Palm Sunday
Readings
Zech. 9:9-12
Phil. 2:5-11
Mark 14:1–15:47 or Mark 15:1-347 or John 12:20-43
Sermon (Listen to the full sermon by clicking play above)
The people thought as Jesus entered Jerusalem that he would mount a revolt and save them from their Roman occupation. But Jesus didn’t come to be the savior of a civilization 2000 years ago, he came to save all people of all times. Jesus coming into Jerusalem that day marked the beginning of some of the most important days since the creation. We see Jesus coming in and the people cheering him, all sure that Jesus will give them what they want. We can all fall into that same misconception that if you follow Jesus your life will get better, you won’t have money problems, you will get along with your wife better….etc. We come to Jesus the same way the people of Jerusalem did that Sunday. We say hosanna, but we don’t always understand why he came. Jesus knew that the week ahead would mean his separation from so many followers, his last supper, his arrest, mock trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection. Jesus knew what the week ahead of him held. He knew the people that praised him today would a week later cry for his Crucifixion.
God the father knew that we were lost in our sins, and that we could not be saved in any other way. He wanted for us to have our place in heaven so much that he was willing to punish his own son to save us. This doesn’t make sense at first to our fallen nature.
Jesus came to give us life. Jesus wants us to focus on him as the giver of and leader of our lives.
Jesus was motivated when he came into Jerusalem, he wasn’t side-tracked by the cheers and the applause. He was focused on the cross for on that cross he would give his life so that we could serve him with our lives.