Christ is Life Podcast

I wonder how many of us would say that when we pray and when we're like really asking the Lord to move in our lives? If we would say that what we're doing is asking him to make our lives better in some way, like if we really look at when we're being honest and really asking the Lord to move and do something in our lives, does it usually revolve around something that he would change to make your life better in some way? I certainly would admit to that being the case for me. A lot of the times, God, these people are mad at me about some decision I made. Please help make them un mad at me, right? Help me with the stress that's going on, or help me with the finances or the struggle that we're in with some of those things. Help me with this physical health issue that I'm dealing with. Help me with my kids and their behavior, or help me with whatever situation one of my family members might be going through, or someone that I love, and my guess is that that would be the way that you often pray as well. There are things going on in our lives and in the lives of people that you love, that we just want to get better, and so we bring them before the Lord and ask him to change those things, to make our lives and their lives better. And listen, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I mean, we see Jesus all throughout the Gospels meeting people's needs. There were people who were in situations where their life wasn't good, and Jesus made their lives better by healing them or doing something for them in some way. And so we certainly recognize that Jesus is at work in meeting needs, and in a lot of ways, chooses to make people's lives better. But today, on Palm Sunday, as we continue this message series, and we look at this pivotal point on Jesus' road to the resurrection, we're going to see that Jesus, in what he does, has something to say about this idea of making our lives better. And so let's dive in, and let's see what he says. The very first thing that we see in John chapter 12, again, starting in verse 12, is that he says, the next day, the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. And so we look at this, and we see he says, the next day. And we go, Well, what day was that you may remember if you were here last week, but if you're jumping in on this thing, or maybe you forgot from last week where we were at but in the section just prior to this, we were reading about how Jesus was invited to a dinner party. He was the guest of honor at a dinner, and at that dinner, Mary, we know, performed one of the most, you know, devoted acts of worship that we see in all of Scripture, she falls at the feet of Jesus, and she she presents this expensive, I mean, really expensive, perfume, and wipes the perfume with her hair. It was like she didn't care. She really didn't care what other people were going to think about what she was doing, what other people would say about what it is that she was doing, and how it would come across. She just falls at the feet of Jesus and she worships Him. Jesus says that what she was doing goes even far beyond just her worshiping Him in that moment. Even says what she's doing is preparing my body for burial, what we know is coming in a week. And so John's picking up now on what happened after that dinner party in the evening the very next day after these events, and on that next day, he says that a great crowd began to gather, and that they began to gather the reason was for the festival. And you go, Well, what festival is that? What are they gathering for? Well, what we know, and we saw this kind of last week, is that they're gathering for the Passover. This was time for where the Jewish people would come to Jerusalem, and they would celebrate the Passover and and and how God had rescued their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. And this was a trek that many of them would make. And so people would begin to gather together. There would be a crowd that started to show up. Now, he says that the crowd was making their way in, and they heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. Now, that is a big deal. That's a big deal that Jesus was on his way into Jerusalem, because the very first week of our series, as we were looking at John, we saw how there was a plot to kill Jesus, that the Sanhedrin met this, this Jerusalem, this Jewish Council, and they decided that they had to do away with Jesus because he was getting too much attention, and there was this plot to kill him. And they even. And commanded people that if you see Jesus, you see him show up in and around Jerusalem, then let us know, because we are going to arrest him. You may also remember that, aside from the dinner that happened, aside from the plot to kill, that even just before that, that Lazarus had been raised from the dead. He had been dead for four days. Jesus shows up on the scene, says, Lazarus come out of the tomb. And Lazarus comes out of the tomb. And so now you've got all these people who are coming in for the Jewish Passover for the festival in Jerusalem, who've heard about Jesus, maybe before, maybe he had done a few of these miracles, and word had gotten around. He was teaching with this authority, but now, now he had raised somebody from the dead. So this was really getting attention. And the thing about that during this time is the hopes and the excitement and the emotions were already running high around the fest over festival and Passover time, because it was a time when they would be thinking about the Messiah, how God had rescued them, and how the Old Testament had prophesied that there was one that would come that would rescue them again from the oppression that was going on. And so with all of these emotions running high, that explains kind of what happens next. Verse 13, John says 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? Emily brought reference to this earlier, and you have them here together, but it says that they took palm branches. Now, what is the significance of these palm branches? Why were they taking palm branches as they went out to meet Jesus? Well, palm branches during this time were basically a symbol of strength and victory. It was something at the time that even the Romans used whenever their Victors would were crowned champions at the athletic games, they would present palm branches to the winners as a symbol of their strength, as a symbol of their power, the victory that they had achieved. But not just that. For the Jewish people, there was significance in that just a couple of centuries prior to this, we can read about Simon the Simon the Maccabee, who drove the Syrians out of Jerusalem. And he was honored after driving them out of Jerusalem by the people waving palm branches to celebrate the victory over the enemies. And so when we see that John is saying here that they took palm branches to go out and meet Jesus, that says a lot about what they were thinking. They were saying that this crowd, or John was saying this crowd, recognized Jesus as someone who could potentially bring victory and overthrow their enemies, the Romans, the oppression that they felt under them. And of course, for this Jewish crowd, that meant the Messiah, the one that was prophesied about, that would come. And that's even why we see them saying what they did here, as Emily referenced a second ago. They're shouting Hosanna, which means save us. And so they're declaring, save us in this moment as they're waving these palm branches to him, and they're quoting this verse right here. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. This is from Psalm 118, 25 in what's known as the Hallel. Part of the Hallel, there were six chapters in Psalms around here that they would quote and recite as they were making a trek into Jerusalem. And they were these prayers of praise and prayer, prayers of Thanksgiving, and it would point them to the Messianic hopes of someone coming one day to rescue them. As a matter of fact, let me even just show you exactly what it does say in Psalm 118, here 25 it says, O, Lord, do save, right? Hosanna, do save? We beseech you, Lord, we beseech you, do send prosperity. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. And so you kind of get an idea of what they're talking about here, what they're what they're thinking, right? That this is send prosperity. Save us, make our lives better. Hosanna, save us from the situation that we're in, the circumstances they're not good. Make our lives better.
They even declare, you may notice here that we read it a second ago, there's something missing. Right notice what he doesn't say. Let me go back to what he says here. At the very end of this, after saying they took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. That's where Psalm 118 stops. But you'll notice here what John tells us, the people were saying this was not originally part of Psalm 118 they added this part onto it. They are declaring Jesus to be the king of Israel. In this moment, right the palm branches, he's our Victor. We're declaring that he is the
king of Israel.
What's interesting is that as the people are declaring this to Jesus, as he's coming in, that Jesus doesn't stop it. Why is that interesting? Because Jesus had put a stop to it before. We're in John chapter 12. If you were to back up to John chapter six, you'd read about the feeding of the 5000 and the people getting excited about the miracle that he did there. And during that time, what we're told is that Jesus knew the people's intention and that they were trying to make him king by force. And so we're told that he withdrew to a mountain by himself. In other words, he put a stop to people declaring that he was the king of Israel, but not here. Why?
Because now it was time.
Now it was time. This was a pivotal point on the road to the resurrection that he wanted to be clear that this is who I am. I am the long awaited Messiah, the king of Israel, and that, of course, even comes out and what we're told next, verse 14 says, Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. As it is written, do not be afraid, daughter Zion, see your King is coming seated on the donkey, sitting on a donkey's seated on a donkey's colt. Now this is important, right here where he says, As it is written. This is a quote from the Old Testament from Zechariah, 99 in other words, this was written before what you're seeing happen before, or before your eyes right now is something that was written about prior to the day that it is happening right now in this moment. This is a fulfillment of Scripture. This was a plan that God had, and he's bringing it into fruition now. So do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. That's just kind of a poetic way of referring to the people of Jerusalem. So Zechariah is saying, Guys, people of Jerusalem, your King, the way you'll recognize your king coming one day is that he'll
be seated on a donkey's colt.
Right, okay. Well, the king's coming. Somebody's coming. How are we gonna know? How do we know? How are we gonna recognize him well, he tells you he's going to come riding in on a donkey. And this was happening again right before their eyes. Now what's interesting as they're waving all these palm branches triumphant victory, and the way they welcomed people back in from victory over their enemies, is that all of the other people that would have ridden in under those situations would have ridden in on a war horse. That was an animal that conquered we rode a war horse to conquer our enemies, and yet we see Jesus riding in on a donkey. No triumphant general would have been riding in on a donkey, just wouldn't have happened, because a donkey was an animal of peace. It wasn't an animal or someone that would conquer through military force. And so the people, the people wanted their messianic king to come in and conquer the Romans, they're waving victory. He's going to make our lives better. Jesus is going to rule and reign through establishing this militaristic and political kingdom. But what we see here is that Jesus was not coming into Jerusalem to conquer by force, as earthly kings would do, but rather by love, grace, mercy and by his own sacrifice for his people. This is what Jesus was coming in to do. He was coming in to establish peace between man and God, and this is far bigger than whatever situations or circumstances that they were in, because we know that sin is a barrier between man and a holy and a perfect God. We're separated from him. We're honestly in a state of hostility Colossians, one tells us that we were enemies of. God with sin in our lives and so. So this is a big deal. Sin is a big deal. And Jesus was coming riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, the animal of peace, to declare, I'm going to bring peace. The Kingdom I'm going to inaugurate in this moment is one of peace, where I am going to sacrifice myself. I'll take the punishment for sin. I'll take the wrath of God pour out against the sins of this world so that you wouldn't have to and if that sin barrier is removed, then he could declare peace between man and God for those who would receive the gift that he purchased for them on the cross by putting their faith and trust in Him and guys, that would mean that they and all people after that would be with him, both now and forever and again. That is far better than any temporary situations and circumstances changing in their lives on that day. And so this is what Jesus was declaring, just through these symbols, and what was happening even in this moment. Now, this, again, was all part of God's plan from the very beginning, even if these people didn't get it. And quite honestly, you know, who else didn't get it, the disciples. And John's even honest about that. I love his honesty. Here he says, At first, this is John talking his disciples, which includes himself, right? His disciples did not understand this. Only after Jesus was glorified, did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. So even the disciples spent three years with Jesus didn't even really know what was going on in this moment. They missed it. But then he's telling us about how after Jesus was glorified, and we know at that point, then the Holy Spirit eventually came and and Jesus even told these guys, you remember John chapter 15, where again in John chapter 12, just a few chapters later, he's having this honest conversation with him, going, guys, when the Holy Spirit comes, things are going to be better. It's actually going to be better for you whenever I'm gone, because I'll be in you and with you forever. And the Holy Spirit's going to teach you all things, and he's gonna help you remember everything that we talked about. And that's what happened once they received the Holy Spirit. Is like, oh, that's what
you were up to during that time. God
doesn't that bring comfort to you in some way?
I mean, they missed it, and they found out after the fact, that Jesus had been at work in it all along, and connected the dots for them and had shown enough grace in their lives to reveal that to them, which tells you and I that even in these moments where we don't recognize what God is up to, that sometimes, as we get further down the road, he through His grace and His love and mercy opens up our eyes
to look back and go, Oh,
that's what you were up to. That's what you had written about in your plans of life and decrees to in your sovereignty make happen through all the ways that you work in this world and in my life. So John was writing after this fact and just going, man, he connected the dots for us, and I'm connecting the dots for you guys as this is happening and all this is going on. This is what had been written about, and it was a fulfillment of prophecy. He goes on and says, Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised Him from the dead. I don't know why it did that looks funny there. It wasn't that way. Whenever I made my slides, also raised Him from the dead. Continued to spread the word many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. And so he is, again, just kind of referring back to this crowd that he referenced at the very beginning, and pointing back to Lazarus, and it was this event. I mean, what a big deal. Again. Three years, he's been doing all these other miracles, all this authoritative tension, capturing everyone's attention here, but he raised a guy from the dead who had been dead for four days, which was significant, because the Jews believed that that's when the Spirit officially left the body, like after four days. I mean, it's you're dead, dead, right? And so if he really raised him after four days, then, I mean, who could this guy be? And so they saw that, and they would tell other people, and then those people will go tell other people, and other people would tell them. And it was like, we've got to go see this guy. Jesus, this is what he's talking about here. And then he finishes up whenever this happens. And all this crowd is getting worked up and recognizing these things by just making sure we understand how much the Pharisees hated what was happening. 19. Verse 19. He says, so the Pharisees said to one another, see this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him. Can you imagine what the scene must have looked like for them to say, Oh my gosh. The whole world has gone after him. The number of people that must have been waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna, and he's the king of Israel and all of those things. Unfortunately, the Pharisees should have recognized this is a fulfillment of Zechariah 99 they should have fallen on their faces and bowed down and worshiped him in this moment, but they were out to kill him because they were trying to maintain the situation and the circumstance of life that they were in, one where they had power and control. So we gotta take care of this guy so that our situations and circumstances, what's made our lives better. Don't get messed up. Of course, as this happens, we start to get pointed all throughout the rest of this, up until Friday, that there's going to continue to be things on this road to the resurrection that lead him to that moment where the Pharisees are going to think they've finally taken care of this guy finally defeated him. But of course, we know that God was at work to triumph through his sacrificial death on the cross over sin and death.
It would look like a defeat, but
it was actually a
triumph and a victory through what he accomplished for all of us through the events of Good Friday. And so that's what we cling to, even today, on Palm Sunday, where we recognize these things and we know what's coming, we recognize that Jesus is our triumphant King, who has won the victory over sin and death and brought peace between man and God, amen, if you put your faith and trust in Him to be your king, then you know he Is your peace. You have peace in him no matter what situations and circumstances are going on. And so that's what I think we we draw out of this. When we look at the events of Palm Sunday, the crowd getting worked up. They're waving these palm branches. Their situations and circumstances aren't good. The Romans are oppressing them. They want the situation to get better, and if Jesus had come in and conquered the Romans, it would have made life more comfortable for them. He could have done that, but
it wouldn't have lasted. It
only made their lives better temporarily.
And so if we see that, he
said no to that, no, I'm not making your lives better in this moment, I am going to allow you to stay in the situation and circumstance under the oppression of the Romans. When I know this is not good on you. I know it hurts. I know it's painful and it's not what you enjoy and like, but I am up to something so much bigger than just changing your situations and circumstances, and that's what kind of the bottom line is for us today, guys, sometimes that continues today, that Jesus is up to something so much bigger than what is going on right in front of our eyes. As a parent, you're praying that your kids behavior will get better, that this rebellious child will finally turn back to the Lord, or turn back to you, when what God is really wanting to do is a work inside of you to show you that even if that doesn't happen, that he's still good, and that he is where the life is found, and you can enjoy peace between you and God, even if that situation and circumstance never changes, that if you are going through some physical ailment and life is not good right now, or someone that you Love and that God's heart breaks for you in that moment, that he may still be up to something even bigger than bringing you healing in that moment. And I think most of us can testify to things like that happening in our lives, or the lives of people that we love, where we get to sometimes see that he was up to something bigger than what he was doing just to meet physical needs. In that moment, you and your marriage are going through just a rocky time, and you are praying that your spouse will change. If you would just change them. It would make my life better. Our marriage would be saved when he's about going even bigger than that and going, you know what? I want to do something in you. I want to change you and help you realize that you're complete in me and that you have everything that you need in me, and you can still love and serve your spouse, even if I don't change him or her. You see how this works and applies even to our lives today, that, yes, sometimes God makes our. Situations and circumstances better, but oftentimes he's up to something so much bigger than just making our lives more comfortable in some way. And so today I want to encourage you, as you take your palm branches with you in a little while, to keep them this week, to put them up somewhere as a visual reminder that you have peace with God, peace in Christ, abundant life in Christ through the triumphant victory that he's achieved to bring you peace through the events of Good Friday. But I'll point you to one other quick thing that I want you to think about when you see that palm branch, and it's found at the very end of our Bible in Revelation, 79 through 10, says, Behold a great multitude, which no one could number of all the nations, tribes, peoples and tongues standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice saying, Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
In other words, what we'll see is that
at the first coming of Jesus, he triumphed through bringing peace between God and man through his sacrificial death on the cross. But he's coming back again, and when he comes back again, he will ultimately triumph over all situations and all circumstances. And as a sign of that victory, there will be palm branches that are waved through what he accomplishes as he comes back, and that, of course, got set in motion through the events of Good Friday and the resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit. So now, when you look at your palm branches throughout the week, you go, man, even if my situations and circumstances don't change while I'm asking God to do it, I have peace.
But there will be a day
when I'm completely removed from the sin and the things it causes in my life, and I'll get to experience his ultimate victory one day, and oh, what a day that will be. Amen.
Well, let's pray
Jesus as we look at the events of Good Friday, I mean Palm Sunday, we recognize that you sacrificially out of the love that you have for us, rode into Jerusalem
that you could have turned
and gone the opposite direction,
because You knew what was coming this week.
You knew the pain and the humiliation, the suffering, and yet you chose to still ride into Jerusalem knowing what was coming.
I can't believe that you love us that much.
We're reminded of these palm branches and the triumphant victory. You remember that you accomplished that victory through your sacrificial death on the cross for our sins. We thank you that we are reconciled to God if we've received your free gift of salvation by putting our faith and trust in you,
and that we have complete forgiveness
and that we have peace no matter what situations or circumstances that we're in, We
thank you that one day
we'll even find relief from those when you come back again, establish ultimate victory over all things. We're grateful for that assurance, and we keep our eyes fixed on you for what we have now and what we know is coming. We give You all the praise, all the glory and all the honor, as we keep our eyes fixed on you, and we declare in this moment,
all we really need is you God,
that if you'll just give us Jesus,
then we have enough. It's in his name that we pray. Amen,