Palm Sunday marks a great paradox of history. Jesus Christ enters Jerusalem as a King, fully aware that the fickle crowd will soon turn against Him; the same voices that call for His praise will soon cry out for His death. In this week's sermon Tyler Jones sets the stage for the death of Christ. Why would a good man be murdered? What exactly did Christ say and do that turned people so against Him?
Matthew 27:1-2 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
Exodus 3:7-8 Then the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them.
Luke 19:28-29 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples…
Luke 19:36-40 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Luke 19:45-47 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.' "Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
Reflection Questions:
Worship of God comes when you realize the degree and the cost of your rescue. If you look at any culture who has been freed from slavery, their lyrics, novels and poetry speak vibrantly of the "Rescuing God." Are you aware of your need for Christ? Will you allow Him to renew you?
Jesus started a political, social and spiritual revolution. He demands our entire selves, he convicts us of any action we live out that is contrary to who He is, and he frees us from Spiritual death. Jesus' teachings and life are offensive. They seem to both convict us and love us at the same time. How is Jesus convicting you and loving you in this very moment?
There are two ways into the city, Christ's way and Rome's way. Which are you living in/out? How will you learn to give in to Christ?