The Journey from Palm Sunday to Easter
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Mark 11:1-11
“ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus
sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it,
you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone
asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’"
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some
people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had
told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their
cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread
branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of
our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He
looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the
Twelve.”
They welcomed him as a king!
Five days later, as Jesus stood in front of the Judgment seat of Pontius Pilate, the same crowd
again lifted up their voices. This time they said something different.
Mark 15:12-14
“ "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. "Crucify
him!" they shouted. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the
louder, "Crucify him!"”
What happened? For three years Jesus had traveled among them, taught the scriptures, healed
the sick, raised the dead, challenged religious corruption. For three years he had dined with
them, called them to repentance, revealed the truth, and displayed the love and compassion of
God the Father.
He came into the Holy City and people could sense that He was on a mission. There was some
finality in his step. There was definite purpose in his actions.
Now here is what happened! Jesus disappointed them!
But how? Because he did not do what THEY wanted him to do!
It all boils down to the selfishness of man. We want what we want – not what God wants. When
we get out way, we sing out the praises of the leader who helped us get our way. When we don’t
get our way, we cry for his or her blood. Crucify Him!
You see, these people had been oppressed by the Roman government for years. In fact, the had a
history full of oppression and domination by one nation or another. And throughout history, God
had always sent a deliverer.
When Israel was captive in Egypt, God sent Moses to lead them out and set them free.
When they were in the Wilderness, God raised up Joshua to take the into the Promised Land.
When they were ruled by the Midianites, God raised up Gideon to lead them into battle and break
them out of bondage.
When captured by the Philistines, God raised up Samson to deliver them.
Again, when intimidated by the Philistine army and their giant warrior Goliath, God brought David
to bring deliverance and freedom.
Now Israel is dominated by the Romans, and they have waited for hundreds of years for the Messiah
– the deliverer – who has been promised by the prophets. They believe Jesus is the one. He has
been sent by God to set them free.
BUT, they think he came to defeat the Romans. No, Jesus came to defeat the devil. He came to
reform and correct religious error. He came to deliver them from the bondage of sin, not the
bondage of Rome. He came on a spiritual mission, not a political mission.
Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” But people were not interested in a
kingdom not of this world. They were interested in the kingdom of their own world.
In the week that followed the “Hosanna” welcome, Jesus did several things:
Ø He cursed a fig tree that had no fruit and it withered. Then he explained that the fig tree
represented Israel and if people didn’t start bearing fruit they were going to be cursed.
Ø Then he ran the money changers out of the Temple, telling the that it was a place of
worship, not of buying and selling.
Ø Then he began to expose and rebuke the religious leaders for their corrupt ways.
Ø When he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane he showed not resistance.
It became obvious that Jesus was no warrior – no military leader – no political reformer.
And people turned on him.
He did not perform according to their expectations.
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Yes, things are sure going to change around
here. Jesus is going to fix things!
Oh wait! You mean He came to fix me? Crucify Him!
At one time in his ministry it says:
John 2:24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.
John 2:25 He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
Jesus understood the selfish nature of man. We are like football fans who cheer for whoever is
winning, with no loyalty to a certain home team.
As long as we get our way, “Jesus is just alright”. “God is good” – when I am happy. “God is good”
when he gives me what I ask for. “God is good” when I get what I want.
Who will proclaim with me, “God is good ALL THE TIME”.
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
And who will say with Jesus as he prayed in the garden, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
“ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus
sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it,
you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone
asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’"
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some
people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had
told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their
cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread
branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of
our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He
looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the
Twelve.”
They welcomed him as a king!
Five days later, as Jesus stood in front of the Judgment seat of Pontius Pilate, the same crowd
again lifted up their voices. This time they said something different.
Mark 15:12-14
“ "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. "Crucify
him!" they shouted. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the
louder, "Crucify him!"”
What happened? For three years Jesus had traveled among them, taught the scriptures, healed
the sick, raised the dead, challenged religious corruption. For three years he had dined with
them, called them to repentance, revealed the truth, and displayed the love and compassion of
God the Father.
He came into the Holy City and people could sense that He was on a mission. There was some
finality in his step. There was definite purpose in his actions.
Now here is what happened! Jesus disappointed them!
But how? Because he did not do what THEY wanted him to do!
It all boils down to the selfishness of man. We want what we want – not what God wants. When
we get out way, we sing out the praises of the leader who helped us get our way. When we don’t
get our way, we cry for his or her blood. Crucify Him!
You see, these people had been oppressed by the Roman government for years. In fact, the had a
history full of oppression and domination by one nation or another. And throughout history, God
had always sent a deliverer.
When Israel was captive in Egypt, God sent Moses to lead them out and set them free.
When they were in the Wilderness, God raised up Joshua to take the into the Promised Land.
When they were ruled by the Midianites, God raised up Gideon to lead them into battle and break
them out of bondage.
When captured by the Philistines, God raised up Samson to deliver them.
Again, when intimidated by the Philistine army and their giant warrior Goliath, God brought David
to bring deliverance and freedom.
Now Israel is dominated by the Romans, and they have waited for hundreds of years for the Messiah
– the deliverer – who has been promised by the prophets. They believe Jesus is the one. He has
been sent by God to set them free.
BUT, they think he came to defeat the Romans. No, Jesus came to defeat the devil. He came to
reform and correct religious error. He came to deliver them from the bondage of sin, not the
bondage of Rome. He came on a spiritual mission, not a political mission.
Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” But people were not interested in a
kingdom not of this world. They were interested in the kingdom of their own world.
In the week that followed the “Hosanna” welcome, Jesus did several things:
Ø He cursed a fig tree that had no fruit and it withered. Then he explained that the fig tree
represented Israel and if people didn’t start bearing fruit they were going to be cursed.
Ø Then he ran the money changers out of the Temple, telling the that it was a place of
worship, not of buying and selling.
Ø Then he began to expose and rebuke the religious leaders for their corrupt ways.
Ø When he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane he showed not resistance.
It became obvious that Jesus was no warrior – no military leader – no political reformer.
And people turned on him.
He did not perform according to their expectations.
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Yes, things are sure going to change around
here. Jesus is going to fix things!
Oh wait! You mean He came to fix me? Crucify Him!
At one time in his ministry it says:
John 2:24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.
John 2:25 He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
Jesus understood the selfish nature of man. We are like football fans who cheer for whoever is
winning, with no loyalty to a certain home team.
As long as we get our way, “Jesus is just alright”. “God is good” – when I am happy. “God is good”
when he gives me what I ask for. “God is good” when I get what I want.
Who will proclaim with me, “God is good ALL THE TIME”.
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
And who will say with Jesus as he prayed in the garden, “Not my will, but yours be done.”