Footsteps: Footprints into Jerusalem
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· 9 viewswhat story will your footprints tell?
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Footprints
Footprints
This morning is special, we affectionately call it Palm Sunday. It is the day Jesus went into Jerusalem and began a week that would begin with celebration, end with the darkest moment in history only to explode into the greatest celebration history.
In keeping with the series theme of ‘footsteps’ this morning we are going to look at the footprints that were made throughout this explosive week and the people that made them.
Mount of Olives today just east of Jerusalem
The first set of footprints we see are those of the disciples, those loyal to Jesus.
Mat
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
Mat
Some had been following him for the last three years; they had given up everything for this teacher, left their homes, their businesses, their family in order to follow the one that had called them. They were totally devoted to their teacher and yet they themselves were not perfect; in fact some of the prints they leave are ones running away because of fear.
The first set of footprints we see are those of the disciples, those loyal to Jesus. Some had been following him for the last three years; they had given up everything for this teacher, left their homes, their businesses, their family in order to follow the one that had called them. They were totally devoted to their teacher and yet they themselves were not perfect; in fact some of the prints they leave are ones running away because of fear.
The next set of footprints aren’t foot prints at all but hoof prints.
saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.
The prophet Zachariah told of a very special donkey that would one day carry the king of Israel; : Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” This donkey would make his hoof prints on the palm leaves that were laid before him, humble and yet majestic as a stallion as he carries not just a king but the King of Kings.
The prophet Zachariah told of a very special donkey that would one day carry the king of Israel; : Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” This donkey would make his hoof prints on the palm leaves that were laid before him, humble and yet majestic as a stallion as he carries not just a king but the King of Kings.
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Then we see the footprints of the crowd,
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Mat 21:
they are the ones laying the palm leaves in front of the donkey’s steps. They are searching, seeking a redeemer, a king that will restore them and restore Israel to the nation it once was. Beloved by God and a shining light unto the world. As they make their prints they cry “hosh anna” hosanna which means “please LORD save us” saved from their life of oppression, their live of servitude, their life of being apart from the God they never really knew.
they are the ones laying the palm leaves in front of the donkey’s steps. They are searching, seeking a redeemer, a king that will restore them and restore Israel to the nation it once was. Beloved by God and a shining light unto the world. As they make their prints they cry “hosh anna” hosanna which means “please LORD save us” saved from their life of oppression, their live of servitude, their life of being apart from the God they never really knew.
The next set of footprints are throughout the city.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
They are travelers from all over the nation, faithful men and women who have responded to the command of God to come in the presence of God to celebrate the Passover Feast. They come to the temple of God in order to sacrifice unto their LORD.
Mat
They are travelers from all over the nation, faithful men and women who have responded to the command of God to come in the presence of God to celebrate the Passover Feast. They come to the temple of God in order to sacrifice unto their LORD.
It is there they see the footprints of the religious elite:
Jesus entered the temple courts 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. “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.’”
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.
Those who would represent God to the people. You would think they prints they leave would somehow be holy, after all they are the rabbis, the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Priests. But what do the people see when they look at these men? They see a den of thieves, men who are using the temple of God to steel from the people of God. Their footprints are all over the temple, in the public places standing against a carpenter who is winning the favor and faith of the crowds. The very people they are supposed to have control over. They also have their footprints in the private places of the temple where they plan the arrest and death of this same carpenter that would silence them in public. It is in these private places that the High Priest proclaimed; “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
Those who would represent God to the people. You would think they prints they leave would somehow be holy, after all they are the rabbis, the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Priests. But what do the people see when they look at these men? They see a den of thieves, men who are using the temple of God to steel from the people of God. Their footprints are all over the temple, in the public places standing against a carpenter who is winning the favor and faith of the crowds. The very people they are supposed to have control over. They also have their footprints in the private places of the temple where they plan the arrest and death of this same carpenter that would silence them in public. It is in these private places that the High Priest proclaimed; “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
John 11:
These next set of footprints may be even clearer and easier to see as the impression is deeper, why, because they weigh heavier on the heart of Jesus.
These next set of footprints may be even clearer and easier to see as the impression is deeper, why, because they weigh heavier on the heart of Jesus. These are the footsteps of Judas Iscariot, they were along side Jesus for the last three years. They followed him being a witness to the turning of water into wine, the healing of the blind, deaf and lame. The footprints were there at the feeding of the 5000 and the feeding of the 4000, the footprints saw demons cast out and people restored and they still walked to those private places in the temple to betray his rabbi.
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
These are the footsteps of Judas Iscariot, they were along side Jesus for the last three years. They followed him being a witness to the turning of water into wine, the healing of the blind, deaf and lame. The footprints were there at the feeding of the 5000 and the feeding of the 4000, the footprints saw demons cast out and people restored and they still walked to those private places in the temple to betray his rabbi.
These are the footsteps of Judas Iscariot, they were along side Jesus for the last three years. They followed him being a witness to the turning of water into wine, the healing of the blind, deaf and lame. The footprints were there at the feeding of the 5000 and the feeding of the 4000, the footprints saw demons cast out and people restored and they still walked to those private places in the temple to betray his rabbi.
The next to the last steps we see are those of Jesus Christ; his footprints were all over Jerusalem that week. Teaching, giving warnings to the religious ones who whitewashed tombs, drawing all that would come closer to him to receive him and his offer of salvation. His footprints were deep as they carried the weight of the world, the burden of love for those who would receive him and the pain for those who would never accept him. His heart so heavy that he lamented; “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. [] He knew his steps were leading to…but that is where we will leave following his footprints for today and pick up the trail again on Friday at 6:30pm.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
The last set of footprints are yet to be made, they are yours. Each one of us will leave a set of footprints upon this earth, where will they lead? What story will they tell? Will they be unison with Christ’s steps or will they be going the opposite way? The choice is yours, but let me encourage you that the first set of prints you leave be pointing to Jesus Christ. He is calling you, just as the song said earlier, come as you are… but come.