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THE PARADE
1. THERE WAS ONLY ONE FOCUS OF ATTENTION: JESUS.
In parades, there are usually many floats, many bands playing, celebrities, and movie stars. In this case, all eyes were upon Jesus, and the parade was all about Him.
A. JESUS WAS THE ONE WHO HAD ALL THAT THEY NEEDED.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Luke 19:30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
Luke 19:33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
Luke 19:35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
B. JESUS WAS SHOWING HIS GREAT POWER BY RIDING IN ON A COLT THAT HAD NEVER BEEN RIDDEN BEFORE.
HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD CONTROL THE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU. HE MAKE ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD. WHAT WAS JESUS PROVING BY RIDING ON THE COLT INSTEAD OF ITS MOTHER WHO WAS PROBABLY TRAINED ?
- HE HAD POWER OVER ALL THINGS. THIS DISCIPLES SAW THIS, BUT NOW IT WAS TIME FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.
Mark 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him.
Luke 8:25 And He said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him.
C. JESUS HAS THE POWER TO DIRECT YOUR LIFE.
HE ALONE CAN MAKE YOU A SUCCESS FOR ETERNITY. MAN CAN ONLY HELP OUT A LITTLE BIT. ***The scientists predict that most of Florida will be under water because of global warming. They say this will happen in about 200 years. But, they can’t even predict the weather just a day in advance ! A WILD COLT CAN EASILY GET HURT. HE CAN TRY TO JUMP FENCES THAT ARE TOO HIGH FOR HIM. HE CAN RACE AROUND AND BREAK A LEG IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND THAT HE DIDN’T SEE. YOU NEED JESUS TO GUIDE YOU EVERY STEP IF THE WAY !
- THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO KNEW WHAT JESUS HAD DONE. WERE THE LEPERS THERE ? THE BLIND MEN ?
Luke 19:37 And when He was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
Matthew 4:24 And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.
Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all;
Matthew 15:30 And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and He healed them:
Matthew 19:2 And great multitudes followed Him; and He healed them there.
2. THEY WERE HAPPY TO HAVE JESUS THERE.
A. THEY WERE ADMITTING THAT THEY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS. THEY KNEW HE WAS THE KING.
Luke 19:37-40 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
B. THIS WAS A PARADE FOR HOPE, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER PARADE.
ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CITY WAS ANOTHER PARADE. IT WAS BY THE ROMANS. THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ALL WHO WANTED TO CONTINUE THEIR AUTHORITY UNDER THE ROMANS MARCHED WITH THEM. “cavalry on horses, foot soldiers, leather armor, helmets, weapons, banners, golden eagles mounted on poles, sun glinting on metal and gold.” The sound of “marching feet, the creaking of leather, the clinking of bridles, the beating of drums” would have had a sobering effect on all those who saw this parade. THIS WAS A PARADE OF OPPRESSION. THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHER THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO WHEN JESUS CALLS OUT TO THEM. THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO ON SUNDAYS. BUT, IF WE WANT GOD’S BLESSINGS, WE FOCUS ON JESUS, AND PUT OTHER PARADES ASIDE.
C. IT WAS A SAD TIME FOR JESUS.
HE KNEW THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT TURN TO HIM TO BE SAVED. EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW WHO HE WAS.
Luke 19:41-42 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
JESUS CARED FOR THOSE PEOPLE. HE SEEMED TO IGNORE ALL THE PALMS, AND SAW THROUGH TO WHERE THEY REALLY NEEDED SOMETHING–FORGIVENESS AND ETERNAL LIFE ! DON’T BE FOOLISH LIKE THOSE PEOPLE WHO REJECTED HIM. BE SAVED TODAY !
3. THEY NEEDED JESUS TO SAVE THEM.
A. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST LOVE A PARADE.
***Many people today love Christian music. They love to worship in church. They love to show their Bible to others. But, when they are asked to stand up for Jesus, they back down like cowards. THEY ARE THERE WHEN IT IS EASY TO WORSHIP JESUS AND BE FAITHFUL TO HIM. BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE PRESENT WHO DON’T LIKE JESUS, THEY STAND BACK AND WON’T SAY ANYTHING FOR THE LORD.
B. WHERE WILL YOU BE WHEN THE TEACHERS AND THE POLICE AND THE TAX COLLECTORS, AND THE FALSE RELIGIONS SAY TO BACK DOWN AND QUIT TALKING ABOUT JESUS ?
***Where was this crowd when Jesus was being condemned ?
Mark 15:11-14 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.