Why Does It Matter: Palm Sunday

Introduction:  We have been in a series entitled:  Why Does “It” Matter.  

I have covered Church, Baptism and Communion…

Today I want to draw your attention to Palm Sunday and ask:  Why Does “Palm Sunday” Matter…it is sort of the forgotten Sunday that leads up to Easter…which is absolutely understandable when you consider Resurrection Day…Let’s be honest…that day triumphs over every other celebration…

Title:  Why Does “Palm Sunday” Matter

John 12:12-19

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

ESV

NOW UNDERSTAND THAT JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE ENTIRETY OF HIS WRITING…40 PERCENT COVERS THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS’ LIFE AND MINISTRY AFTER RESURRECTION.  

Matt 21:1-11

21 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.  3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your King is coming to you,

Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.'” 

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 

Hosanna in the highest!” 

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 

11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” 

NKJV

  1. Triumphal Entry
    1. Have you ever read this passage of scripture and wondered why they would be so rejoicing in one moment and then deny Jesus a few days later…or maybe like me, you asked the question…Why was there seemingly already a parade and where / why did they already have palm branches prepared to wave?
    2. To understand this and answer so many other questions we have to understand the Custom of Passover. 
      1. Many know the institution of Passover during the Exodus and the Final Plague God sent upon Egypt.
      2. Where blood would be put on the doorpost of each home and inside the home they would prepare a meal and eat the lamb…
    3. But now in a First Century Setting During the Feast of Passover…all the lambs for Passover would be brought in from Bethlehem…
      1. (this is where the shepherds were that witnessed Jesus being born in a manger and the angels came and appeared to them) 
    4. and the High Priest would go down and select a perfect lamb to be sacrificed for their sin…
      1. the High Priest would then carry the lamb back and walk through the Eastern Gate on the tenth day of Nissan – four days before Passover. 
      2. As they carry the Lamb through the Temple area…the people would wave palm branches and shout “Hosanna to the Lamb of God who has come to take away our sins.”
    5. Now Jesus has just performed the final miracle of Raising Lazarus from the Dead thus completing all the Messianic Miracles…and He comes riding into town and the people greet him as if He was the Lamb…
      1. Zechariah 9:9 – is the verse highlighted there in Matthew….as well as in John…
      2. It was known in the day and time if someone came riding in as to Conquer, they rode in on a Horse…Thus Why Jesus in the Book of the Revelation returns Riding a White Horse…
      3. But when a Leader came in Riding a Donkey…it was a sign that He has come to bring Peace…Not war.
      4. Thus, the Palm Branches… were a sign of Peace but also of Worship…and Celebration. 
  2. Hosanna
    1. They Cry Hosanna – which means Save Us Now
      1. Ps 118:26-27

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We bless you from the house of the Lord.

27 The Lord is God,

and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

up to the horns of the altar!

ESV

    1. It is taken from a Psalm 107
      1. Ps 107:2

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

ESV

      1. The wording in this verse is mentioned 4 times in Psalm 107…and God does deliver them from their distress just like He delivers us from our distress…
      2. But the whole passage is actually asking the question…Why don’t you call out to me and worship…when you are not distressed?  
    2. Save Us Now
      1. They were crying out to Jesus Save us Now…and that is exactly what he came to do…but they didn’t understand what He truly had come to save them from…
  2. Jesus Goes Through Inspection
    1. Luke’s gospel 19:44 tells us…Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and says…”You did not know the time of your visitation…”  
      1. That is a particular time…
      2. He is referring to the 10th of Nissan when the Passover Lamb was brought into the City to be received…and killed on the 14th of Nissan…According to Exodus 12.
      3. They didn’t realize he was that Lamb…who truly came to answer the cry of Hosanna that was coming from their hearts…
      4. They were too busy inspecting Jesus instead of Receiving Jesus…
    2. As you read in John, Matthew and Luke especially you see Jesus comes under what looks like attack…but honestly it is inspection…Just as a Lamb would be inspected to see if that Lamb qualifies to be the Passover Sacrifice
      1. All Jesus’ teachings came under scrutiny…
      2. His right to cleanse the temple…though that was one of the purposes of the Lamb
      3. Jesus’ authority is questioned
      4. He criticized over taxes…trying to be entrapped by the question…
      5. The Scribes look to get him to disqualify himself by asking about the Greatest of Commandments
      6. Questioning Lineage Rights…by asking is the Christ a son of David?

Transition:  Then Jesus is put on 6 different trials…by both the Jews and Gentiles (Romans)

  1. Pilate’s Pronouncement
    1. Remember when Pilate said concerning Jesus…”I find no fault in Him.”  
      1. A lamb to be sacrificed at Passover and the Day of Atonement…could not have any fault or blemish…
      2. So when Pilate declares after inspection and interrogation…”I find no fault in Him…” He declared Jesus was worthy to be sacrificed for our sins…having no idea what He was declaring. 

Transition:  Why Does “Palm Sunday” Matter…Palm Sunday lets us know there was a Lamb Prepared, inspected, and confirmed…so our sins could be forgiven…

We Now Cry…Hosanna – “Save Us Now…” not from our trouble but from our sin.  

  1. What Triggered All of This
    1. John 12:1-3

12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 

NKJV

    1. One young ladies’ worship and offering…triggers everything…
      1. 6 Days before the Passover…a woman’s worship changes everything…
    2. What if Our Worship this Morning Changed Everything…?
    3. I pray we do not miss our time of Visitation…

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