Presidential Inauguration

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday

John 11:47–48 (NLT) 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

If the people declare Jesus is the Messiah THEN The Romans won’t care about the Pharisees and controlling the masses THEN The Romans will just make a new treaty with Jesus to control the crowds THEN The role of the Pharisees will become superfluous THEN The Romans won’t have a need for either them or the temple.

“Here we go again, another Messiah.”

The people were DYING FOR CHANGE.

Jesus surprises everyone.

Mark 11:15–17 (ESV) 15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

No one who is dying for change thinks of prayer as the primary thing we need.

John 12:23 (NLT) Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.

John 12:23–24 (NLT) 23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

John 12:23–24 (NLT) 23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

John 12:27–28 (NLT) 27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”

John 12:28 (NLT) 28 Father, bring glory to your name.” Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.”

John 12:29 (NLT) 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

John 12:30–33 (NLT) 30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

John 12:26 (NLT) 26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

To be serving Jesus we must follow Jesus, which means we must be planted into His soil and die.

Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it remains a single seed.