Jesus Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

Sermon 9/4/2017

Palm Sunday

Matt 20:34-21:10

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

The traditional picture we have coming to Easter Jesus riding on a donkey to the painful death on Good Friday. We sing in the traditional hymn ‘Ride on ride on in Majesty, in lowly pomp ride on to die.’ But what is the meaning of this triumph before death, we know that Easter ends in resurrection that the ultimate victory and triumph over death and hell that brings us forgiveness and life is to be played out, but why this dramatic presentation before the event. What is it saying? When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ John 12:9-19 The Plot to Kill Lazarus When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!’ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: ‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ Two accounts differing slightly but the same event. Two different authors, two different audiences as are all the Gospels. Happens all the time. Have you ever watched TV coverage of Royal Ascot One day they are talking about the hats and dresses of the ladies, another day they are talking about the horses.

Two different approaches, could be different events if we didn’t know better. Hats or horses.

Let’s look at the two passages John’s passage puts the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem shortly after Jesus raising of Lazarus from the dead and links the excitement around the raising of Lazarus to the excitement about Jesus and talks of testimony of the people who had seen this talking to others about what they had seen. Matthew talks of the disciples obediently going into a village and taking a donkey for Jesus to ride on. They did not know why as far as we know, but they were obedient. Both accounts talk of the fulfilment of prophecy.

Zechariah 9.9-14

Which Talks of triumph and victory whilst riding on a donkey a symbol of just the opposite peace

Both talk about Triumph

Dictionary definition Triumphal, 1. Relating to or having the nature of a triumph. 2. Celebrating or commemorating a victory or triumph: Not Triumphalism is the attitude or belief that a particular doctrine, religion, culture, or social system is superior to and should triumph over all others. Who is the triumph over? To the people who heard Zechariah’s prophecy, victory and triumph were about coming out of Israel and being restored to their own nation something that was fulfilled in their lifetimes but still under rule but fully in about 400 years restoration of Israel 100Bc-3AD after the Maccabean struggle. Who was God talking about through Zechariah? The prophecy also talks of a wider implication about the Coming of the Messiah Jesus. A righteous and peaceful King bringing Salvation to the whole world Not just the kingdom of Israel but the kingdom of God Who did the Jews think Jesus was triumphing over? Over the Romans, restoring the kingdom of Israel, remember a time of Zealots, liberation and resistance groups Who was Jesus triumphing over?

Colossians 2.10-20

10and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision,* by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God* made you* alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed* the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

16 Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. 17These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling* on visions,* puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking,* 19and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe,* why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations?

Spiritual forces, death and hell, bringing salvation, transformation, forgiveness, freedom from legalism, freedom from the elemental spirits of the world, from material things.

What sort of victory was it? Let’s look back at Zechariah. Your king -Long promised messiah Literal translations of words in verse 9. Triumph = Righteous Victorious = And having salvation Hebrew yasha‛ A Peaceful leader who will change the world Riding on a Donkey not a War horse. In the Messianic age Weapons of destruction will be banished.

The prophecy talks of a Universal kingdom spread out beyond boundaries of race and for everyone

What Now?

What has this to Say to us?

Prophecy fulfilled - In the way Jesus entered.

Prophecy about the valley and the transformation of it.

Doing what Jesus asks of us.

How was prophecy fulfilled by the disciples doing what Jesus said?

By us fulfilling the prophecy by doing what Jesus says to us through the Holy Spirit

Signs and wonders - Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, this was a turning point in His ministry, in John’s gospel the focal point of his narrative.

We too must be open to and look out for signs and wonders, small and large. Opportunities to pray for people.

Testimony

People talked about Lazarus We too must talk about what God is doing with us, in us and through us.

God is doing something, here and now and we all have a part to play.