1: Crown to Cross (Palm Sunday)
Rescue (Easter 2023) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 13 viewsWithin one week the status of Jesus changed from crowned to crucified. But far from failure, the unexpected rescue plan to free hostages was completed at the cross.
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Transcript
Iran hostage rescue mission ends in disaster
On April 24, 1980, an ill-fated military operation to rescue the 52 American hostages held in Tehran ends with eight U.S. servicemen dead and no hostages rescued.
With the Iran Hostage Crisis stretching into its sixth month and all diplomatic appeals to the Iranian government ending in failure, President Jimmy Carter ordered the military mission as a last ditch attempt to save the hostages. During the operation, three of eight helicopters failed, crippling the crucial airborne plans. The mission was then canceled at the staging area in Iran, but during the withdrawal one of the retreating helicopters collided with one of six C-130 transport planes, killing eight service members and injuring five. The next day, a somber Jimmy Carter gave a press conference in which he took full responsibility for the tragedy. The hostages were not released for another 270 days.
The mission had failed.
Over the next 2 Sundays we celebrate God’s RESCUE plan - when God sent His champion in to rescue those held hostage by the sin of their souls and the lies of the enemy.
But then Jesus died. And while that plan at first looked as though it had failed, 3 Jewish days later, God’s RESCUE plan proved a success. And within 50 days, during the feast of Pentecost, thousands of hostages were set free.
Jesus is God’s plan to rescue fallen man.
We open this teaching with Jesus making His way into Jerusalem the week before His crucifixion.
And in this short period of time Jesus’ status will quickly change from CROWNED to CRUCIFIED, as He carries out the RESCUE plan.
PRAY
Luke 19:28–31 (NIV)
…He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “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. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”
Luke 19:32-35 (NIV)
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience, adds that this wasn’t a random thought, but that...
Matthew 21:4–5 (NIV)
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet [Zech 9:9] “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
And so, here comes Jesus, riding down the Mount of Olives and into Jerusalem and the people are PUMPED! They had heard of His miracles and they had just left Bethany, where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead! It’s no wonder why many think Jesus is the long awaited Messiah and they are ready to CROWN Him King!
Matthew 21:8–9 (NIV)
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Why would they throw their clothes down for a donkey to walk over them? And what’s the deal with the branches?
The cloak was the outer clothing often used as a blanket at night. Those throwing their cloaks down were following the example of those who did the same when Jehu became king (841–814 BC - 2 Kings 9:13). This is the picture of submitting one’s life to his authority.
John’s gospel tells us these were palm branches they laid before Jesus (Jn 12:13). Almost 200 years before (165 B.C.) when Judas Maccabees and the Jews ran Antiochus Epiphanes IV out of the temple and rededicated it, palms were used in the celebration (1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7) [1], which became an annual celebration known as Hanukkah. So, palm branches had both a religious and political symbology of freedom from oppressors.
Further, the people called out to Jesus: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Hosanna is a Aramaic term that means “save us”, and the Son of David was a phrase that recognized Jesus as the Messiah who was in the family tree of King David.
In fact, both John and Luke note that some in the crowd specifically called Jesus “the King of Israel” (Jn 12:13, Lk 19:38).
This is a recognition that Jesus is the Messiah, asking that God would SAVE (hosanna) through His Messiah. They are ready to CROWN Him King!
But many of the religious leaders are not so thrilled, especially when Jesus shows up the next day, walks into the temple and does something NOBODY was expecting.
Luke 19:45–46 (NIV)
When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Luke 19:47–48 (NIV)
Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
When the Jewish leaders confronted Jesus about what he had done, here’s the strange exchange.
John 2:18–21 (NIV)
The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
And Jesus did more than just teach in the temple.
Matthew 21:14–15 (NIV)
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
This was the course of events throughout that week.
Luke 21:37–38 (NIV)
Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
But what was coming was on the front burner of Jesus’ mind. And around Wednesday of that week...
Matthew 26:1–2 (NIV)
…He said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
But then came Thursday night of Passover.
The Last Supper - that we will remember on Good Friday 5:30pm. It was during that meal that Jesus reveals what is about to happen. Jesus is about to be betrayed…by one of them! And then he breaks the bread and says, “This is my body”. He takes the cup of wine and says, “This is my blood of the new covenant”. WHAT in the world is He talking about!? They don’t know for sure, despite the many times He told them what was coming.
They make their way out to a garden on the Mount of Olives, not far from the walls of Jerusalem. It’s there that Jesus prays fervently and asks them to do the same. Jesus prays, “Father, if there’s another way…let’s do that. But…not my will, but YOUR WILL be done.”
Jesus is arrested and taken to multiple night trials.
Just as He had told His disciples several times previous, and just a few days before all this, Jesus had revealed how this this RESCUE plan would play out.
Matthew 20:17–19 (NIV)
Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
And sure enough, Jesus was condemned to death, mocked, beaten, flogged, and nailed to a Roman cross to be crucified.
WHY? Listen to the language of Isaiah 53 - written 700 years before Jesus went through this suffering.
Isaiah 53:4–6 (NIV)
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:10–11 (NIV)
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Jesus is God’s plan to rescue fallen man.
The cross communicates that: 1 ) Our Sin is Serious and 2) Our God is gracious.
How serious do you sin your sin?
How often do you pause and THANK GOD for being so gracious to you?
TL Renfroe’s Home-going
Yesterday we had the privilege of meeting with the family of TL Renfroe to celebrate his life. Thankfully, just about a week before his passing, I went into his bedroom and talked with TL for the last time on this side of eternity. He expressed his deep confidence in the Lord Jesus, and he talked about looking forward to “going home”.
How could He be so confident? Was it because of his good works? NOPE. It was because of the One who refused to put on the crown before He was put on the cross.
Jesus is God’s plan to rescue fallen man.
And THAT’S why Mr. Renfroe could be CONFIDENT about what awaited Him. Because, of course, Jesus’ death was NOT the end of the story. The rescue plan had NOT FAILED! As we remember the road to the cross, we always remember what lays just beyond the horizon - the RESURRECTED JESUS - who will resurrect US!
Are YOU confident in Jesus? Turn from your sin and TRUST in Him!
As we head into this Easter Season, may we take time to seek the One who came to seek us and die for us!
Feet to Faith
Read the Scriptures. We have listed multiple passages from an online article that will help you read through what occurred each day of that week. [2] Start your day in the Scriptures - pause and remember what Jesus did…for YOU!!!
Remember the Sacrifice of Jesus with Followers of Jesus.
Passion Week Services
Good Friday Gathering
3. Tell Somebody! Brag on Jesus. Share how he is forgiving you and making a difference in your life. Share how they can do Jesus as well.
PRAY
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Gary M. Burge, John, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 341.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/final-days-jesus/#course-introduction
Discussion Questions
Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? (Look back in your notes to help explain your answer.)
Read Matthew 21:8-9 & John 12:13. What were the people expecting from the Messiah and what evidences that many thought Jesus WAS the Messiah? Why wouldn’t Jesus allow the people to crown Him as their king at this time?
Read Luke 19:45-48 & John 2:18-21. Why does Jesus’ cleansing of the temple bring such hatred from the religious leaders & what sign to Jesus say would PROVE His authority to do so?
Read Matthew 21:14-15 & Luke 21:37-38. What does Jesus daily practice to heal and teach in the temple say about his compassion for people and fear/lack of fear toward His enemies?
Read Matthew 20:17-19. Why would Jesus go to Jerusalem if He really knew these things would take place beforehand?
Read Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-11. After considering the claim that Jesus actually died to pay for our sins, what does this say about the seriousness of our sins and the graciousness of God?
PRAY for needs and that we would all be focused on gratitude & obedience this week.