Sermon on September 22 by Pastor Roland Eskinazi

Scripture:  Mark 11:1-11

It is easy in life to get so close to someone, yet remain so far. The same crowd that cheers Jesus, leaves Him as quickly.

In a power-hungry world…

1. JESUS IS THE ONLY KING WHO MAPS OUT HIS PATH! (v1-6)

• Jesus composes the score, not only plays it
  Before the disciples get to the village, Jesus knows what they will find. He is fully in control.
  God is in the details – He maintains all of life, involves Himself in all events and directs all things where to go.
• Jesus is conscious of His mission, not the masses
  Why the donkey? ‘Rejoice greatly O Daughter of Zion. Shout Daughter of Jerusalem. See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey’ (ZECH 9:9)
  See also GEN. 49:10
  When you see Jesus, what do you see? A fool on a donkey, or God’s anointed prophet and King?
• Embracing Jesus is often tougher than you think
  By the end of the week even the disciple would realize that what they wanted from Jesus was not what they got.
  When you follow Jesus, where does He lead? Sometimes to places where His power will blaze through your weakness

In a hero-crazy world…
2. JESUS IS THE ONLY KING WHO DOES ALL HE SAYS! (v7-11)

• Do we use Jesus for our own ends?
  When faith is no more than excitement and says ‘Hosanna’ without submitting, it is not real faith.
  The crowd was enthusiastic, not for Jesus, but all the miracles they had seen (Luke 19:37)
  Do you confess Jesus by bursts of enthusiasm, or by daily taking up the cross and following Him?
• Are we expecting Jesus in His time?
  Things are not always as they seem.
  The Jesus who came on a donkey, predicted and in time, will come on a warrior-horse right on time (Rev. 19-11)
  Are you focused only on how things are, or how they will be?
  The Jesus who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey is the same Jesus who will come again to make the New Jerusalem all He intends it to be. Are you following Him and ready for Him?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Some scholars say that Jesus arrived ahead of time to arrange for the donkey to be ready. How would that affect the meaning of the text?
2. How does it encourage us to know that Jesus was in full control of the events of Passion week? How does this encourage you as you go through dark or challenging times?
3. What kind of Messiah did the people expect and want? What kind of savior do they want today and what do they want relief from? How does Jesus exceed those expectations?
4. What would Jesus see if He came to our church and looked around?

 

Photo credit FreeImages.com/Charlie Balch