is what church should be
about...people finding help and healing. V. 13 says the church is a place
of prayer, but some won’t stay to pray or come early Sun. PM. V. 15-16
speak of a place of praise. May it ever be!
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