Palm Sunday - Hosanna!

Luke 19:28–42 (NKJV)

28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, manyspread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that makefor your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Today - our question is:

How do we respond to Jesus???

I would make a case that if we are not responding to Jesus - then we are, in fact, responding to Jesus.

IN THIS TRIUMPHANT ENTRY

The response of the disciples:

Luke 19:35 (NKJV)

35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, manyspread their clothes on the road.

• Obedience - Jesus gave them an opportunity to fulfill scripture

  • They didn't understand the significance of the donkey

  • Only in obedience did they realize that they had a part in fulfilling Zechariah 9:9

    • Zechariah 9:9 (NKJV) 9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

• Selflessness - they placed their own clothes for Christ to sit on

  • There is some symbolism here --> 

    • In my life, I get the choice to be selfish or to allow Christ to ride on:

      • My finances

      • My lifestyle

Sometimes as disciples, we get it mixed up:

• We feel like we should be riding the donkey

• We should be affirmed and acknowledged

• "Give me your saddle! I'm on parade!"

  • "I'm blessed and highly favored"

The response of the multitudes:

John 12:17–18 (NKJV)

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.

They were praising him because of what he had done in the life of Lazarus

• The work that Christ does in you, impacts those around you

• When people are resurrected, the praises of the city come alive

Matthew 21:9 (NKJV)

9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

• Hosanna!
  

The response of the pharisees:

Luke 19:39 (NKJV)

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

• Stop! This is out of control!

• Because agendas don't like the moving of the Spirit

The response of Jesus:

Luke 19:40 (NKJV)

40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

• This moment was the transition!

  • Christ had not made much room for public acknowledgement of Him being the Messiah. 

    • This moment - he went public about who he was!

      • Zechariah 9:9 (NKJV) 9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

• He was affirming what they were proclaiming - He WAS the Messiah!

The declaration of the day was this:

• If we are silent - God will raise up someone else to praise him!