Rev. David Holwick N PALM SUNDAY
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
April 12, 1992
Luke 19:28-44
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I. Oh no! They're coming!
A. In the next three weeks:
Celeste's brother and maybe her sister will be visiting.
Then some people from Ohio.
My in-laws come next, then my parents will swing through,
and finally more people from Ohio,
1) How do you feel about visitors?
2) Celeste claims I hide from them in my office.
B. Some visits cause dread.
1) What if, instead of your expected rebate check, the IRS sends
you a letter requesting you to visit them?
2) Perhaps your in-laws are not the blessing mine are.
C. What if God himself were to visit you?
1) How would you feel about seeing Him?
2) How would HE feel about seeing you?
II. Palm Sunday is about the visit of Jesus.
A. Huge Passover crowds are converging on the city.
1) Population swelled from 20,000 to over 100,000.
2) People are excited and thinking of God's deliverance.
a) From Pharaoh.
b) From the Romans?
B. Jesus comes in a special way.
1) Messiah on donkey prophesied in OT. Zech 9:9-11
2) Emphasis is on his humility and gentleness.
a) Donkeys were ridden by kings in peacetime; horses in war.
b) Battle bow broken, peace to all nations.
c) Blood of covenant frees prisoners. (Cross?)
III. How the people received him.
A. The city itself did not praise Jesus' coming, only the disciples.
1) In Luke 13:35, acceptance of Jesus by the citizens of the
city means the Kingdom of God has arrived.
2) The Pharisees did not recognize Jesus for who he was. 19:39
a) They thought the praise was unseemly.
b) Most of the people probably shared those feelings.
B. The disciples welcomed him as the Conquering Messiah.
1) The disciples thought the kingdom was going to appear
at once. Luke 19:11
2) Coats (and palms) are homage to a king. 2 Kings 9:13 (Jehu)
a) Accompanied by loud praise.
3) The disciples were looking straight through to conquering
Messiah and had a "We're number ONE!" attitude.
C. No one really knew the significance of what was going on. Jn 12:16
1) The crowds thought it was another Passover pilgrim celebration.
2) The disciples did not appreciate the significance of a
peaceful King, as in Zechariah 9:9 - or the coming judgment.
IV. The lack of recognition causes Jesus to weep over the city. 19:44
A. He has offered salvation, but they are rejecting it.
1) They lose out on real peace.
B. The next visit won't be for salvation.
1) One generation later (AD 70) city devastated.
Tens of thousands slaughtered.
Eventually, most of city knocked down, even plowed up.
(Warren in shaft of tumbled stones)
2) Most of those giving praise would have been involved in
the destruction.
C. All of this was a preview of the Second Coming.
V. Most people today don't recognize Jesus visiting. (Jim Buchan, #1394)
A. Recognizing Jesus' claim on your life.
1) Foundation: Jesus as our King.
a) More than recognizing the bare fact.
b) Too many know "about" Jesus, but have no real
relationship with him.
2) With kings, you do what they tell you to do.
a) Are you doing what Jesus demands?
b) Or is it mere lip-service, and do-what-you-want attitude?
B. Recognizing Jesus in worship.
1) Genuine worship has a sense of amazement.
a) Supernatural power is unleashed.
b) Rocks start yelling! 19:40
2) Our worship usually falls a little short.
a) Routine; even boring?
b) We can be doctrinally sound, yet sterile in worship.
3) We will not convert people because they see how great we are.
a) God's power is key, not human talents.
b) Ordinary people show God's power best.
c) The amazing life we live is God's doing, not ours.
C. Recognizing Jesus publicly.
1) Too many are ashamed, or unsure, about what they believe.
2) Real faith compels us to share it.
VI. God visits everybody.
A. Will the result be salvation?
1) On Palm Sunday, Jesus was given a loud acclaim.
2) Yet most missed out on peace.
B. Or will the result be judgment?
1) Yesterday a friend of ours was here for his last time.
a) Then he was buried. (Al McCollum)
b) Some decisions cannot be put off.
2) Second Coming may occur soon.
a) Many - some here? - will be rejected and destroyed.
b) Strict literalists say the prophecy in 19:44 has not
been completely fulfilled yet.
Six rows of stones in the Temple area are still standing.
Perhaps another destruction of Jerusalem is coming.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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