Havasu Christian Church
April 13, 2025
“Palm Sunday in the park.”
“Jerusalem and Jesus”
INTRO: Palm Sunday…. The day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey. By doing so, He made the statement, “I am the Messiah!”
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
This is the prophecy of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem that we most often think of, especially this time of year. But it wasn’t the only time, and it was actually one of many….
(I) Jesus’ first trip to Jerusalem was not as our Redeemer, but as One Who was being redeemed.
a. Mary & Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem when He was just 8 days old.
Luke 2:21–24 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”
b. The redeemer of the world needed to be redeemed!
i. Redeem = buy back.
1. The Jewish law provided for the tribe of Aaron with the Tithe, but also with offerings.
a. All first born animals belonged to God and were, with exceptions, to be sacrificed.
i. The meat from that animal was shared by those who brought it and by the priest who performed the sacrifice.
ii. This was to show that what you had truly belonged to God.
2. If your firstborn was a son, he belonged to God as well, and had to be redeemed.
(II) The second trip we see recorded that Jesus made to Jerusalem was as a worshipper and learner.
Luke 2:41–52 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;
43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,
44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.
46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.”
49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.
51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
a. Jesus’ family went to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Passover.
i. This was a time of worship and learning.
1. Worshipping God, Who led His people out of bondage.
2. Learning about HOW God led His people out of bondage.
b. The trip they made when Jesus was 12 saw Jesus as a learner.
i. I’ve heard people in the past say that Jesus was “teaching the teachers.” But that’s not what Scripture says.
1. He was listening, and asking questions.
2. Apparently, He was also being quizzed.
a. People were amazed by His answers!
ii. Isn’t it ironic that Jesus is most likely learning from some of the very people who would incite the crowd to have Him crucified?
c. Mary & Joseph “lose” Jesus!
i. They are walking back toward home with a crowd…
1. When they make camp; no Jesus.
2. When supper’s ready; No Jesus!
3. They search in the traveling group… NO JESUS!
ii. I’m sure the return trip to Jerusalem was made much quicker!
1. They search for 3 days.
2. I can’t help but ask… “Where were the responsible adults in the temple?
a. WHY didn’t they ask Jesus where His family was?
b. Did anyone give Him a place to sleep?
c. Did anyone give Him something to eat?
d. Even at the age of 12, Jesus understands WHO He is!
i. “Where else would I be? I’m doing my Father’s business.”
1. He wasn’t building chairs or tables.
2. He wasn’t handing out Joseph’s business cards.
3. He was Learning about His Heavenly Father.
(III) During His earthly Ministry, Jesus enters Jerusalem as a teacher.
John 7:14–19 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?”
16 So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.
18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
19 “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”
a. Jesus’ teaching leaves people who hear Him, astonished!
i. “He didn’t go to the “right” schools!
1. Jesus had been taught in the synagogue, but not in the “proper” schools, where the Pharisees taught you to be a Pharisee!
b. Jesus is teaching what God, through the Holy Spirit, has given Him to say!
i. “If you don’t recognize my teaching as being from God, you are someone who does the will of God.”
ii. Those who speak their own ideas are just looking for people to recognize them as “someone.”
iii. Jesus, however, is seeking the “Glory of God.”
1. He is telling the truth, and His life bears out His testimony.
a. “There is no unrighteousness in Him.”
(IV) Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time in His earthly Ministry, as a KING!
Let’s read about the event that Zechariah prophesied!
Luke 19:28–40 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.
31 “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They said, “The Lord has need of it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.
37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,
38 shouting:
“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 Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
a. First, there is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the colt. (We already read Zechariah 9:9)
i. This is a “multiple Miracle!”
1. Jesus KNEW exactly where and how the disciples would find the colt.
2. He also KNEW the owners would willingly allow Him to borrow the animal.
3. The colt had not yet been broken to ride, yet it placidly lets Jesus get up on his back and ride into the noisy, crowded, city.
b. Jesus enters Jerusalem publicly, and fearlessly!
i. He knows the religious leaders are plotting to kill him.
ii. His disciples know this too, and they came anyway.
John 11:16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
1. They were brave, until the overwhelming group came and seized Jesus in the Garden.
iii. Jesus even goes so far as to clear the temple of the moneychangers and the people selling animals.
1. Jesus KNOWS these actions will lead to His death, but He does what is right anyway!
2. COURAGE!
(V) There is one more time that Jesus will enter Jerusalem!
a. He will enter as a conquering KING!
Revelation 19:11–16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
i. He will return to claim the throne that is rightfully His!
1. HE WILL NOT BE REJECTED AGAIN!
ii. He will return as the Lion of Judah.
1. Not as the sacrificial lamb!
iii. Instead of a donkey and some dusty followers,
1. He will return on a white horse, with an army following!
iv. He left as the resurrected sacrifice that had been killed!
1. He returns as “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!”
That’s all encouraging and a nice history lesson, but how do I apply all this to MY life?
· Jesus’ first trip to Jerusalem, He went to be redeemed.
o We need Him as our Redeemer!
· Jesus went to Jerusalem as a Worshipper and Learner.
o We need to be lifelong Worshippers of the Lord our God.
o We need to be lifelong Learners of what the Lord wants us to know, and to do!
· Jesus entered Jerusalem as a Teacher!
o If all you do is learn but never share, you’re like a bucket of cold, clear water that no one is allowed to drink!
§ You are a waste of God’s space and resources if you don’t Share what you’ve learned!
2 Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
· Jesus entered Jerusalem publicly and fearlessly!
o We need to serve Him the same way.
§ No “undercover Christians!”
· We need to live our lives in the knowledge that JESUS IS COMING BACK!
o Maybe not today…. But maybe it WILL be today!
§ Serve the Lord as though tomorrow doesn’t matter… Because it really doesn’t!
· God has your future in the palm of His hand! No worries!
