Palm Sunday 2019
On the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, people reacted differently. Some reacted in anger...and their fates were forever sealed. Some people rushed to praise Him...and their lives were forever changed. On the day when God came to town, people were forced to take sides. You can’t just sit on the fence when God comes to town.
When God rides into town, everyone is faced with a choice. We’re forced to either crown Him as our King or reject Him as our Ruler. When God comes to town, you can’t just ignore Him! When God comes to town, you can’t just pretend you’re spiritual. When God comes to town, you can’t just turn your back on Him.
Jesus came to save. He bore the load of our guilt and sin. He broke the chains of our bondage. He creates us as new people through the power of His Holy Spirit. He conquers and He alone conquers. The spoils of His victory come to us in the forms of forgiveness, grace, and love. The battle is His. The praise belongs to Him. The victory is assured!
Luke 19:35-40 (NASB)
35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. 37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting:
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
John 3:30 (NASB)
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Matthew 21:8-10 (NASB)
8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. 9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest!”
10 When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”
Zechariah 9:9-10 (NASB)
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
And the horse from Jerusalem;
And the bow of war will be cut off.
And He will speak peace to the nations;
And His dominion will be from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
Discussion:
How are your expectations shaping your reality?
Is life fair? Talk about some of the unrealistic expectations you might have about your own life.
What are some of the ways people responded when Jesus came to town?
Why were people upset?
What did you notice about the people who celebrated?
Who is Jesus to you?
Do you hear and see the Gospel?
Prayer:
Pray for the upcoming 2019 Easter Services:
The Planning and Serving components
Pray for Pastor Jeff as He prepares the message for the 4 Easter Services
Pray for those you can invite to the Upcoming Easter Services
Pray that lives will be changed through the message of Jesus Christ!