Get in the Parade

Matthew 21:6-9 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

Last Sunday was “Palm Sunday”, the beginning of “Holy Week” leading up to Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Our Congregation’s CEO Dr. Willie Nolte continued in our “Passion” series and preached on the event in history known as the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus into Jerusalem. Dr. Nolte defined the word “parade” as a procession with a purpose. The number one most significant parade in all of human history when Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, as the people laid down palm branches in the path ahead of Him and shouted “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” Why was it the most significant parade? Because that Palm Sunday’s triumphal entry began the definitive fulfillment of Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost. It set the stage for everything that would happen in this holy week. Jesus announces Himself as King and Savior, presenting this without a doubt and that requires a response. What Jesus specifically does (the what, the when and the where) is strategically detailed on purpose.

Revelation 7:9  “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”

We have an amazing picture of Jesus in Heaven that mirror the triumphal entry. Capture a picture in your mind of that throne room in heaven. Be there among all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues! Jesus is about to fulfill God’s redemption plan, while completely fulfilling the prophecy of the Holy Scriptures. Riding in on a donkey (the sign of royalty) was symbolic and making a bold statement, because the time was right. It was intentional in detail and timing. It is important that we have the Word of God to have the benefit of looking back, seeing the message in its entirety and understand it. A truly humble King would come in peace on a donkey. From here on out, there is no doubt who is King. Jesus is King; the Messiah.  

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

The people of that day had a wrong idea of what a King and the Messiah would do. Jesus transcends our imagination of who and what He is … everything and more.  There is an ultimate power and authority. Jesus says in John 3:35, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” Jesus is above and beyond all earthly authority. In a world where might is right, Jesus Christ has all true authority. So, we can have confidence, regardless of the circumstances that we are currently in. Put yourself into the authority of Jesus; His principles and direction. Jesus is Lord and reigns. 

1 Peter 3:22  “(Jesus) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”

Make your mind’s picture of Jesus bigger, until Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords and Savior of the world. This Messiah Jesus delivered us from sin and separation from Father God, to righteousness, reconciliation, restored relationship and salvation unto eternal life. Yes, Jesus is our Redeemer and Savior. In was foretold in Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The people shouted “Hosanna, which literally means “save us”. As Savior, He speaks to the lostness, brokenness and pain of this world.

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”

Jesus is not messing around; He is the symbolic “Passover Lamb” and presents Himself as the perfect and permanent atoning sacrifice for sin. We look at the world today and know that there is a problem with humanity. Something is wrong. The soul of humanity is begging for connection with God, but sin caused separation, blindness, and brokenness. Now is the time. A choice must be made to watch or walk. Stand on the sidelines and watch life or walk with the Spirit and experience the abundant life in Christ. Now that Jesus has left no doubt, we have to make a choice to get into the Palm Sunday parade; watch it or walk in it.

Don’t be afraid that God loves you and saves you. There is a parade, so get in it. When Jesus shows up, get in the parade. Do not stand on the side of the road watching it go by. Today is a good day to join the parade. Jesus invites you now.

In Christ, Brian