Palm Sunday 4.2.23 - Audio

Bakersfield First Assembly

Matthew 21:4-5 (NIV) – [4] This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: [5] “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) – [9] Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 1. Jesus is king. Matthew 27:11 (NIV) – [11] Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. John 18:36 (NIV) – [36] Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 2. Jesus is righteous. Righteous means just, lawful, straight; righteousness is exhibited only through conformity to standards set out in the word of God. (Theological Wordbook of the OT) Psalms 145:17 (NIV) – [17] The Lord is RIGHTEOUS in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. Genesis 6:9 (NIV) – [9] This is the account of Noah. Noah was a RIGHTEOUS man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Psalms 146:7-8 (NIV) – [7] The Lord sets prisoners free, [8] the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the RIGHTEOUS. 3. Jesus brings salvation. Acts 4:12 (NIV) – [12] SALVATION is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be SAVED. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV) – [1] As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. [2] For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of SALVATION I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of SALVATION. Romans 10:9 (NIV) – [9] If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be SAVED. 4. Jesus is gentle. Gentle means lowly, humble, poor, distressed. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) – [9] For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) – [28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am GENTLE and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” “Meek. Humble. Gentle. Jesus is not trigger-happy. Not harsh, reactionary, easily exasperated. He is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” (Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly) 5. Jesus has come. John 1:10-12 (NLT) – [10] [Jesus] came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. [11] He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. [12] But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 6. Jesus is coming. Acts 1:9-11 (NIV) – [9] After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. [10] They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. [11] “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT) – [13] And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. [15] We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. [16] For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. [17] Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. [18] So encourage each other with these words. “In the ancient Near East, rulers commonly rode donkeys if they came in peace but they rode horses into war. This verse gives one reason the Israelites should rejoice: the coming of the King. (Thomas Constable) Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV) – [11] I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. [13] He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. [14] The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. “The triumphal entry of Jesus riding into Jerusalem was predicted here more than 500 years before it happened. Just as this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus came to earth, so the prophecies of his second coming are just as certain to come true. We are to be ready for his return, for he is coming!” (Life Application Bible)