THE DAY THE KING ARRIVED!
Mark 11:1-10
Today is Palm Sunday. This is the day when we remember and celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. This day marks that special day that Jesus was both praised and then later rejected. He was both received and then pushed away!
But it’s this story which distinguishes Jesus as the Messiah. So, more than just being a good man, or a trusted teacher, or faithful rabbi. He revealed Himself as the one prophets had proclaimed for centuries would come. He was the PROMISED KING.
And the hope of the world.
MESSAGE:
What a moment in history that must have been! That day, changed everything.
It was, as one preacher once said — the day that…“The Son of God became the Son of Man, so that the Sons of men could become the Sons of God! Hallelujah what a Savior!”
And that’s who He was — God in flesh…as we discussed last week. First He came from Heaven to earth…but then, on this day (nearly 2000 years ago), He came riding into Jerusalem — proclaiming Himself to be their long awaited Deliver and Messiah! The one who would free them from the tyranny of sin and death!
And that’s the story I want to look at with you today. So, if you have your Bible — turn there with me. You’ll find this story told in several places, but I’d like to read it from Mark’s gospel. Mark chapter 11. Here Mark writes:
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Mark 11:1-10 (NIV)
I want you point our three significant things that happened as the King entered Jerusalem on this day (nearly 2000 years ago).
First of all…when Jesus entered Jerusalem,
- HE FOUND SOME WHO WELCOMED HIM.
That day was a day of celebration.
Mark tells us in verses 8-10,
8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:8-10 (NIV)
For the people of Jerusalem — this was a BIG DAY! And everything that was happening, made sense to them.
To us, it may seem a little strange. Shouts, coats, palm branches, and a donkey. But to the people of Jerusalem, these symbols communicated hope and promise.
This wasn’t the first time a “potential messiah” had entered Jerusalem.
For centuries, there were those who had come in that way — or similar ways, to establish their hopes for a government take over. These false messiahs would ultimately fail to deliver. But they many had come with the intentions of garnering the affections of the nation and hopes of rallying the people to a revolt against the political powers of their day.
And, in the past, the nation had watched as their army would go out to battle — and after wards, their King would return (riding on a WAR HORSE), claiming victory over their enemies.
Typically, when the KING would return — He came wearing his best armor, and was surrounded by his best warriors.
But there was something different about Jesus’ entry.
As He came, he came riding a donkey. And while it may have appeared to be weak and small — the people would have (no doubt), understood this to be a sign. A sign that Jesus was no ordinary King — for He possessed a divine mission.
As the prophet Zechariah had declared, in Zechariah 9:9,
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
And so, Jesus’ entrance signified that He was the REAL DEAL. He was more than a KING…He would be their KING of KINGS. He would be the MESSIAH — sent from God to rescue them.
So, they shouted and celebrated His arrival. And look again at their response. It reveals much about who they were looking for. In Mark 11:9-10, Mark records the people chanting:
9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 11:9-10 (NIV)
These words — and their shouts of praise were taken from an ancient Psalm — a chant that had been rehearsed for hundreds and hundreds of years. It was taken from Psalm 118.
Listen to the words of this psalm. It begins by saying:
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say:“His love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1-4 (NIV)
And then it ends with these words the people were shouting as Jesus entered into the city. Psalm 118:25 continues,
25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you 27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:25-28 (NIV)
Luke tells us — when they quoted this Pslam, they also said:
“Blessed is the KING who comes in the name of the Lord”
Luke 19:38 (NIV)
And that is to say — they were excited. They were celebrating Jesus’ arrival — and they were filled with hope. Hope that He would topple Rome and set up His new earthly kingdom.
And they were all in!
So now they are declaring “this is our king”, not Rome, no Caesar, not some other nation. But this man — Jesus. He was to be their king! So, they said— blessed is this king who comes in the name of the Lord.
In many ways — this was there revolutionary cry!
So, they shouted and praised Him…and even waved palm branches at Him. Which was very important. I know, it seems strange to us today — but when they waved palm branches at Jesus. They were deliberately acknowledging Him as their deliverer.
Because, Palm branches were a symbol of National freedom for the people of Israel. It was a sign of their declaration of independence!
And, they believed Jesus would be the King to lead them to freedom.
So, on that day, Jesus found some who celebrated Him. But that’s not all He found. Mark tell us…when Jesus entered Jerusalem,
2. HE (ALSO) FOUND SOME WHO OPPOSED HIM!
As we read the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem — it’s easy to overlook the shift that took place within the hearts of the people. While there were many who welcomed Him as He entered Jerusalem — after just a few days, the city was filled with shouts of rejection and opposition.
This part of the story happens just a few days after His triumphal entry. Within hours of the celebration — the crowds began to call for Jesus’ head. And with it, their cheers turned to jeers. His friends seemed to turn to foes.
As Mark tells it — by Wednesday things would progress so far that — Jesus would be betrayed by Judas, then later arrested by Roman guards, and eventually tried by Pilate.
In Mark 15:1 we read,
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
Mark 15:1-5 (NIV)
I wonder where we have stood on that day? Would we have been among the friends or the foes? Would we have welcomed Him as King — or opposed Him (as many seemed to do)?
There were many who were disappointed that Jesus was not planning to physically overthrow Rome (and become an Earthly King). But that was never his plan. Even so, many were disappointed. That seems to have been Judas’ problem with HIm.
But there were others who rejected Him because of the way His plan messed up their plans. For instance, many of the Sadducees and Pharisees opposed Jesus because His plan would make their religious structure obsolete. They preferred RELIGION to His offer of RELATIONSHIP. So, they opposed Him.
But this didn’t derail Jesus. He continued to move forward — to complete His mission. After all, the King had come and was determined to usher in a new Kingdom.
And His kingdom was for all! As Luke 19:10 reminds us, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
And as Paul writes in Romans 10:13,“…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
And that includes those who hated Jesus and opposed His plan to save the World from it’s sin. Even in their position of opposition — Jesus came to be their King!
Maybe it would be better to say — Jesus came especially to those who opposed him, He came for the LOST!
So, along His path to the THRONE of our lives…along His way to being crowned the KING OF KINGS, Jesus found some who celebrated Him, He found some who opposed Him…and lastly:
3. HE FOUND HIS CROSS!
As we read this story — we must not miss the mission of our messiah. His ultimate goal and purpose was HIS CROSS!
He didn’t simply come to garner attention or to ascend an earthly throne. He came to hang on a cross and give His life for ours.
His mission was the cross. He came to die. He came to be the sacrifice, for our sin. He came from Heaven to Earth to mend the breach our sin caused between the Holiness of God and the fallenness of man.
That was His mission. His CROSS was the CENTER OF HIS PLAN! But understand, Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem as a helpless victim. He arrived as a powerful victor—and the cross was His weapon He used to defeat sin, death, hell, and the grave.
And, so…Mark tells us — after standing before Pilate, Jesus found His cross. Listen to the words of Mark 15:16. It says,
16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Mark 15:16-20 (NIV)
That was His mission…And today, His mission must be our message.
If we leave out His cross — we don’t have a message.
I know, some people don’t like the cross. They think the cross makes Christianity to bloody. But, without the spilled blood of our KING — we have no HOPE!
The centerpiece of our message must be…the death of our Savior on the CROSS of calvary.
So, the most significant thing Jesus FOUND after entering Jerusalem (on that Palm Sunday) 2000 years ago was THE CROSS!
By the way, we call this day PALM SUNDAY. But, that’s not what the Jewish people of Jesus day knew it as. They called this day…“lamb selection day”.
And that’s because, on this day — Jewish families would gather together…and then make their way to select a lamb (their lamb), to celebrate the Passover (that day where they remembered God’s grace). So, they would choose a lamb, take it home…care for it.
In Exodus 12, God spoke to Moses and Aaron, the leaders of the Israelites, and says,
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.…6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.”
Exodus 12:3, 6-7 (NIV)
Just as they had done back in Exodus — God’s people continued to do. Choosing a lamb (with their family). Loving it…caring for it. And then at Passover, sacrificing it as an offering of worship and thanksgiving to God for His grace and mercy.
And, just to make sure we understood the MISSION OF OUR MESSIAH (our King of Kings)…in the first century, on that day same day, God sent His Son into Jerusalem FOUR DAYS before Passover…to be received as the SACRIFICIAL LAMB.
As John would write, Jesus is “the Lamb, which takes away the sins of the world.”
And as he would later write of Jesus, in Revelation 5:12, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.”
Don’t miss it — Jesus is our Passover Lamb! Understand:
— Jesus didn’t come for the acclimation of the crowds as they would shout “Hosanna.”
— And, He didn’t come for the temporary throne of Rome.
— He came for the cross. He came to give His life and free us from sin!
And this morning, if you want you life to be changed — then you must welcome His cross. You can’t have Jesus without His cross.
I’ll close with this:
In August of 2003, the Church of the Holy Cross in New York City was broken into twice. In the first break-in, thieves made away with a metal moneybox that had been resting next to a rack of candles.
But three weeks later, they returned — hoping to score something even more valuable. This time, they unbolted a 4-foot long, 200-pound carving of Jesus from a meditation area. The carving was attached to a large wooden cross hanging on the wall. But when they took Jesus — they left the cross.
The church caretaker, a man by the name of David St. James, stated in an interview, that he just couldn’t understand it. He was bewildered that they would want Jesus, but not his cross!
But it doesn’t work that way. Because, the only way Jesus comes — is by way of the CROSS!
ALTAR CALL
So, here’s your application — If you want to experience Jesus (as King)…then you also have to take His cross! Welcome the promise of His love…welcome the pain that He faced…welcome the stripes that He bore. And in doing so, by faith — ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE LOVED! Welcome HIS FORGIVENESS FROM SIN! INVITE HIM TO GIVE YOU HIS PEACE FOR YOUR PAIN…and, BELIEVE THAT BY HIS STRIPES YOU ARE HEALED!
So, embrace Jesus as KING. And welcome thee promises into your life. But remember:
YOU CAN ONLY EXPERIENCE THESE PROMISES…
IF YOU WILL TAKE HIM — AND HIS CROSS TOO!