Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:13
As we think about our Lord's resurrection this week, we're going to take a look at the faces of the crucifixion. Those who were in Jerusalem at the time and who are mentioned in scripture as playing a role either behind the scenes or in a big way. We're going to look at how those people were affected and what the hope of Jesus meant for them.
Today, we’re looking at Jesus Himself. Thousands of books have been written, millions of sermons have been preached, and billions of lives have been changed by this man. Who is this man?
He is the one prophesied in Genesis 3:15, He’s the Promised One who could pay our debt, redeem creation, and restore our relationship with the Father. He’s the alpha and omega, He speaks for God because He is God, He’s our High Preist, and He’s our King.
On this day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The people rejoiced. They cried, “Hosanna! Save us! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
They didn’t know. They didn’t understand. They wanted a physical king right then. They wanted a military leader. They wanted to be free from the Roman occupation, they were ready to march into battle. But this time, Jesus didn't come in His role as a King.
Don't get me wrong, He is the King. The genealogies in Matthew and Luke show that had the Romans not invaded, and if things were the way they were supposed to be, Jesus was a direct descendant of King David and was the rightful ruler. He could have overthrown the Romans and taken back His kingdom. And we're promised that just like He came the first time, He'll come again, and He'll come as His rightful role of King in all His glory. But this time, Jesus came as our High Priest.
He came in humility, riding a donkey. He came not only to perform the sacrifice but to be the sacrifice. Jesus took on humanity to redeem humanity. The penalty for sin is death. God declared it in the garden. Man broke the perfect relationship we had with God in the Garden of Eden, but Jesus came to restore it.
For thousands of years, the children of Israel had been offering animal sacrifices, and while God accepted this as a substitute, it wasn't permanent. Over and over again, sacrifices had to be made, blood had to be shed, and pain and death were abundant. Until Jesus.
Jesus came. Jesus is here. He had a mission, not to overthrow Rome but to fulfill the plan that was set before the foundations of the world were laid. He came for a bigger purpose. What God would love us so much that He would die so we could live? Who am I that He would die for me? Let us remember this Palm Sunday that Jesus came to redeem us, and when He died, He changed everything.