TEACHING NOTES ‌ Introduction Today is Palm Sunday in the western tradition of Christianity. Palm Sunday is meant to remember the day when Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem while the crowds praised Him as King. Palm Sunday is intended to remind us that Jesus is King and worthy of our worship. This day is also meant to refocus our attention on the kingdom of God. So, today we’re starting a four-part series to focus our attention on our King and His kingdom. ‌ Review of Jesus’ Life: ‌- Jesus born in Bethlehem (city of David). ‌- Jesus baptized in the Jordan River. ‌- Jesus tested by satan and wins. ‌- Jesus begins His ministry and preaching. ‌ Matthew 4:17 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ‌ Repent = Grk. metanoeo - turn around, change direction, change of mind. ‌ The kingdom of heaven = Grk. basileia ton ouranon - the rule, reign of heaven. ‌ Is at hand = Grk. engizo - has come near, is here. ‌ In other words… “Repent, because God is taking over (judgment is coming).” ‌ Matthew 4:23 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. ‌ The gospel of the kingdom = Grk. euangelion tes basileias - While the modern gospel is often focused on our need for forgiveness of sin—which is important—this was not the main focus of Jesus’ Gospel. The true Gospel is bigger than God providing a way of forgiveness. The Gospel is about the kingdom of God invading the kingdom of darkness, the world ruled by evil. Jesus preached the Gospel of the kingdom and in the book of Acts the apostles preached the Gospel of the kingdom. ‌ Gospel = Grk. euangelion - This was a common word used in Greek culture. When a king conquered a region, the king would travel to the major cities to declare his reign. Before the king arrived an apostolos (apostle/messenger) would be sent to proclaim the euangelion. This message would describe the identity of the new king, his accomplishments/battles won, and call the people to submit to their new king or face the consequences. This is the context for what we call the Gospel. ‌ Euangelia: ‌- Identity of the King ‌- Accomplishments of the King ‌- Call to submit to the King ‌ Euangelion of King Jesus: ‌- Identity: Jesus is the Son of God-Messiah-King-Savior. ‌- Accomplishments: Jesus has defeated sin, satan, and death. ‌- Call: Repent and submit to King Jesus. ‌ Fast-Forward: ‌- Jesus spends three years teaching and healing. ‌- Jesus gains many disciples who do the same. ‌- Jesus heads for Jerusalem to finish the mission. ‌ Luke 19:29–31 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” ‌ Luke 19:32–35 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ‌ Those who were sent went = Notice that these disciples do what King Jesus says. Being a disciple of Jesus requires that we do what the King says. Christianity without obedience is not Christianity. Being a part of God’s kingdom requires that we obey the King. ‌ Why does Jesus need a colt? Luke does not point out the historical background, but Matthew 21:4–5 tells us, “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.’ ”” Also, this action signaled that Jesus is the King from the line of David. In 1 Kings 1:33, David has his son Solomon (the next king) ride on mule on the way to be anointed as king. Jesus wants to ride into Jerusalem to show that He is the new Davidic King. ‌ Luke 19:36–37 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, ‌ The whole multitude of his disciples = This clearly tells us that Jesus had many more than twelve disciples. In Luke 10:1 we see that Jesus had 72 disciples that He sent out two by two. At the end of Jesus’ ministry here in Luke 19 we find out that there is now a multitude of disciples. ‌ The Mount of Olives = The fact that the Messiah is coming from the Mount of Olives also fulfills Zechariah 14:4 “On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.” Here in Luke 19 we the Messiah on the Mount of Olives coming to Jerusalem and a great division between two crowds of people (the disciples and the Jewish leaders). ‌ They rejoice and praise God = The response of the disciples is worship. Notice that their worship is not quiet. The praised God with rejoicing and “a loud voice” (Grk. megas phone - think megaphone). ‌ OT Connection: This event is strikingly similar to the time when king David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6). In that story David gathered 30,000 of “the chosen men of Israel” (2 Sam. 6:1). The ark of God “is called by the name of the LORD of hosts” (2 Sam. 6:2). David and the multitude are dancing and praising God with shouting (2 Sam. 6:14-15). Someone from the Jewish leadership despised David for his dancing and praise (2 Sam. 6:16). Then David wants to build a house (temple) for God (2 Sam. 7). After Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem, Luke 19:45 tells us that Jesus cleanses the temple. ‌ Mighty works = Grk. dynameon/dynamis - power, divine power. This multitude is praising God because the “mighty works” they had seen Jesus do had convinced them that Jesus is the Messiah-King. Isaiah is filled with prophesies that the Messiah would perform miraculous works (Isa. 26:19; 29:18; 35:5-6; 61:1). ‌ Luke 19:38 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” ‌ OT Quote = The following line is a quote from Psalm 118:26. This is a Psalm of salvation and deliverance from evil. Matthew tells us the multitude was also saying, “Hosanna!” which is the Hebrew word in Psalm 118:25 meaning, “Save us!” ‌ Blessed = Grk. eulogeo - This is where we get our word “eulogy” which means to speak good things about someone. In the modern world, a eulogy is normally read at a person’s funeral. As we know, Jesus is actually heading to His own death. ‌ Is the King = The multitude of disciples have come to know Jesus is the Messiah, which meant that He is the long awaited King. While they did not fully know what kind of King that Jesus intended to be, they were convinced He is King. ‌ Comes in the name of the LORD = The name of God is an important theme in the Old Testament. When God sends the Angel of Yahweh to speak or act on His behalf we’re told that God has put His name in the Angel. The apostles and early church fathers understood this Angel as Christ (God in human form). Therefore, Jesus is the Angel of Yahweh, the Messiah-King, the Son of God who comes “in the name of Yahweh.” Jesus represents Yahweh and acts on His behalf. ‌ Peace in heaven = The writers of the Bible understood the heavens as the abode of spiritual beings, both good and evil. Revelation 12 describes a war breaking out in heaven when the Messiah is being born on earth. That battle ended with the devil and his angels being thrown out of the heavens and down to the earth. The death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus defeated the powers of evil and brought peace. ‌ Glory in the highest = Glory (Grk. doxa) is associated with light, radiance, power, and honor. The phrase “glory is the highest” was also used by a multitude of angels in Luke 2:14, when they appeared to the shepherds the night Jesus was born. The glory of the God of heaven has come down to earth. ‌ Luke 19:39–40 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” ‌ Rebuke your disciples = The Pharisees know what these disciples are saying. This multitude of disciples are not only claiming that Jesus is the Messiah-King, but also claiming that this is a Divine event. If Jesus is being declared King, the Pharisees are afraid a revolt against will break out. If Jesus is being declared Divine, the Pharisees see it as blasphemy—especially if Jesus does not correct them. Notice they call Jesus “Teacher” which indicates that they do not share the multitude’s opinion that Jesus is King. ‌ The stones would cry out = This is a quote from Habakkuk 2:11, which is a passage of woes against those who “gets evil for his house” and “devise shame for your house by cutting off many peoples.” This is exactly what the Jewish leaders had been doing with the temple (the house of God). Jesus is using this passage against them by essentially saying, “the stones of the temple will cry out against you!” ‌ Two Groups ‌1. Jesus is our King! ‌2. Jesus is a cool teacher, but king is too far. ‌ Conclusion ‌Is Jesus really your King? ‌Are you submitting all of your life to King Jesus? ‌