Palm Sunday 2017 The King Has Come "The phrase about removing mountains was a quite common Jewish phrase. It was a regular, vivid phrase for removing difficulties.“ (Barclay)

The Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-11

The Triumphal Entry The crowds were huge and some were there as a result of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. A donkey was chosen to both fulfill the Prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 and to dampen the expectations of a war. If Jesus had ridden in on a war horse, things might have turned out differently than peacefully. Cloaks and branches were in the road and being waved symbolizing the crowds’ understanding that this was a kingly entrance

The Triumphal Entry The crowd was singing/shouting Ps.118:25-26 Save us, save us now! Jesus wept over the city Children were rebuked, Jesus replied that even the stones would cry out. The religious rulers were frustrated and didn’t see any way this mass of rabble rousers would not end up getting them all killed by the Romans The temple was cleansed either right then or the next day and a fig tree was cursed

Mark 11:12-14 & 20-25

Mark 11:20-22 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.”

Peter sees a dead tree, but Jesus sees an opportunity to discuss faith, prayer, and forgiveness

Mountain Moving Mark 11:23 - Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Mountain Moving Matthew 17:20 - He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Mountain Moving 1 Corinthians 13:2 - And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

We should be able to count over the mercies before we have got them, believing that they are on the road. Spurgeon

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

God Does Answer Prayer 1 John 3:22 - and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. John 15:7 - If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

God Does Answer Prayer 1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also Who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also Who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Scary Thoughts To Me Jesus said in Matthew 6:12 - and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:14 -15 - For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father  forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:32-35 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

For Our Consideration Why do you think the cursed fig tree incident is included in the Scripture? What does “have faith in God” mean in your situation? Are there any “mountains” in your life that need moving? Do you think God is serious about forgiveness? Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive?

Prayer Focus Thank You Lord for being our King Thank You Lord for forgiveness Thank You Lord for Your word that clearly instructs us Thank You Lord for another day to grow in You or to start walking with You