Topics: Gospel, quarantine
I. You can reject the Gospel
* Many religious people missed the time of the King's visitation!
- Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you
one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:39-44).
- So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him" (John 12:19).
II. You can redefine the Gospel
* Many people had a superficial acclamation of the King's arrival!
- The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee" (Matthew 21:9-11).
- Nevertheless, many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God (John 12:42, 43).
III. You can receive the Gospel
* Many people embraced Jesus as the true King of glory!
- Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey's colt." These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him(John 12:14-16).
- Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory (Psalm 24:7-10).
Palm Sunday Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, April 5th, 2020
