Palm Sunday

Sermon Outline for Sunday, March 28, 2021

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 12:12–16 ESV

The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 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!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 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.

Knowing the rest of the story, we realize that Jesus ascending will soon become the object of this same crowd wanting to kill him. This show the fickleness of people and also the truth Jesus has tried to show His followers and us today.

He had told them He must go to Jerusalem to suffer and be killed. They imagined His going up in triumphal procession to be seated on a throne. He knew His kingdom called for a cross before He could sit down in glory at the right hand of God the Father.

All who chanted that day were right when they acclaimed Him King, but they were wrong in their understanding in the kind of King He is.

The inscription on His cross, proclaiming Him King, was right, but it was wrong in the people’s understanding in the kind of King He is.

The false concept of their understanding is still here today, in our time. The false concept sees Jesus as an earthly Savior, One who is to bring utopia to earth for the people of God. The false concept sees Jesus …

• as the Conqueror: as the One who is to straighten out the problems of this earth by overcoming all the enemies of mankind including evil men, hunger, disease, and poverty.
• as the Provider: as the One who is to feed, house, and give health, plenty, and success to man; as the One who is to be sought to bless man in all the good things of life.
• as the Indulgent, Passive Lord: as the One who accepts man no matter what man does, just so he is somewhat religious; as the One who allows man to live as he desires, doing his own thing despite the sin and injustices and immorality of his behavior.

Take a look at our verses from John 12:12-16, we see several significant facts in this point – facts that clearly show the false concept of Christ held by so many then and today.

• The “large crowd” were involved in welcoming Jesus in the Triumphal scene. Many held the false concept of Jesus as as the earthly King and Savior of man, as the One who was to be sough in order to secure all the good things of this earth.
• The large crowd “went out” to welcome Jesus. Note that they were not just sitting and waiting for Him to come, they “heard” and went out to meet Him.
• They people took palm branches to wave and lay them before Him. Palm Branches are a symbol of victory and triumph. They were waved triumphantly as a conqueror rode victoriously through the city streets. The people were welcoming Jesus as the great Conqueror and the Mighty Deliverer. But Jesus had come in peace, not as the judge or conqueror of the Romans nor of anyone else – not right then.
• The people cried “Hosanna,” which means save now, or save, we pray. Man desire to be free, but note: man desires to be free on this earth so that he can move about and do as he pleases. He thinks little if any about being free from the bondages of this earth. He loves this earth and he wants all of it he can get. Man thinks little about being held in bondage by such things; he thinks little about sin and death.

Now that we have looked at the false concept of Christ, let’s look at the True Concept of Christ.

Jesus was dramatically demonstrating two things for the people when He entered as He did: riding a young donkey.

• First, He was unquestionably the promised King, the Savior of the people
• Second, that He was not coming as the conquering King.

His mission was not to come as a worldly king, in pomp and ceremony, not to be the leader of an army to kill, injure and maim; the people then and now must change their concept of the Messiah. The Messiah was coming as the Savior of Peace who had been sent to save all mankind.

• The colt was a symbol of peace, Jesus came to bring peace.

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:20 ESV

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

• The colt symbolized service. It was a noble animal, an animal used in the service of men to carry their burdens. Jesus came upon the colt symbolizing that He came to serve men and to bear their burdens for them.

Matthew 20:28 ESV

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:7–8 ESV

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

• The colt symbolized sacredness. Animals and items used for religious purposes had to be things that had never been used before. This detail points to the very sacredness of the event. It pictured for everyone that Jesus was deliberately taking every precaution to proclaim that He was the sacred hope, the promised Messiah of the people.

John 6:38 ESV

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

John 11:25–27 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church