Introduction:
In
1993, there was a news report on T.V. about a "Messiah sighting" in
the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. Many of the Lubavitcher
Hasidic Jews who live in Crown Heights believed the Messiah lived among them in
the person of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson. Word of the Rabbi's public appearance
spread like wildfire. Lubavitchers in their black coats and curly sidelocks ran
toward the synagogue where the Rabbi customarily prayed.
They jammed by the hundreds into a central hall,
elbowing each other and even climbing the pillars to create more room. The hall
filled with an air of anticipation and frenzy. The Rabbi was 91 years old. He
had suffered a stroke the year before and had not been able to speak since.
When the curtain finally pulled back, the crowds saw a
frail older man with a long beard who could do little but wave, tilt his head,
and move his eyebrows. No one seemed to mind, though. "Long live our
master, our teacher, and our rabbi, King, Messiah, forever and ever!"
They sang in unison until the Rabbi made a small
gesture with his hand and the curtain closed. They departed, savoring the
moment, in a state of ecstasy. In 1994 as their Rabbi lay dying in New York's
Beth Israel Hospital, many signed petitions to God to permit their Rabbi to
rise from his deathbed and lead them to the Promised Land, initiating the
messianic age.
Rabbi Schneerson died on 12 June 1994. It seemed as though
the prophecy had failed, yet many Lubavitchers are awaiting his bodily
resurrection.[1]
I wonder, would they ever find the true Messiah? Would they even recognize and
believe Him if He showed up among them today?
On Redemption road, we will notice how people in a mountain
town responded over 2000 years ago when they saw the ancient prophecies had
unfolded right in front of their eyes. Let us find out what happens WHEN THE
MESSIAH COMES TO TOWN. John 12:12-19.
Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of the Passion
week as known in the Church Calendar. It is good for us to pause, remember and
meditate on the events that unfolded from this point on leading up to Easter.
After receiving Mary's extravagant acts of love and devotion, Jesus now headed
to Jerusalem, which was two miles away from Bethany.
The Holy Spirit prompted Jesus' disciples, Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John, to highlight this important event. (Mt 21:1-11, Mk
11:1-10, Lk 19:29-38, Jn 12:12-19). Reading them will give us the big picture.
I chose the passage from John for his unique approach to the Gospel.
John 20:31, "But these are written so that you
may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by
believing in him you will have life by the power of his name." By the end
of our study, all those listening may believe that Jesus truly is the Messiah.
I.
THE ROYAL ENTRY.
Vs.
12-13, On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard
that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees
and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!" In the ancient
Near East, the palm branch symbolizes victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life.[2] They were also tokens of
joy used during festivals (Neh 8:15).
Early Christians
saw palm branches as a symbol of victory of the faithful over enemies of the
soul.[3] John foresees this
ultimate triumph of the faithful in heaven. Rev 7:9, "After this I saw a vast
crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language,
standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.
They were clothed in white robes and
held palm branches in their hands." As we hold the palm branches in our
hands and wave, let us declare victory over sin in our lives. Let's celebrate
the triumphant gift of salvation of our souls.
The crowds shouted, "Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!"
The term Hosanna in Hebrew means "give salvation now." A word of
acclamation or praise occurring in Psalm 118:25, "Please, LORD, please
save us."
Every Jew was familiar with that
Psalm since it was recited in festivals, especially during the Passover. After
shouting of the Hosanna, the crowds shouted, Ps 118:26, "Blessed is
he who comes in the name of the Lord!" The context of Psalm 118 may have
been the pronouncement of blessing on a Messianic leader. The hopes of
redemption heightened during the Passover.
Only John adds these words, "Blessed
is the king of Israel," reflecting his interest in Jesus' royalty which he
brings out throughout the passion narrative. The King of Israel suggests the hope
that Jesus may be the Messiah. Verses 14-15 qualify the character of his
kingship.
II.
WHEN THE MESSIAH COMES TO TOWN
Vs. 14-15, "Jesus found a
young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: "Don't be
afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey's
colt." This section marks the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
during the Passover.
On Passover day, the lambs were
being sacrificed. As the scriptures suggested on this day in 1 Cor 5:7, "Christ,
our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us." The events and the timing
surrounding Jesus' entry were a fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy. How he
arrived on a donkey's colt, Jesus presented himself officially to the nation as
the Messiah and Son of God.
In 536 B.C, Zechariah prophesied
that the Messiah would redeem the people of Israel one day. Zec 9:9"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." Each year during the Passover, the Jews must have looked
forward to their Messiah. They were delighted seeing Jesus as their future
King, but riding on a donkey?
Why donkey, why not a horse? The
scholars have noted three significant reasons for the usage of the donkey:
First, the donkey was a traditional mount for kings, rulers, and prophets in
the ancient Near East; Jesus was therefore making an implicit claim to be the King.
Secondly, In the Old Testament,
horses were associated with war and human pride; the donkey may have presented
an image of peace and humility. He made a statement regarding his future
kingship and kingdom's nature where Love and Peace reign by riding on a donkey.
Thirdly, a King's image on a donkey
approaching Jerusalem was consistently understood to signify the messianic King
and his Kingdom's arrival. When the Messiah entered Jerusalem without any pomp
and military power, the crowds, the Pharisees, and the disciples responded
differently. The disciples could not understand that this was a fulfillment of
prophecy until later.
Vs. 16-19, "Many in the crowd
had seen Jesus' call, Lazarus, from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and
they were telling others (testifying) about it. That was the reason so many
went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then
the Pharisees said to each other, "There's nothing we can do. Look,
everyone has gone after him!"
On the first Palm Sunday, the crowds
testified to a miracle of life they witnessed. As a result, many went to meet
Jesus. The Pharisees were indignant; they could not stand the publicity he was
getting, which gave them all the more reason to kill him. How glorious would
that be on this Palm Sunday the whole town of Sharon and New England goes after
Jesus?
The other day someone said, so and
so is a "walking miracle." If you are alive today when many have died
due to COVID-19, you are a walking miracle. You may have seen God's healing,
comfort, deliverance, protection, and provision. On this Palm Sunday, don't be
silent, shy, and passive, but like the crowds in the story, share your miracle
with others. By listening to your testimony, some people may believe that Jesus
Christ is indeed the Messiah. Amen!
