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ð With Me in Mind - Palm Sunday - Matthew 21 / John 12
Christ – Completely Perfect! – 1-7
ð setting the stage – A. In borrowing the donkey…Christ’s - knowledge – where, with the colt, tied - power – over men – borrow donkey with their knowledge - justice – not using the donkey without knowledge ð apply to your situation… more later...
B. Ex 12:1-6 – 10th day of the month…14th day Explain Passover
C. Typical triumphal entry - herald at arms - food - trumpets / music - appropriate transportation - important guests
ð Jesus’ arrival was the humblest of them all! ð Rev 19:11 John… I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges…
“Meek” – Mat 21:5 – power under control
- horses – for wealthy men, for war - donkey – custom in those days for judges to ride donkeys …Christ coming as Judge - borrowed – what did He have here on earth?
And yet this is the first time Christ plans a public demonstration (previously it was “don’t tell anyone what has happened”)
II Cor 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Wrong Focus and Motives – 8-11
A. Matthew – written to Jews, preoccupied with Jesus’ kingship - kids (and adults!) looking toward Christmas! - for hundreds of years… looking forward to the Messiah …ComEd truck – binoculars B. Fulfill prophecy – hundreds of prophecies fulfilled by Christ! Zech 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvatn, gentle and riding on a donky, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
C. Peoples’ response – - Ps 2:6 – I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain. - 2 million people in Jerusalem during Passover Week - “Hosanna” – political term – they wanted a King! - clothing / branches on road – sign of respect, sign of honor
D. Fault: Great knowledge, No relationship - 10 – Who is this? …this is Jesus, Prophet, from Nazareth. ð And yet a week later, many of these were saying “Crucify Him!” - they wanted Christ’s kingdom to come now! …not concerned with the future / their eternity
True Worship – READ 12-16
A. From children! - why is that? B. Christ is the Church’s King! Fulfill prophecy – Zech 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ð reference to the Church! Eph 1:22 - And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body. C. Salvation: “Lord / Master” – complete rule… King (studying Esther) – does whatever, whenever - people put clothes / branches down… what do I do to show respect for my King? - “blessed is He” – for it is in Him that we are blessed ð He is worthy of all acceptance!
“If we truly want ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’ then we need to operate under heaven’s rules…with Christ as King!”
- What is true worship? ð what we are going to be doing in heaven - singing, praising, bowing, submitting
- our lives today should reflect this same attitude
- Christ’s knowledge - power - justice
- relationship with Christ – religion or love affair?
CROSS!! “With me in mind…” …Jesus came to Jerusalem, knowing the cross was there.
A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, "Boys and girls, what do we know about God?" A hand shot up in the air. "He is an artist!" said the little boy. "Really? How do you know?" the teacher asked. "You know, Our Father, who does art in Heaven..."
The Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the SS teacher stopped by for tea. The Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said, "Be not afraid, your comforter is coming."
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