The Joy of Palm Sunday! – Luke 19:29-40
The Joy of Palm Sunday! – Luke 19:29-40
By Pastor Lee Hemen
April 5, 2020
Do you think you would recognize Jesus if he came into your community? Sadly, the church today while it is supposed to be “Jesus” to their neighbors, family, and friends I fear few would see Jesus in them. What would you do if Jesus came to your town, your neighborhood, or your home? While we would all like to think we would immediately recognize Jesus if he came to our area we might not.
People in Jesus’ day had longed for and prayed for generations for God to hear their prayers and it seemed as if God was not listening but he was. All of sudden in the midst of what seemed their darkest days, Jesus came healing, caring, and displaying how God works. For the average person it was a miracle of God and rightly so. The common people responded with joy, let’s see how…
READ: Luke 19:29-40
We become witnesses of Jesus’ final days as we read the gospel of Luke and here we discover…
I. The joy of Palm Sunday in sharing what we have! (Vv. 29-32)
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
1. In what is occurring today we may find it difficult to share but we still can do so simply by calling, texting, and video chatting with each other. And horrors, we could actually write a letter or note and mail it! Perhaps you could go and do grocery shopping for someone? We discover that as Jesus “approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples” out to do a specific task for him but what I want us to look at is the one involved who shares what they have with the disciples who are sent! Jesus tells them to “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.” Now the disciples did not know the people who may have owned the colt but that was not necessary, all they needed was someone who was willing to share what they had. The same is true today for us as Jesus’ church. We may not have a lot but what we have we can share. Interestingly the disciples are also told that “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” That would be all the motivation the person would need. It should be the only motivation we need. The Lord needs it. It is not so much that Jesus really “needed” the colt but rather the fulfillment of God’s plan was put into motion and those willing to share were going to be an intrinsic part of it! In fact, while their names are not remembered, what they shared is! And shouldn’t that be how we are remembered as well? No names just the beautiful example of following Jesus and sharing what we have! In fact those who are willing to share what they have are blessed because of it! Notice that “Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.” Wow, how wonderful is that? If we learn nothing else today let us discover the joy of Palm Sunday in sharing what we have!
EXAMPLE: The other day as I was listening to Christian radio and lady called in to have them pray for her. She is an Uber driver but with the virus her business has suffered so rather than feeling sorry for herself she was using her vehicle to deliver meals to shut-ins! I was reminded that right now we can realize that the joy of Palm Sunday is in sharing what we have!
We can sit and suffer or we can use what we have to glorify the Lord. I have discovered that…
II. The joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires! (Vv. 33-36)
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
1. There isn’t a day that goes by that the Lord doesn’t ask us to do something for him. Now there are plenty of days that go by where we do not listen and do not do what he asks. It might be because we have not spent enough time with him as we should in order to listen and know what he desires. It might be because we are rebellious and refuse to do what he asks! Yet we see that Jesus’ disciples do what they are asked and “As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’” After all it is their animal. It would be like going to someone’s driveway and taking their car without asking! Basically they asked, “Why are you taking my vehicle?” The owners demand an answer to the disciple’s actions and it is here in the disciple’s response we find a wonderful truth. They simply reply, “The Lord needs it.” The use of the word “Lord” could mean “master” and here the owners would understand that the disciple’s master had need of the colt they were untying. Now under normal circumstances that would not be a sufficient enough excuse for them taking someone else’s property, however, perhaps the owners were aware of Jesus entering their town. We could assume so since word of mouth during Jesus’ day was more than sufficient to spread the news. The disciple’s simple excuse that “The Lord needs it” is enough for the owners to relinquish the animal into their care and for Jesus’ use. Are we willing to give Jesus the care of what we own? Are we willing today to allow Jesus to use whatever we have for his personal use? Luke relates that “They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.” One person’s willingness that day was transformed into the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem! It should teach us today that we find the joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires!
EXAMPLE: What would God ask you do today? I don’t think it’s in binge watching The Walking Dead. Perhaps you need to take some time and ask him? We can find joy in the simplest things if we truly look. Perhaps you can “spread your cloak” on the road you are traveling today for the Lord to walk on by being someone’s comfort, help, or calming influence? Give it a try and know the joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires!
We see the crowds were more than willing to get caught up in the excitement of the moment. Most crowds do that whether it is a concert, political rally, or even Sunday morning worship! But I believe today God desires that we look a new at…
III. The joy of Palm Sunday in worshiping the Messiah! (Vv. 37-40)
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
1. Jesus had a plan and he was following it. Of course those around him should have known it because Jesus often told them that he would have to go to Jerusalem, be betrayed, tried, and killed but like we often do today they had not truly listened to what he told them. Jesus is riding on the back of a donkey colt heading into Jerusalem and “When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’” For weeks the people had heard Jesus was headed for Jerusalem. Was this when he would declare himself as the Messiah? So of course the crowds would be reminded of the prophet’s words: “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. (Zechariah 9:9 NIV)” The people became ecstatic and cried out in their joy, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Now they saw him as their savior, their Messiah, yet in a few days they would turn their backs on him and leave him to die a horrendous death! There are always those who do not see God active in their lives: “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’” As if. “I tell you,” Jesus responds, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Daily all of creation declares the glory of God and today we rediscover the joy of Palm Sunday in worshiping the Messiah!
EXAMPLE: Do you need crowds to praise the Lord? Do you need instruments, a worship band, or the latest in video and audio equipment to be able to praise the Lord? Perhaps you have lost focus on what it truly means to worship God. The Pharisees in the crowd that day could not join in the praise because they we so focused on what they thought the Messiah should be. Are you like the Pharisees? Do you know that God does not need your praise because all of creation praises him already? What he needs is your willingness to be his and when you know this then you will know the joy of Palm Sunday in worshiping the Messiah!
Conclusion:
The joy of Palm Sunday in sharing what we have! The joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires! The joy of Palm Sunday in worshipping the Messiah!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
April 5, 2020
Do you think you would recognize Jesus if he came into your community? Sadly, the church today while it is supposed to be “Jesus” to their neighbors, family, and friends I fear few would see Jesus in them. What would you do if Jesus came to your town, your neighborhood, or your home? While we would all like to think we would immediately recognize Jesus if he came to our area we might not.
People in Jesus’ day had longed for and prayed for generations for God to hear their prayers and it seemed as if God was not listening but he was. All of sudden in the midst of what seemed their darkest days, Jesus came healing, caring, and displaying how God works. For the average person it was a miracle of God and rightly so. The common people responded with joy, let’s see how…
READ: Luke 19:29-40
We become witnesses of Jesus’ final days as we read the gospel of Luke and here we discover…
I. The joy of Palm Sunday in sharing what we have! (Vv. 29-32)
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
1. In what is occurring today we may find it difficult to share but we still can do so simply by calling, texting, and video chatting with each other. And horrors, we could actually write a letter or note and mail it! Perhaps you could go and do grocery shopping for someone? We discover that as Jesus “approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples” out to do a specific task for him but what I want us to look at is the one involved who shares what they have with the disciples who are sent! Jesus tells them to “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.” Now the disciples did not know the people who may have owned the colt but that was not necessary, all they needed was someone who was willing to share what they had. The same is true today for us as Jesus’ church. We may not have a lot but what we have we can share. Interestingly the disciples are also told that “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” That would be all the motivation the person would need. It should be the only motivation we need. The Lord needs it. It is not so much that Jesus really “needed” the colt but rather the fulfillment of God’s plan was put into motion and those willing to share were going to be an intrinsic part of it! In fact, while their names are not remembered, what they shared is! And shouldn’t that be how we are remembered as well? No names just the beautiful example of following Jesus and sharing what we have! In fact those who are willing to share what they have are blessed because of it! Notice that “Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.” Wow, how wonderful is that? If we learn nothing else today let us discover the joy of Palm Sunday in sharing what we have!
EXAMPLE: The other day as I was listening to Christian radio and lady called in to have them pray for her. She is an Uber driver but with the virus her business has suffered so rather than feeling sorry for herself she was using her vehicle to deliver meals to shut-ins! I was reminded that right now we can realize that the joy of Palm Sunday is in sharing what we have!
We can sit and suffer or we can use what we have to glorify the Lord. I have discovered that…
II. The joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires! (Vv. 33-36)
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
1. There isn’t a day that goes by that the Lord doesn’t ask us to do something for him. Now there are plenty of days that go by where we do not listen and do not do what he asks. It might be because we have not spent enough time with him as we should in order to listen and know what he desires. It might be because we are rebellious and refuse to do what he asks! Yet we see that Jesus’ disciples do what they are asked and “As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’” After all it is their animal. It would be like going to someone’s driveway and taking their car without asking! Basically they asked, “Why are you taking my vehicle?” The owners demand an answer to the disciple’s actions and it is here in the disciple’s response we find a wonderful truth. They simply reply, “The Lord needs it.” The use of the word “Lord” could mean “master” and here the owners would understand that the disciple’s master had need of the colt they were untying. Now under normal circumstances that would not be a sufficient enough excuse for them taking someone else’s property, however, perhaps the owners were aware of Jesus entering their town. We could assume so since word of mouth during Jesus’ day was more than sufficient to spread the news. The disciple’s simple excuse that “The Lord needs it” is enough for the owners to relinquish the animal into their care and for Jesus’ use. Are we willing to give Jesus the care of what we own? Are we willing today to allow Jesus to use whatever we have for his personal use? Luke relates that “They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.” One person’s willingness that day was transformed into the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem! It should teach us today that we find the joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires!
EXAMPLE: What would God ask you do today? I don’t think it’s in binge watching The Walking Dead. Perhaps you need to take some time and ask him? We can find joy in the simplest things if we truly look. Perhaps you can “spread your cloak” on the road you are traveling today for the Lord to walk on by being someone’s comfort, help, or calming influence? Give it a try and know the joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires!
We see the crowds were more than willing to get caught up in the excitement of the moment. Most crowds do that whether it is a concert, political rally, or even Sunday morning worship! But I believe today God desires that we look a new at…
III. The joy of Palm Sunday in worshiping the Messiah! (Vv. 37-40)
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
1. Jesus had a plan and he was following it. Of course those around him should have known it because Jesus often told them that he would have to go to Jerusalem, be betrayed, tried, and killed but like we often do today they had not truly listened to what he told them. Jesus is riding on the back of a donkey colt heading into Jerusalem and “When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’” For weeks the people had heard Jesus was headed for Jerusalem. Was this when he would declare himself as the Messiah? So of course the crowds would be reminded of the prophet’s words: “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. (Zechariah 9:9 NIV)” The people became ecstatic and cried out in their joy, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Now they saw him as their savior, their Messiah, yet in a few days they would turn their backs on him and leave him to die a horrendous death! There are always those who do not see God active in their lives: “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’” As if. “I tell you,” Jesus responds, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Daily all of creation declares the glory of God and today we rediscover the joy of Palm Sunday in worshiping the Messiah!
EXAMPLE: Do you need crowds to praise the Lord? Do you need instruments, a worship band, or the latest in video and audio equipment to be able to praise the Lord? Perhaps you have lost focus on what it truly means to worship God. The Pharisees in the crowd that day could not join in the praise because they we so focused on what they thought the Messiah should be. Are you like the Pharisees? Do you know that God does not need your praise because all of creation praises him already? What he needs is your willingness to be his and when you know this then you will know the joy of Palm Sunday in worshiping the Messiah!
Conclusion:
The joy of Palm Sunday in sharing what we have! The joy of Palm Sunday in doing what Jesus desires! The joy of Palm Sunday in worshipping the Messiah!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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