Saturday morning I had a very vivid dream. In my dream I was in a hotel lobby area of a building I did not recognize. I do not believe I had ever been at this place before. I was talking to one of the people in the lobby area and having a nice conversation. We were not discussing anything very significant. I was just being friendly. My father comes into the room and I introduce him to the man I was speaking with. It was then I notice that this man is wearing a uniform of some kind to indicate he is law enforcement. I am not sure if he is police, sheriff, military. As my father and him are talking I hear him began to tell my father about how his mother sacrificed so much for him to be where he is today. In an almost rude manner, my father interrupts him mid-sentence and ask this question: But did she sacrifice herself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ…….and then I woke up.
Last night I was reading Luke’s gospel of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. There are some things that take place immediately before and after the triumphal entry of Christ that the Lord showed me this morning in the early hours that I want to share with you today as we celebrate Palm Sunday.
Turn with me in your bibles to Luke 19:
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
*** I want to pause here and share Luke’s reporting and behind the scene commentary. Luke says here that Jesus added this parable for two reasons:
- They were close to getting to Jerusalem
- They thought the Jesus was going to immediately setup the Kingdom of God, push out the Roman Government and become King.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
*** My friends I have to admit that for my entire life I have only associated this parable of the talents with the servants. I have never before seen the part of the story about the citizens.
Go back and look at verse 14. The citizens of the kingdom that the King was coming to receive said….We will not have this man reign over us:
Psalm 2
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Philippians 2:10-11
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
***The 1st point of the Message today: The only thing that matters is the Lordship if Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
***Was it important that the servants wisely used the talents the king gave them in the parable? Yes.
****Were they rewarded for doing the best they could with the king’s talents they had been given? Yes.
***But what about the citizens of the kingdom? They were not given talents. They were given a choice of being a citizen or a enemy. Jesus says in verse #27 they are his enemy because they did not make him their Lord.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
*** Do you see what the punishment is for being and enemy of the king, death.
***The 1st point of the Message today: The only thing that matters is the Lordship if Jesus Christ.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
***Look at verse 28 again. This was Jesus introduction and context for what he is about to do as his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
Let’s Go over to Matthew’s account of what took place:
Matthew 21
1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Zechariah 9:9
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
***I want you to see in Zachariah’s prophecy it appears that there are two animals included: the adult donkey and the baby donkey.
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
*** I want to take you back to Luke 19:11 again for a moment:
Luke 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
*** I want to pause here and share Luke’s reporting and behind the scene commentary. Luke says here that Jesus added this parable for two reasons:
- They were close to getting to Jerusalem
- They thought the Jesus was going to immediately setup the Kingdom of God, push out the Roman Government and become King.
***The 2nd point of the Message today: The motivation for your praise identifies you as a fan or a follower, citizen or enemy.
The people thought to themselves. He is doing it. It is happening. He is going to be king now. The bible tells us it was a multitude, they were cheering him on. They were putting their coats on the ground. They were cutting down palm branches. They were proclaiming Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest……..But what was the motivation for their praise:
Luke 19:11 because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Less than one week later there is another multitude gathered in the City. They are crying and they are shouting:
Luke 23:20-23
20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
*** I often wonder how many of the same people were in both multitudes…
****It is at this point in the Story that we pivot to see Jesus in action in the Temple. As I was waking up today the Lord showed me a unique perspective of the people in the Temple I want to share with you.
***Remember the two key points of the message so far this morning:
***The 1st point of the Message today: The only thing that matters is the Lordship if Jesus Christ.
***The 2nd point of the Message today: The motivation for your praise identifies you as a fan or a follower, citizen or enemy.
In Luke 18:7-8 Jesus asked a question about what he will find when he comes:
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Go back to Matthew 21:12
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
***Here is what the Lord showed me this morning, Jesus comes into the temple of the Lord. He comes into the building that is the place of worship, the place that holds the ark of God behind the veil. No doubt Jesus remembers coming here as a young boy when he sat and astounded the leaders discussing the scriptures. He had come before bringing a sin offering, celebrating feast of tabernacles.
He was here before at the end of his 40 days of fasting when satan brought him to the top of the temple and said, Jump! He has been here before teaching in the courts but today he enters with a righteous zeal. In John Chapter 2:17 the Disciples recount the event and the Psalm of David Psalm 69:9
Psalm 69:9
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
***Jesus enters the House of God. The place of communion and holiness and he encounters business people, cash registers and people making a living supporting the religious machine.
***My friends it breaks my heart to say it but if Jesus showed up at many of the modern Christian mega churches this morning he would be greeted by a similar religious business infrastructure.
Jesus said: My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
***Point #3 of the Message this morning: Our relationship with the Lord should be based on prayer and communion, and not religious transactions
I want you to understand something this morning. The people selling the animals for sacrifice were providing a convenience service to those coming to the temple to sacrifice. You see God intended for the lamb or goat, or turtle dove that was brought to sacrifice to have been cared for by the family. That there was a connection to children or grandchildren. It was to be without and blemish and it was to be clean which means that it could not have been out with all the other animals in the fields. It was likely cared for like a pet at home.
The religious organization had built a market for convenience that replaced communion with compliance.
***Point #4 of the Message today: God is never pleased with convenient compliance as a replacement for compassionate communion.
Jesus said: My house shall be called the house of prayer
Matthew 21:14
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
John 11:47-50
King James Version
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
***Point #5: Your passion and praise for God is more important than your position and your power in ministry.
Jesus was in the temple receiving praise and worship from the common people while the religious leaders where concerned about their positions and power. Look at John 11 verse 48 again. They said we are going to loose control. Listen my friends when Jesus shows up, revival comes and you only need to praise and worship. Stop worrying about your position and power. Give it to Jesus.
***In Closing go back to Matthew 21
Jesus is confronted with great resistance from the religious leaders:
23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
***The 1st point of the Message today: The only thing that matters is the Lordship if Jesus Christ.
***The 2nd point of the Message today: The motivation for your praise identifies you as a fan or a follower, citizen or enemy.
***Point #3 of the Message this morning: Our relationship with the Lord should be based on prayer and communion, and not religious transactions
***Point #4 of the Message today: God is never pleased with convenient compliance as a replacement for compassionate communion.
***Point #5: Your passion and praise for God is more important than your position and your power in ministry.