“The Jewish Roots of Palm Sunday” Teammates April 9, 2017 Mark Gottlieb Confession…. Psalm Sunday A little boy missed out on church one Palm Sunday. His mother stayed home to watch over him. When dad came home, there he was, sick on the couch. When he noticed dad come in with a huge palm branch in his hand, he was curious and asked, "Dad, what’s up with that palm branch?" His dad said, “It’s Palm Sunday, son! You see, when Jesus came into town, everybody waved these Palm Branches to honor him, so we all got Palm Branches today.” The boy was upset because he missed the celebration and he said, “Just my luck, dad! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!” ? Do you ever feel like you missed church the Sunday when Jesus showed up? So – where does every good Virginia vacation….? So – 2 weeks ago…..

Our first hotel Then out last hotel…. Ice Hotel

Psalm 19:1

Two thousand years ago, in the Middle East, an event occurred that permanently changed the world.  What would you do if you only had one week to live? What would you think about? Who would you visit? The Triumphal entry marked the beginning of Holy week or Passion week, the last week of Jesus’ earthly life.

Palm Sunday - is the Sunday before Easter that begins the Holy Week Palm Sunday -  is the Sunday before Easter that begins the Holy Week. It is the day that we remember and celebrate the day Jesus entered into Jerusalem as Savior and King.  Western Christian churches often refer to Palm Sunday as 'The Sunday of the Passion', while Orthodox Christian churches may call the festival 'The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem'. We celebrate it with joy – but if this is such a glorious Sunday for all Christians, what goes wrong by Friday that Jesus will find himself betrayed by one of his own disciples, arrested by the high priest’s guard, accused by a coalition of religious leaders, tried by the Roman governor, and sentenced to die the death of a common criminal — death by crucifixion.

When is it?

When is it? Western Christians: April 9th, 2017 Eastern Orthodox Christians: ? They will be one week apart each year for the next 8 years Typically every 3 to 4 years the are the same – 1 to 5 weeks later Passover is Apr 10 – 18th this year

Bible Passages: All four gospels John 12:12-19 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Table Talk What was your experience with Palm Sunday growing up? What traditions did you have for this week leading up to Easter?

Israel was abuzz – because it was preparing to celebrate the Passover. Starting in Exodus 12 – 10th plague - Angel of death As Jim Battle showed in a map last week….. From the ends of the known world. Estimates show that at Passover Jerusalem went from being a town of 50,000 to a town of 500,000  But this time…. Jesus was going to be the ultimate Passover Lamb…..

What's with the donkey? 1 Kings 1:32-35 King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, 33 he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34 There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’  1 Kings 1 is in response to Adonijah (one of David’s sons) claiming the title of King of Israel against his ailing father David’s wishes.

What's with the donkey? Zechariah 9:9-11 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion!     Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you,     righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey,     on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim     and the warhorses from Jerusalem,     and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations.     His rule will extend from sea to sea     and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,     I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Here is Zechariah prophesizing the coming of the Messiah into Jerusalem 500 years earlier. AND TO COME….We are talking a Universal Kingdom – Sea to Sea – characterized by peace for all nations Setting the people free…… And how does He do it…….

What's with the donkey? Zechariah 9:9-11 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion!     Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you,     righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey,     on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim     and the warhorses from Jerusalem,     and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations.     His rule will extend from sea to sea     and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,     I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

The Palm branches Palm branches are the Patriotic symbol – a Jewish national symbol. (Not peace as Christians tend to believe). A symbol of victory and triumph. (FLAG)

“Hosanna to the Son of David! The Crowd…… “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Jesus’ reputation preceded him. Hosanna means LORD SAVE US The crowd was expecting to bring in the era of the Messianic kingdom. A conquering King – to rid them of the Romans They were not expecting the Suffering Servant – the Lamb of God. (Isaiah 53)

Here is where it comes from…. Psalm 118:19-27 Open for me the gates of the righteous;     I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord     through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me;     you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected     has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this,     and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day;     let us rejoice today and be glad. Lord, save us!     Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.     From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God,     and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession     up to the horns of the altar. Here is where it comes from…. The last of the Egyptian Hallel psalms. (113-118) “Praise Psalms” Last sentence – is about a bronze alter in the temple, but the table of the Last Supper. And the throne to which Jesus is about to ascend as king is not the golden throne of Solomon, but the wooden throne of Golgotha. And the offering will be His own life. His shed blood.

The Pharisees were getting uncomfortable and tell the people to stop blessing Him as a king. Then Jesus replies… “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:40) The whole design of the universe is that Jesus Christ be praised. 

Even the rocks cry out…..He deserves our praises Take-away Palm Sunday is the beginning of Jesus’s intentional act to go to the cross to shed His blood for you and me. Even the rocks cry out…..He deserves our praises Christ’s’ willingness to do the right thing – despite the cost. Palm Sunday was that glimmering moment for Jesus and the Jews… It was the moment the Jews recognized Jesus for who He really is: Messiah: the Anointed one of God, King of the Jews… Little did they know their creator and Lord would offer Himself up just five days later, become their sin, die in their place, experience Hell for them, them rise again to life 3 days later so we might rise to new life with Him. Friday, they would curse at Him. They would spit upon Him and crush Him with hateful words… Then they would feel the ground tremble, they would see the temple fall to pieces, the veil torn in 2… Then they would understand He’s King of the Jews. That day, all they understood was the celebration. When you see the heavens or the rocks…. Remember – they cry out

Table Talk What intentional acts can each of us strive for in our daily and weekly lives to show our love and allegiance to the King of Kings who gave His life for us? In our daily rhythms of life? To those around us? Table Talk….