Where were You on Palm Sunday?

Where Are YOU in this picture?

This Teaching is Radio Antioch Podcast Episode 11, available in AUDIO format only. To listen, click the player above.

Today is Palm Sunday. As we study about Palm Sunday, I want to begin with a few thoughts for you. In the next few days in countless churches across America there will be “Passion Plays” – Plays, Dramas and Musicals that depict the last week of Jesus and the events of the Cross. In any drama, there is a setting, a time, and a cast of characters. Many of you are familiar with the cast of characters of the passion play- Jesus, the disciples, the religious leaders, Herod, Pilate, even a thief, and how they relate to the events of that fateful week.

But I would say to you that  this play continues. For the Cross and the resurrection was the central event of Human history….Even from Eden, the prophetic word pointed forward to the cross. And afterwards all mankind finds their destiny in the story of the cross, some into life, and others to condemnation. The passion play is still unfolding even now, as your destiny lies in where you stand with the cross.

If the events of the Passion Week can be a play, then the events of Palm Sunday could be act one, and like the larger play there is a setting and a cast of characters.  The setting we know- Jerusalem, at the gates of the city….But many of the characters we overlook. But I say unto you that this play is still going on today. I have a challenge for you, as we examine the events of Act One of the Passion play, to find yourself within the cast, for some things may change, but other things remain the same. So as I speak to you today, listen with your spirit, as you may find yourself playing one or more parts in this, Act 1 on the Passion play.

Luke 19, 28-34 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?’ tell him, ‘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.”

The first and Central Character of Act 1 is Jesus, who we know from Hebrews 12:2 as  the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. The first place you may see yourself in this play is Jesus, If Jesus lives in your heart, then you are a carrier of the life of God. Col. 1:27 speaks of Christ in You, the hope of Glory that we are revealing to the nations.

The next characters we meet are the two disciples sent ahead. The scriptures don’t tell us which of the two disciples, but I notice one particular trait that they had: They could be trusted with prophetic knowledge and would carry out the instructions, now matter how radical.  Imagine if this happened today: “Go into Antioch, and you will see a white Toyota corolla with the keys in it. If anyone asks, just tell them that Jesus told you to get it for Him and will send it back later” How many of you, if you got a prophesy or had a dream with these instructions, would dare to follow….Most of us would be praying really hard saying” Is that really you Lord?!”

The next cast member we meet is amazing also. This was the man who saw them taking the Donkey, and asked them about it. I am sure when he first heard them say “The Lord needs it and will send it back” his mind said “yeah, Right!” But then in his Spirit he heard the confirmation that this was really of God. How many of us when hearing something that outrageous would be able to hear that still, small voice inside telling us that God really does need our car, or our house, or our money? Would we hold loosely to our possessions, trusting them to the Lord?

John 12:13-16  They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” ”Blessed is the King of Israel!” [14] Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,[15] “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;  see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” [16] At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

So here we have the next two characters. In verse 15 we have quoted a section from the Prophet Zechariah, in about 520 BC:

Zech. 9:9   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.

So here is a man who has just returned to Judea after Cyrus issued the decree allowing the return, uttering a prophesy that will not be fulfilled for 500 years. Some of you have dreams and visions and prophesies….Do you give them faithfully even though you may never understand what all of them mean?

Our next characters are the other disciples, who, when they see God do something they don’t understand, study the scriptures to understand God’s plan.

By riding like this on the Donkey’s Colt, Jesus is publicly proclaiming (to those who would understand) the he is the Messiah.

Of course, you may see yourself in the Donkey….Being the Donkey is hard sometimes. It feels like you carry the entire burden on your back, everybody takes you for granted, and no-one really appreciates you for who you are….You are just the Donkey. But God saw this particular donkey in a surprising way. This donkey had a ministry prophesied 500 years before its birth, was ushered into that ministry by God Himself, and was used in a Kingdom event that has been taught about for two thousand years since. What it did wasn’t anything unusual for a donkey, letting a man ride on its back. Except for one point: The scripture says that no one had ever ridden this colt before. This donkey had not been “Broken” for riding, but was willing to submit to the Lord the first time. And if you see yourself like the donkey in this picture, remember God can use those who are willing!

Luke 19: 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: [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.”

We find both of these characters in churches even today: Some people were there, carrying out religious ritual the same as the year before. But suddenly the presence of the Lord is with them, and they begin to worship with joy and all of their might. Of course there were a few Pharisees there that felt it was their duty to rebuke them for being too exuberant and undignified! Sadly, even today, when someone moves beyond “church as usual” into transforming joy and true worship, there is usually someone there to point out their error and their immaturity, to make sure that they never go there again!

Look at what they were shouting: this is from Psalm 118:26:  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They changed one word, adding King instead of “He”, but  The Jews would sing Psalms 113-118, called the Hallel (Hal el) every Passover season. Some here claimed Jesus as their messiah. But even if it was fresh on their minds- none of them took a clue from only a verse or two away:

Psalm 118:22   The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

It is interesting that there was a warning that the builders would reject Jesus only 4 verses away from the verse the crowd was chanting!

Matthew 21 10-11     When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”  [11] The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Maybe this you. You came here today, and you see all of these excited people, and you are asking “What is This”….It says that the whole city was stirred…Maybe the Holy Spirit is stirring in your heart even now as you listen.

Some of those in this crowd were true worshipers, who had found their messiah. But it is likely that some of those that were in this crowd were also in the crowd later in the week that was yelling “Crucify him!”….Is this you? Do you blow this way and that from week to week, worshiping one week and sending the Lord back to the Cross in your sin the next week? Are you operating in a man-pleasing spirit, to please man and go along with what is popular with the crowd?

Matthew 21 12-14 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. [13] “It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’”  [14] The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

Are you the disciple who makes the church a house of prayer? Or like the money changers are you in church with all the wrong motives and reasons? Does Jesus need to turn over a few tables in your heart to change your thinking or even perhaps bring you to repentance? Some of you are like the Blind and the lame, which came to Jesus to be healed. Maybe you already have been healed of life’s sicknesses and hurt, and remain joyfully in the temple worshiping. Or maybe you are in need of healing even today.

Luke 19:41-48   As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it [42] and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. [43] The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. [44] They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Since Jerusalem Rejected Her messiah, in AD 70 this prophesy was fulfilled and the city destroyed. How many of us miss the hour of the Lord’s visitation in our lives, and will find ourselves in judgment?  Perhaps this is you today. Perhaps the Lord is tugging on your heat, and you are totally oblivious to his calling. Maybe there is a tear in Jesus’ eye as you walk by, as He knows the pains that will inevitably come your way as you walk out your life in rebellion. But Jesus went to that Cross for you, just as He did for the people of Jerusalem long ago. Won’t you listen to Him?

Maybe you are the devoted disciple getting direct instructions from the Lord, being used in important Kingdom business. Maybe you are the one who owns a donkey, or a car, house or other riches, that the Lord is asking you to hold on to loosely, and to trust Him with them. Maybe you are the prophetic person having dreams and visions that are hard to understand and may even be for a future generation. Are you the one who searches the Word to see what God is doing? Or perhaps after playing church all your life suddenly have encountered true worship, joy and the presence of God. Maybe you have a little (or a lot) of Pharisee in you, and often squelch the Spirit of God, looking righteous but not seeing the Messiah in your midst! Or maybe you don’t even know the Lord, and are asking for the first time “Who is this?”   Or do you blow one way and then the other, running with the crowd, more worried about what man would think instead of going after God with all your heart? Are you one of the intercessors, who with your prayers are a key pillar in the church, or are you like the money changer, here with an agenda? Maybe you are like the Blind and lame, and have already been healed, or perhaps you need to press in to Jesus for healing even this day.

Many of you will have identified at least in part with one of these. But like that crowd taking part in the real Act one of the passion play so long ago, the cross and the resurrection and redemption are just ahead. For some of you, the part in Act one of this play that you identify with is an encouragement. If so, Bravo! And be blessed.

Now to the others, you may see yourself playing a part that is not the right one for you, not God’s best for your life. Maybe you have begun well, but have found your part for this play difficult and have become discouraged. Maybe some of you even need to repent. If any of these are you then rejoice! For this is the season of the Cross, the season of redemption. Evan as we celebrate redemption next week on Resurrection Sunday there can be redemption and resurrection in your life today.

I believe that Jesus is saying this day “Come, recognize the hour of your visitation! Do not be like Jerusalem long ago. Do not let the Lord be weeping as you let another opportunity to enter into your destiny go by! Come to Him today and let him meet you and transform you! It is time for many of you to begin to rekindle that first love, to press in to prayer and worship like never before, or maybe to try out for a new part in the Passion play! Let this season be a resurrection of your passion for the Lord, a new springtime of Life as only the Lord can give.

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