Rev. David Holwick J Palm Sunday
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 27, 1994
Luke 19:29-44
|
I. Everyone likes a parade.
A. Desert Storm parade in NYC.
Celeste and I wanted to experience a NYC ticker tape parade.
When the Desert Storm veterans were honored, we went with girls.
To avoid congestion we took a bus.
The streets were so crowded we were flat against a building,
actually inside an entryway.
This turned out to be a good thing.
When the troops came marching up, the crowd went wild.
Cartons of paper and confetti were tossed out of windows.
They even threw real ticker tape, imported from Connecticut.
They also threw stones, coins and small pieces of lumber, which
is why we were glad we were in a doorway.
We never saw the soldiers.
There was a glimpse of helmets, and a Patriot missile poked up.
But the energy and joy was a sight to remember forever.
#2619
B. On Palm Sunday, Jesus had a parade.
1) Up to this point he had avoided public honor.
2) Now he seeks praise, even planning his own parade!
C. His parade had a purpose.
II. Palm Sunday fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah.
A. The concept of the Messiah has inspired Jews for 3,000 years.
1) Rebbi Schneerson in Brooklyn is thought by some to be Messiah.
B. The key events in Jesus' life are alluded to in OT prophecy.
1) Palm Sunday fulfills Zechariah 9:9. (cf Matthew 21:5)
a) Donkeys were ridden by kings during peace. (horses=war)
b) Emphasis is on Messiah's gentleness.
2) Jesus is revealing the type of king he is.
III. The Parade unleashes the joy of God's Kingdom.
A. Most parades are fun for the observers.
1) Roxbury children's parade has more marchers than observers!
B. Palm Sunday crowd is unrestrained in its joy and praise. 19:37
1) So much that the religious leaders rebuked them.
2) Jesus says the joy can't be contained - even stones will cry.
C. True believers in Jesus have joy.
1) We have a triumphant attitude to share.
A Harvard University professor once sought an interview with
Phillips Brooks.
Brooks was best-loved preacher of the turn of the century.
The professor had a serious problem and needed help.
He spent an hour with Phillips Brooks and came out a changed
man.
Later it dawned on him that he had forgotten to ask Brooks
about his problem!
He said, however, "I didn't care; I had found out that what
I needed was not the solution of a special problem,
but the contagion of triumphant spirit."
A triumphant spirit is contagious.
#2270
2) We are not always smiling, but we know we will overcome.
a) Christians have problems like everyone else.
b) We also have a Savior who is watching out for us.
IV. The parade honored Jesus as the coming King.
A. We all need honor and recognition.
1) Mark Twain: "I can live for 2 months on one good compliment."
2) The New Testament encourages honor.
a) We are to honor our parents. Eph 6:2
b) Paul tells us to honor one another, and associates it
with brotherly love. Rom 12:10
c) Epaphroditus is to be honored with joy. Phil 2:29
3) Good to honor others, but wrong to seek it for yourself.
a) Self-seekers are classic hypocrites. Matt 6:2; 23:5f
b) Be humble, and you will be honored. Luke 14:7
B. It is appropriate to honor Jesus. Rev 5:12
1) Why honor him?
a) For who he is.
b) For what he does for us.
2) How to honor him?
a) With our lips.
1> We must learn to praise him.
b) With loving actions.
1> Lips alone aren't enough. Matt 15:8
2> Prove your devotion by your obedience.
3) Lack of sincerity doomed Jerusalem. Luke 19:41
a) Jesus wept, because he knew they didn't recognize him.
b) This was one of the greatest tragedies of history.
C. If we honor him, he will honor us.
Ray Stedman tells of an old missionary couple who had been
working in Africa for 40 years.
They were now returning to New York City to retire.
This couple had no pension; their health was broken; they were
defeated, discouraged, and afraid.
They discovered they were booked on the same ship as
President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of
his big-game hunting expeditions.
As the passengers got on the ship in Africa, no one paid
any attention to the missionaries.
They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President's
entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of
the great man.
As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said
to his wife, "Something is wrong."
Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for
God in Africa all these many years and have no one care
a thing about us?
Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody
makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us."
"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way," his wife said.
"I can't help it; it doesn't seem right."
When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet
the President.
The mayor and other dignitaries were there.
The papers were full of the President's arrival, but no one
noticed this missionary couple.
They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East
Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to
make a living in the city.
That night the man's spirit broke.
He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not
treating us fairly."
His wife replied, "Why don't you go into the bedroom and tell
that to the Lord?"
A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his
face was completely different.
His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"
"The Lord settled it with me," he said.
"I told him how bitter I was that the President should
receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us
as we returned home.
And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his
hand on my shoulder and simply said,
'But you're not home yet!'"
Yes, there are rewards for faithfulness, but not necessarily
down here.
#1928
V. All parades come to an end.
A. There is often a letdown afterwards.
1) Our enjoyment must go beyond the spectacle.
2) True fulfillment comes from involvement.
a) We are not observers, but participants.
B. Many of those at Palm Sunday were superficial.
1) Mob had a different cry on Good Friday.
2) Christians also can be phonies.
C. Do you recognize God's coming?
1) Palms are a start.
a) Many aren't in church today.
2) Obedience is even better.
a) We praise Jesus by doing what Bible says.
b) We praise Jesus by acts of love toward others.
3) Are we focused on emotions, what he's done for us today, or
genuine praise for who God is?
==========================================================
Larson, "Luke"
I. Jesus decided to give himself a parade.
A. It made a statement about his greatness.
B. He was completely humble about it.
C. The effects of the parade were permanent, but the event faded
within five days.
II. Purposes of the parade.
A. It fulfilled the prophecy of Zech 9:9.
B. Jesus needed one.
1) All of us need encouragement and recognition.
C. Parades are the prelude to being discarded.
1) It gives us an opportunity to respond to the King.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Free HTML Help documentation generator