Palm Sunday: 1,992 Years Later

Calvary Chapel Cherry Creek

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Palm Sunday: 1,992 Years Later

Calvary Chapel Cherry Creek

March 24, 2024 • Pastor Jacob Mayard

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Palm Sunday 1,992 Years Later

INTRO________________

- 1,992 Years ago, a man entered into a city called Jerusalem riding a donkey while

people laid their clothes and palm branches on the ground in front of Him.

- Why does it matter? Because, that same man, claimed to be God and the one of

whom was foretold who would take away the sins of the world, who would reconcile a

lost world to the Creator God.

- Seemingly insignificant was this event to the world. But upon examination, this was

one of the most significant events in all of history and is part of the most pivotal weeks

in all of humanity.

-Why is it so significant and why is it so relevant to us today, right now? Why are we still

talking about it and this man nearly 2,000 years later?

This same man made a statement that we have recorded in Matthew 24:35: “Heaven

and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

John 5:36-39, this man claims to be the one the entirety of scriptures is all about:

“...For the works which the Father has given Me to finish - the very works that I do -

bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me,

has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.

But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not

believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and

these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may

have life.”

If the first claim we discussed has stood the test of time so far, as in, we are still talking

about Him today, then is it not reasonable to consider the validity of the second, that the

scriptures talk about Him and the things He would do? If they align, then would it not

stand to reason that this man who claims to be God is worth trusting? Because if

everything He has spoken is true, proven by the things that this Man did, then we can

trust when He says that those who trust in Him will live forever.

*the Bible talks about faith. But what is faith? I’m learning there are many ways to

answer:

1. Faith is the conduit by which God delivers his grace & salvation.

-Ephesians 2:8-9 “By faith through grace you have been saved, not of works, lest

any man should boast.”

2. Faith is trusting that God is who He says He is & that His Promises (Word) are true.

-Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in

your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

3. Faith is seeking God in His Word that you may know who He is and have a

relationship with Him.

-Jeremiah 29:13 “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me

with all your heart.

*Faith is the assurance of God’s sovereign Hand in your life because of His

unwavering faithfulness in keeping His Word.

He has not failed you or me up to this point, right? We are still breathing, are we not?

He has delivered us through each and every day and night until now. We can be certain

that He will come through for us when we trust in Him, because He has proven that His

Word is true.

Illustration: Barreling through a wave. “Only a surfer knows the feeling”. There’s

nothing quite like it. There’s nothing quite like hitting a homerun.

*There’s nothing quite like realizing that God’s Word is True.

When that happens, we learn His heart for you and for me, and we increase in the

assurance of our Faith.

PART 1___________Matthew 21:1-11

This Jesus fulfilled prophetic scripture (Verse 4):

Zechariah 9:9, writes that Messiah the King would be riding on a donkey, 500 years

before this would happen.

“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.

Psalm 118:25-26, David writes concerning the praises that the people would be

shouting at this event, 1,000 years before it takes place.

“Save now, I pray, O LORD: O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who

comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

Daniel 9:24-26, Daniel writes concerning the precise day that this event will take place.

“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the

transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in

everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore

and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two

weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.

“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;’

*Side note: Daniel treats the rest of verse 26 as separate from the 7 and 62 weeks. It’s

the 70th week, and that is still yet future.

Concerning this prophecy of Messiah the Prince, a man named Sir Robert Anderson, in

his book, “The Coming Prince”, calculates the exact historical timeline that this took

place.

Using a Babylonian Calendar, 69 weeks, or 69 times of 7 equals 483 years. In

Nehemiah 2, we have recorded the decree from King Artaxerxes on March 14, 445 BC

to restore and build Jerusalem. 173,880 days (which is 483 years) from the day is April

6, 32 AD; that is the day Jesus would enter Jerusalem on a Donkey. And that same

week, is the week that Messiah would be cut off for our salvation, the same week Jesus

was crucified to pay for our sins, just as the Word says.

So we have here, 1*how the Messiah would enter, 2*what the people would be saying,

and 3*the exact day that this event would take place. Three prophecies fulfilled

simultaneously in the person of Jesus Christ.

What is the probability of prophecy being fulfilled?

Peter Stoner’s Book, “Science Speaks” contains probabilities concerning scriptures

being fulfilled.

Scholars estimate that there are ~1,817 prophecies in the Bible.

Stoner breaks down the probability for just 8 prophecies fulfilled in the person of Jesus

Christ.

Peter Stoner calculated the probability of just 8 Messianic prophecies being fulfilled in the life of Jesus.

As you read through these prophecies, you will see that all estimates were calculated as conservatively as

possible.

1 The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

The average population of Bethlehem from the time of Micah to the present (1958) divided by the

average population of the earth during the same period = 7,150/2,000,000,000 or 2.8×10^5.

2 A messenger will prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 3:1).

One man in how many, the world over, has had a forerunner (in this case, John the Baptist) to

prepare his way?

Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×10^3.

3 The Messiah will enter Jerusalem as a king riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

One man in how many, who has entered Jerusalem as a ruler, has entered riding on a donkey?

Estimate: 1 in 100 or 1×10^2.

4 The Messiah will be betrayed by a friend and suffer wounds in His hands (Zechariah 13:6).

One man in how many, the world over, has been betrayed by a friend, resulting in wounds in his

hands?

Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×10^3.

5 The Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12).

Of the people who have been betrayed, one in how many has been betrayed for exactly 30 pieces

of silver?

Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×10^3.

6 The betrayal money will be used to purchase a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13).

One man in how many, after receiving a bribe for the betrayal of a friend, has returned the

money, had it refused, and then experienced it being used to buy a potter’s field?

Estimate: 1 in 100,000 or 1×10^5.

7 The Messiah will remain silent while He is afflicted (Isaiah 53:7).

One man in how many, when he is oppressed and afflicted, though innocent, will make no

defense of himself?

Estimate: 1 in 1,000 or 1×10^3.

8 The Messiah will die by having His hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16).

One man in how many, since the time of David, has been crucified?

Estimate: 1 in 10,000 or 1×10^4.

Multiplying all these probabilities together produces a number (rounded off) of 1×10^28. Dividing this

number by an estimate of the number of people who have lived since the time of these prophecies (88

billion) produces a probability of all 8 prophecies being fulfilled accidentally in the life of one person.

That probability is 1in 10^17 or 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. That’s one in one hundred quadrillion!

We have these recorded for us in the scriptures. A man who claimed to be God, a man

named Jesus Christ, who fulfilled these and many many more. All of them in fact.

God is trustworthy. His Word is true. He fulfills the things He says He will do. What’s it

going to take for you to believe?

Read: Judges 6:36-40

Gideon asks of the Lord for a sign. What’s it going to take for you to believe?

PART 2______Mark 11:1-11

There are two main differences I see between Mark and Matthew:

1. The conversation that the disciples have with the owner of the Colt.

Why is that worth pointing out? And why is it that Mark includes it?

Primarily because Jesus had said beforehand that it would happen. Matthew doesn’t let

us know that what Jesus said would happen actually took place. They just found the

donkey and brought it back. But Mark lets us know that there was indeed someone who

stopped them from taking the donkey.

What else happened? They answered just as the Lord had commanded, “the Lord has

need of it.” And the response? They let them go.

*The disciples put His Word to the test. “Just as He commanded”.

*They found His word True because they did exactly what He said.

So often we don’t naturally trust people. As humans, we definitely understand the fallen

nature of people and so tend to just not trust others. It’s risky. And as time has proven

for many of you, when you trust people, sometimes you get burned.

But at some point, you stepped out in faith and trusted someone with whatever it is.

And then they came through for you.

You assumed noble intent and let go. And now you find them trustworthy.

Malachi 3:8-10

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say ‘In what way have we

robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed

Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be

food in My house, and try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open

for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be

room enough to receive it.”

God desires that we put what He says to the test. Find out if His Word is true!

Similarly, God puts you and I to the test to see if what we say is true. To see if what we

say aligns with our hearts, with what we do.

Actions speak louder than words, but the pen is mightier than the sword??? HA!

God tests us in a way that draws out our faith.

Conclusion__________Luke 19:28-40 and John:12-19

Differences in Luke:

1. “Laid their clothes” * no mention of branches

2. Descent from the Mount of Olives” * Same place Jesus will descend to at His second

coming (Zech 14:4, Rev 19)

3. “Stones would immediately cry out”

4. Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem - related to Mark’s account with the branches not

bearing fruit?

Differences in John:

1. Palm branches, why we call it “Palm Sunday”

2. More than just His disciples, it’s great multitudes

3. John 12:16

“His disciples did not understand these things at first: but when Jesus was glorified, then

they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done

these things to Him”

Even if you don’t understand what God is doing in your life right now, remember all of

the times you have seen Him come through for you.

Faith is not being able to know what’s ahead; faith is being able to look back at

God’s faithfulness and then stepping into confidence that He’ll come through

again.

Conclusion__________

*God makes a promise to us in Romans 8:31-39.

He proved to us His love for us and there’s nothing that can separate us from

that.

John 14:29-31, “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to

pass, you may believe...

We have assurance of faith. What’s it going to take for you to believe?

Reverence for God

April 10, 2024 • Pastor Brian Muhlhauser

Share the Gospel

April 7, 2024 • Jim Carrick

Easter 2024

March 31, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes • 1 Peter 1:3–5

I cannot comment on the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not an ounce better, than Peter. Peter commenting on the resurrection of Jesus Christ says this in 1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” The cross of Christ was the payment for the sins of the world, proving the humanity of Jesus as He yielded to death, and yet the resurrection of Christ was the proof of eternal life, proving the deity of Jesus as He set death aside and walked out of His own grave. And now through that, simply by receiving that personally, for yourself, Peter says through that comes the abundant mercy of God, living hope, inheritance incorruptible and undefiled not based on my performance or perfection but based on the performance and perfection of Jesus Christ through the resurrection! I want to give you two things today. One is silly, quick, but powerfully applicable. The other is I’d like to talk through the authenticity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Really for edification purposes. For education purposes. Not to prove anything… Not to prove the objective fact of the resurrection. I don’t need to prove that. Anyone who would reject Jesus has the burden of disproving the resurrection, which we will see today is a heavy lift. But I was thinking about this, what would I say if someone asked me to prove that Jesus is alive. I wouldn’t crack books or pull from my rolodex of Biblical knowledge (my holy-dex, HA), my simple answer would be, I know Him and He has done something in and with me that nothing, no one, I could have never done for myself. He has given me everlasting and eternal life… So, this is not for proof. Proof is simple. It’s obvious. It’s plentiful. This is to encourage you and bless you as we focus today on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nine things to consider that solidify the authenticity of the resurrection… Things to consider about the resurrection that perhaps you haven’t before but are encouraging… First, the early accounts. The four Gospels, which all detail the resurrection of Jesus, were all written within just a few decades of the event. Most of Paul’s letters were written prior to 60 A.D. Additionally, Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, the appearances of Jesus to individuals and groups; this creed can be traced all the way back to within a few years of the resurrection itself. The sources for Jesus are remarkably early, especially in comparison to sources for other ancient historical figures. For example, consider Alexander the Great, one of the greatest leaders and military minds in ancient history. The earliest sources for Alexander are nearly 300 years after his life; the best sources (Arrian and Plutarch) are even later (400+ years after his life), yet they are readily considered trustworthy. With Jesus, we have sources within 10 years of his life, and a number of other sources within 20-70 years. Second, eye witness accounts. According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, over 500 people saw Jesus alive, in addition to Peter, James, Paul, Mary, and the rest of the disciples. At the time Paul reported these events around 55 A.D., many of the individuals Jesus appeared to were still alive and could be interviewed. In addition to the people who saw Jesus alive after his crucifixion, eyewitness testimony is foundational for the New Testament as a whole, with every book either being written by an eyewitness or by someone under the direction of an eyewitness. One of the greatest examples of this is 2 Peter 1:16, which reads, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” Peter wasn’t just reporting news that he heard, but rather something he saw with his own eyes. Third, chalupas! I mean they are so GOOD God must be the truth! HA! Just kidding! Third, extra-biblical accounts. The events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus are mentioned by numerous individuals (Christians and non-Christians) from outside the New Testament. For example, the crucifixion of Jesus and the disciples experiences with the risen Jesus are referenced by more than ten ancient sources including Tacitus, Josephus, Mara-Bar-Serapion, Lucian, Talmud, Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Barnabas, and Justin Martyr). Fourth, embarrassing details. When dealing with historical events, one piece of evidence that lends credibility to an account’s authenticity is the inclusion of embarrassing details. All four Gospels mention that several women were the first to find the tomb empty, which makes them the primary eyewitnesses. This is significant because in first century Jewish and Roman cultures, the testimony of women was frequently regarded as untrustworthy. If the writers of the Gospels were making up a story that they wanted people to believe, they would have stated that men were the first to find the tomb empty. Fifth, enemy attestation. Even Jesus’ enemies didn’t deny that the tomb was empty. They had an alternative explanation for how the tomb became empty (the disciples stole Jesus’ body), but they acknowledged that the tomb was empty nonetheless. Enemy attestation is a powerful form of testimony that involves an enemy stating something in favor of the opposing view. Enemies have nothing to gain when they do this. In the case of Jesus, the enemies of Jesus certainly didn’t have anything to gain by reporting that the tomb was empty – but they did so anyway. Sixth, the empty tomb itself. There are a number of reasons to believe that the tomb was empty one of which involves its location in Jerusalem. The Romans, Jews, and Christians knew where Jesus was buried; the location of his tomb was no secret. When news began spreading in Jerusalem that Jesus had risen from the dead, the Romans and/or Jews could have simply removed the body of Jesus from the tomb and displayed it in order to shatter the “hoax.” However, Jesus’ body was never produced; if it was we would have certainly heard about it from the critics of Christianity. Seventh, the emergence of the early church. No historian would deny that thousands of people began following the life and teachings of Jesus in the first century shortly after the resurrection. Acts 2:41 which takes place almost immediately after the resurrection reads, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” This number continued to grow rapidly throughout the remainder of the first century as we read in Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” On top of that, there are several extra-biblical accounts to verify the emergence of the early church including Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Trajan, and Suetonius. How can the sudden emergence and numerical explosion of Christianity be explained apart from the resurrection of Jesus? Eighth, thousands of years of entirely changed lives. Prior to Jesus’ death, and for three days while he was in the grave, the disciples were skeptical and afraid. However, after Jesus’ resurrection, the lives of the disciples were entirely different; all of them were persecuted and many were martyred as a result of their belief in the risen Christ. James (the brother of Jesus) and the apostle Paul experienced radical conversions as well. Like the disciples, James and Paul also subjected themselves to persecution and martyrdom because Jesus had risen from the dead. Skeptics may comment that the transformation of these individuals (the disciples, James, and Paul) is insignificant, since it is normal for people to convert from one set of beliefs to another. However, the cause of these conversions is different. People usually convert to a particular religion because they hear the message of that religion from a secondary source and believe the message. The reason for the transformations of the disciples, James, and Paul is quite different; they are the result of what they actually saw with their own eyes: the risen Jesus. Finally, ninth, impossibly fulfilled prophecy. On numerous occasions throughout his ministry, Jesus predicted that he would die and rise again. In fact, Jesus predicted these events so frequently that his predictions actually became common knowledge. It’s one thing to make a prediction; it’s another thing to predict something that actually happens. Jesus’ fulfilled predictions regarding his own death and resurrection demand that he really is the Son of God and risen Lord. Ok, pretty cool stuff. Informative, educational, encouraging…, and I’d like to leave you with something quick and simple but hopeful and helpful. Many people say on Easter Week or Holy Week, “A lot can happen in three days.” What’s meant by that is on Friday, Jesus was being destroyed. Literally. He would die on the cross, a criminal’s death, not for His own sins but for the sin of the world. Rejected and suffering…, and…, three days later He would rise again, just like He predicted, never to face death or sin again but resurrecting in triumph over them both. Over the span of three days…, that is a HUGE change… So, I introduce to you and give you and give even to myself what I am calling “The Three Day Play.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 says, that we are taken advantage of when we are ignorant of Satan’s devices, his playbook…, so here’s a trick play to run against him in your own life. Remember the resurrection. Something is happening, going wrong…, perhaps has been going wrong for years…, for three days, press into the Lord…. I don’t know what that looks like for you. Probably for everyone its going to look differently… But before you panic, react, lose hope, make things a ton worse, remember The Three Day Play…, a lot can happen in three days. In three days, Jesus changed complete death into everlasting life. Pray hard for three days. Spend time in the word. Call your friends and have all of them pray for you for three days…, seek the Lord with your whole heart and see how much can change in such a short amount of time through honest and humble and ferocious faith… I look back on the major plays the enemy has ran against me in my past…, and man, if I had run the three-day play, things could have been so vastly different. Even circumstances and consequences that I am still living within today from hardships years ago… So, God bless you, God strengthen you in the authenticity and hope of the resurrection, and may the Lord lead you through your series of three-day plays going forward. A lot can happen in three days…