The Triumphal Entry
April 1, 2007 • Don Willeman • Matthew 21:1–11
Your King is Coming
March 24, 2024 • Noah Crane • John 12:12–19
QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “When Christ entered into Jerusalem the people spread garments in the way: when He enters into our hearts, we pull off our own righteousness, and not only lay it under Christ’s feet but even trample upon it ourselves.” ~Augustus Toplady 18th Century British Minister and Hymn Writer “We are often like the worshippers on Palm Sunday: eager for the party, not quite ready for the cross.” ~Kevin DeYoung American Pastor and Author “‘Hosanna in the highest!’ that ancient song we sing, for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King. O may we ever praise Him, with heart and life and voice, and in His blissful presence eternally rejoice.” ~“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” by Jeannette Threlfall “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” ~Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” ~Psalm 118:25-26 (ESV) SERMON PASSAGE John 12:12-19 (ESV) 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
The Arrival of the King
April 5, 2020 • Don Willeman • Matthew 20:29—21:11
REFLECTION QUOTES “Jesus had the guilty in mind when He hung high and stretched out wide…. He, bare-bodied and face set on joy, became as a slaughtered lamb underneath the wrath of God… Didn’t He know that wrath was mine? It even had my name on it. But He knew… Without asking my permission, a good God had come to my rescue.” ~Jackie Hill Perry, writer, poet and hip-hop artist “To encounter Christ is to touch reality and experience transcendence. He gives us a sense of self-worth or personal significance, because He assures us of God’s love for us. He sets us free from guilt because He died for us and from paralyzing fear because He reigns.” ~ John Stott (1921-2011), Anglican priest, theologian and author “Providence is like a curious piece of tapestry made of a thousand shreds, which, single, appear useless, but put together, they represent a beautiful history to the eye.” ~ John Flavel (1627-1691), English minister and author “We are what we love. And love takes practice.” “My loves are the product of ritual formation.” ~James K.A. Smith, Canadian-American philosopher “Many people visualize a God who sits comfortably on a distant throne, remote, aloof, uninterested, and indifferent to the needs of mortals, until, it may be, they can badger him into taking action on their behalf. Such a view is wholly false. The Bible reveals a God who, long before it even occurs to man to turn to him, while man is still lost in darkness and sunk in sin, takes the initiative, rises from his throne, lays aside his glory, and stoops to seek until he finds him.” ~John R.W. Stott (1921-2011), Anglican priest, theologian and author SERMON OUTLINE: Jesus is a KING Jesus is a king who COMES TO YOU Jesus is a king who comes to us gently (CARES) Jesus is a king who comes to save (CONQUERS) SERMON PASSAGE Matthew 20:29-21:11 (ESV) Matthew 20 29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. Matthew 21 1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Great Expectations
March 25, 2018 • Drew Matter • Luke 19:28–40, Luke 23:20–25
REFLECTION QUOTES “In a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong.” ~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations “A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken-hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires. Their hope is a humble hope; and their joy, even when it is unspeakable and full of glory, is a humble broken-hearted joy, and leaves the Christian more poor in spirit, and more like a little child, and more disposed to a universal lowliness of behaviour.” ~Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections Pippin: “Is there any hope, Gandalf, for Frodo and Sam?” Gandalf: “There never was much hope. Just a fool’s hope.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King “Discipleship means following the man on the donkey all the way.” ~Rev. Donald English, United Methodist Minister SERMON PASSAGE Luke 19:28-40, Luke 23:20-25 (NIV) Luke 19 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “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. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 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: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 23 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.