Point of Grace Worship 3.28.21 Sermon Notes – Expectations for a Savior – Palm Sunday 2021
Through the layers of Palm Sunday, Matthew is setting up a challenge for his readers to ask the question themselves:
“Who is Jesus and what do I expect from Him?”
Matthew 19
29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Son of David?
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. - 2 Samuel 7
God’s savior was going to be from the house and line of David. To accept the title “Son of David” was to accept the role of savior.
The blind men know exactly who Jesus is.
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
Why a donkey?
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Why Palms?
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.
By flipping over the tables Jesus made room for those who needed him.
The flow of the temple stopped. People were prevented from the old way of connection with God, and yet in the presence of Jesus they found God himself.
15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
Blind men vs. the Pharisees
Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted,
“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts,
“Hosanna to the Son of David,”
they were indignant.
Matthew presents us with a challenge:
Am I going to be like the Pharisees
OR
am I going to be like the blind men?
Every time God chooses to reform His church there are tables that need to be flipped to make room for the new ways God wants to work.
I don’t want to miss what God is doing because I am too focused
on overturned tables.
Matthew is subtly challenging our ideas of what we need to be saved from.
“What Palm am I waving?”
Afterthoughts for 2021 - Thursday @ 7
Resources for this Week
Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week.
The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.
Mon – Matthew 20:29-33
Tue – Matthew 21:1-5
Wed – Isaiah 52: 7-15
Thu – Matthew 26:26-30
Fri – Matthew 27:45-51
Sat - Psalm 30:1-5
Meditation Hints:
Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”
Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.
Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.
Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.
Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge
Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading.
“Sermon Resources” for this week from Pog.church
“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne
The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store
“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge
“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge