Matthew 21:1-11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

     “Say to the daughter of Zion,
     ‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
          humble, and mounted on a donkey,
          on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Intro

Today is Palm Sunday - the day that starts us into Holy Week.
It is the day we remember Jesus entering into Jerusalem to acclaim and public adoration.
The scene is set - tens if not hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are in the holy city for the celebration of the annual Passover celebration.
Jesus has his disciples secure a young donkey on which no one has ever ridden. He is fulfilling Zechariah 9:9 and the crowds know it.
He rides this animal with first his disciples and then the crowds shouting hosannah, and preparing a path with their outer cloaks and palm branches.
Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead and word has spread… Could it be true? Did the God of their fathers finally send the promised savior?

The Triumphal Entry - The Public Revelation of Jesus
The crowd is declaring that they believe the long-awaited Messiah is finally here and they are shouting praises and are declaring their dependence to be saved by this Messiah.

Hosannah - Save us!
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!

The heart of our sermon text is an ancient hymn that speaks of the revelation, vindication and declaration of Jesus the Messiah.

1 Timothy 3:14-16

v.14 - Paul’s Desire to personally be with the church in Ephesus

V.15a - The purpose of the letter: How one ought to behave in the household of God

• True Doctrine vs False Teachers (1 Tim. 1:3-11)
• Jesus alone is Savior (1 Tim. 1:12-20)
• Prayer for all people in every church (1 Tim. 2:1-10)
• Women in ministry (1 Tim. 2:8-15)
• Elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7)
• Deacons ( 1 Tim. 3:8-10 + 12-13)
• Deaconesses (1 Tim. 3:11)

V.15b - the church is the pillar and buttress of truth

• pillars - holds up the roof (temple of Artemis had huge 3 story tall pillars)
• buttress - what supports the wall from caving in (the church must teach, defend, and champion truth

—> The church supports, strengthens and defends the truth of the Gospel.

v.16 - An Ancient Hymn

MYSTERY - something formerly hidden now revealed

• compare Romans16:25-26 “the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed…”
• compare 1 Timothy 3:9 - they must hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience

—> the mystery is the redemptive story of the Gospel in Christ

GODLINESS - a particular manner of life characterized by reverence and faith and piety or godly living.

• religion / piety
• holiness / god-likeness - exemplified by Christ in everything

What doe Paul mean here?

• Does he mean sanctification? As in - great is the mystery of how we grow in godliness.
• Does he mean infused godliness or righteousness? As in -great is the mystery of how we become godly.
• Does he mean religion or faith or truth?

—> Paul’s point is not that godliness is mysterious, but that our godliness, our piety, our devotion, and our living of the Christian faith is based on a great mystery, namely God’s saving revelation of His redemptive plan in Christ!
The MYSTERY therefore is not a ‘WHAT’ it is a ‘WHO’: Christ Jesus our Savior
The revealed truth that enables God pleasing godliness is Jesus!

The whole Christian life is based on a person: Christ Jesus our Savior

He, who…

• Manifested = revealed in the flesh = Incarnation
• Vindicated = proven true = Resurrection
• Seen = witnesses of the resurrection and Ascension
• Proclaimed = Apostolic witness = Great Commission
• Believed = Global reach of the Gospel
• Taken up = Ascension

THE REVELATION OF CHRIST IN THE GOSPELS

Angelic Pronouncement

• To Mary
• To the Shepherds

Prophetic Testimony

• In the Old Testament
• By Simeon and Anna in the Temple

Divine Approval

• Baptism
• Transfiguration

Demonstration of Power

• Miracles
• Healings

Triumphal Entry

• Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord
• Hosannah to the Son of David

APPLICATION

As we enter Holy Week and again remember the work of Jesus on the Cross and the Vindication of Jesus in the Resurrection I want to invite you to believe!
Will you cry out Hosannah and receive the salvation only Jesus can offer or will you reject the only Savior and Lord and remain in your sin?
If you are a follower of Jesus, will you keep this amazing truth to yourself or will you be a messenger of the salvation we have in Jesus?