JESUS THE KING

 

 

 

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

1 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.’ ” 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.”

 

1. Palm Sunday is about peace and salvation.

The then Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, would come into Jerusalem with his soldiers for Passover, showing his strength through the arms his men carried. Jesus, however, came on a donkey with all His disciples unarmed, to demonstrate the Kingdom of God and His peace.

It was customary that during a time of peace a king would ride on a donkey, while a king would come sitting on a white horse after the victory in a battle, as suggested in Judges 5:10 and 1 Kings 1:33. So Jesus came as King but not to judge the people. He came to demonstrate God's grace.

2. Palm Sunday is the fulfilment of an Old Testament prophecy.

Matthew 21:4-5 notes, "This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: 'Tell the people of Zion, 'Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey,'" referring to Zechariah 9:9 in the Old Testament.

3. People accepted Jesus as Messiah.

Through the way in which Jesus entered into Jerusalem, He publicly declared Himself as the Messiah — the Savior that God had promised to the Jewish people. And He was accepted, at the time, by the people.  John 12:12-13 records, "The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!'"

4. People misunderstood Jesus' message.

Evangelist Billy Graham once explained why the same crowd that welcomed Jesus turned against Him at the time of His crucifixion."One reason the crowds turned against Jesus was because He refused to be the kind of king they wanted — a political and military leader who would free them from the hated Roman government," Graham wrote on his website. "Roman s oldiers had occupied their land for decades, and they hoped Jesus would lead them in a successful revolt."  Jesus made clear to them that His goal was different.

"God had another purpose for Him — and that purpose was far greater than any mere political or military victory. His goal was to establish another kingdom — the Kingdom of God," Graham continued. "This, He taught them, wasn't to be a political kingdom, but the rule of God over our hearts and minds — and ultimately, over the whole universe. To the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, He declared, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight …. My kingdom is from another place' (John 18:36)."mmGraham added: "How could this happen? It could happen only if sin and death and Satan were defeated — for these keep God's Kingdom from becoming a reality in our lives. And how could they be defeated? Only by Christ's death and resurrection for us — for by His death and resurrection Jesus Christ conquered sin and death and Satan."Graham concluded by asking the readers these questions: "Where would you have been during Jesus' final days? Would you have been in the crowd demanding His death — or would you have been among the minority who   remained true to Him? And are you true to Him today?"

5. Palms represent immortality.

In Egypt, there was a tradition of people carrying the palm to funeral processions as it represented eternal life. The palm branch was also a symbol of spiritual triumph over death.  Jesus did this the following Sunday and you have when you give your life to Christ.  We have passed from death to life. 

QUOTES FOR MAY 13, 2026

 

PALM SUNDAY

 

Mark 11:1-11:  When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.

 

Open with the object lesson that this flower represents the brokenness of our lives.  The sin, pain, sorrow, frustration, broken dreams, unrealized expectation hurt bitterness and unforgiveness.

 

1.      The first lesson we learn here is that God that always goes ahead and handles all the details even before we have to do a task.  This is the sovereignty of God.  Jesus tells them to go ahead to the small village ahead and notice He says immediately when you enter it you will see a colt that never had been written.  That is what happened.  Just like when Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac the Lord had provided a ram ahead of time.  God arranges circumstances, animals, things and people to be there when things need to happen.  Talk about Greg Musselman.  

2.      When they were to untie it if someone was to ask they had the answer.  “The Lord needed it. “

That is what happened.  The Lord even wrote the script.  That is why Jesus said, “In that how when you don’t know what to say the Holy Spirit will give you the words.”  This is amazing.

3.      Next, they brought the coat to Jesus and they threw their clocks on it and he sat on it.  This never happens.  Colts never let you sit on their backs.  The Prince of Peace calmed a colt that day,  Talk about the time my friends let me ride little jack the pinto.  Jesus controlled the whole situation.  Our lesson here is that God has everything under control.  You can trust him.  He has been there long before you show up.  Prov 3:5-6, Matt 6:33. 

4.      The disciples put their clocks on the colt and this would be the pattern of the entry into Jerusalem.  Let me give you the lay of the land and why it would take a while.  Jesus was coming from the east travelling west.  He was on the Mount of Olives, He had to travel down a steep ravine passing through the Kidron Valley up the other side into the east gate and Jerusalem.  This is about 4 kilometers in total.  The trail was no more than 12 feet wide. 

 

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,  “Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 

1.       As they were going into the city many of the people spread their cloaks on the road.  This in ancient culture was a sign of homage.  Ancient societies when they were welcoming a god into their city this is what they did.  The people were welcoming God into their city.  Jesus was to them the Messiah, the King or representative of God.  Remember Jesus is God with a face.  Jesus did not refuse the worship which made the leaders angry.  They were venerating, worshipping honoring and paying homage to Jesus.

2.      They then said four things. 

 

a.      Hosanna which means, “Save us, help us and deliver us.  They were saying God is saving, rescuing and helping us.  Another way of saying it is, “God help, save and rescue us.”  This was a cry of worship, salvation, redemption and deliverance.  They were Saying the Savior, Messiah, King and Deliverer has arrived.  Let’s say, “Hosanna together.”  Stand. take your bulletin and wave it.

b.      Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  To them Jesus was the Messiah, the King who would deliver them.  They thought the reign of Rome was about to come to the end and a new earthly Messianic kingdom was about to start.  Can you feel the excitement of that moment.  They were repeating Psalm 118:26.  They had been waiting hundreds of years and now salvation, redemption and deliverance was upon them.  However it was different than they expected.  The lesson here never try to guess what God is doing.  Just trust Him.  God never seems to work on our timetable, expectations or agenda.  He is large and in charge.  Jesus came in the name of the Lord to fulfill His purposes.  We are to do that in our world.  Let us say together “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

c.      Blessed is the coming of the Kingdom of David.  Jesus was a descendent of David.  They were right about that but the Kingdom they were looking for was an earthly kingdom.  Jesus was bringing a kingdom in the heart of righteousness, peace and joy.  This will happen in the future but at this time Jesus was the suffering Messiah.  Let us say, “Blessed is the coming of the Kingdom of David.”

d.      Hosanna in the highest.  Hosanna was the shout of praise or adoration made in recognition of the Messiahship of Jesus on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  It was quite a scene.  The other gospels give us more detail but Mark strikes at the heart of the matter.  Jesus the Savior of mankind. And the Prince of Peace was riding into the city of peace to make peace for all mankind by His broken body, shed blood, his death, burial and resurrection.  “Let us say, Hosanna in the Highest.”  Let us welcome Jesus in to our hearts, families, church, community, province and country.

 

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

 

1.      So Jesus enters Jerusalem.  The King was in the house.  Now notice what he does next.  He goes to the temple looks at everything.  He sees the tables, the animals, the moneychangers and where they are located.  Can you see His mind at work?  He is making plans, strategizing on tomorrow’s activities.  Tomorrow he will cleanse the temple and begin the final stages of His last week on earth. 

2.      The hour was late so Jesus heads back across the Kidron Valley up the Mount of Olives to Bethany with the twelve. 

 

Close with a new flower.  Jesus puts our lives back together.  He took away our sin, sorrow, pain suffering, frustration, broken dreams unrealized expectations and all the others things the devil, world and others have thrown us.  We by his broken body, shed blood, death, burial and resurrection makes our lives beautiful, fragrant and wonderful to look at.

REMEMBRANCE

 

     It is that time of the year when we spend time to reflect on the freedoms that we enjoy.  As we approach Remembrance Day we should never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.  Canada was involved in two World Wars and Korea.  We have sacrificed thousands of lives for the freedom we now enjoy.  My own father and my wife’s father fought in World War Two.  They required that we should attend services held on November 11^th.  This was not a chore for us but a great privilege as we remembered those who sacrificed for our liberty.  Even today we do not miss an opportunity to honor that sacrifice. 

     Two thousand years ago another person gave His life so that all mankind could be set free.  Jesus Christ hung on a cross for the salvation of mankind.  It was our sin that placed Him upon that cross.  It was His death, burial and resurrection that would secure our freedom.  Jesus Himself has said, “Who the Son sets free is free indeed.”  Jesus came to give us eternal and abundant life.  This came at a great price for Jesus.  You see Jesus knew that mankind could not save ourselves.  What is remarkable is that so many people actually believe that God grades on a curve.  That He balances our live on a series of good and bad acts.  Now if we do enough God deeds that we can actually get into heaven.  This is absolutely false. 

     St. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, says by faith we are saved through faith and not of ourselves it is a gift of God lest any man should boast.  The prophet Isaiah puts it plainly, “Our righteousness is as filthy rags.”  Both men make it plain that we cannot save ourselves.  Any salvation is a gift given by the grace of God.  A beautiful way of looking at this is, “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.”   Freedom and liberty come by sacrifice.  As the young men and women gave their lives so our country could be free so Jesus Christ gave His life that we could have spiritual and eternal freedom.

     As Remembrance Day approaches I want you to reflect and remember what others have done for you.  We wear poppies and attend services honoring the past soldiers and the current solders.  They are worthy of our respect and appreciation.  Today Canadian forces are serving around the world in the role of peace keeping.  At home and abroad Canadian forces are respected.  May I make a suggestion, don’t just thank a veteran or serving Canadian forces member at this this time but whenever you see them.  It is their continual service that acts as a deterrent to anyone who wishes Canada harm.  May I also suggest that whenever you can to thank police officers for their service.  Over the years police members have also served in foreign lands helping to train and enforce law in other lands. 

     It is a privilege to write this article today.  I have served as a chaplain and conducted numerous Remembrance Day services over the years.  Each time I attend a service I am overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and sense of pride for Canada’s role in securing freedom throughout the world.

When I was growing up in Southern Alberta, the names of the soldiers were read out loud in each service.  Our small town had given over 50 individuals to the cause of freedom.  When I was in Hay River doing the time that Canadian forces served in Afghanistan we lost many soldiers and during those Remembrance Day services the name of the fallen were read.  It was a somber time because Canada was again serving for freedom.  Today I wish to once again thank all who have served in the past and those who are serving today.  Thank you on the behalf of all Canadians.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

 

     In 1918 on the 1th hour of the 11th month on the 11th hour they signed papers to end the great war.  Today we are remembering this event 100 years later.  They called it the war to end all wars.  Of course some 21 years later they fought another world war that claim the lives of 60 million people.  At any time in the World there is never less than 30 wars being fought.  Today we are rememnering the ulitmate sacrifice given by others.  Canada has had in all our modern wars 619,636 soldiers killed and 154,361 wounded.  Today I want to remind you of the greatest sacrfice ever offered for mankind.  That was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a cross on a hill called Golgotha.  He paid the ultimate price for the freedom of mankind.  Jesus said Himself the greatest gift of love with when you laid down yur life for a friend.  John 15:13.

Here are 10 reasons why Jesus died and paid the ulitmate price.

#10) To destroy hostility between races

 Paul said, "He “has broken down…the dividing wall of hostility…making peace…through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14-16).  God sent his Son into the world as the only means of saving sinners and reconciling races. Only as the races find this reconciliation will they love and enjoy each other.

#9) To give marriage its deepest meaning.  It says, Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.  Eph 5:25. God's will marriage is for a husband to love his wife the way Christ loves his people, and for the wife to respond the way Christ’s people should. This kind of love is possible because Christ died for both husband and wife.

#8) To absorb the wrath of God

God’s law demanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). But we have all loved other things more.  Since our sin is against the Ruler of the Universe, “the wages of [our] sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  So God sent his own Son, Jesus, to divert sin’s punishment from us to himself.(1 John 4:10). God publicly endorsed Christ’s accomplishment by raising him from the dead, proving the success of his suffering and death.

 

#7) So that we would escape the curse of the law

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).The law’s demands have been fulfilled by Christ’s perfect law-keeping, its penalty fully paid by his death. “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). Our only hope is having the blood and righteousness of Christ credited to our account.

#6) To reconcile us to God

The reconciliation that needs to happen between man and God goes both ways. God’s first act in reconciling us to himself was to remove the obstacle that separated him from us—the guilt of our sin. He took the steps we could not take to remove his own judgment by sending Jesus to suffer in our place: “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). Reconciliation from our side is simply to receive what God has already done, the way we receive an infinitely valuable gift.

#5) To show God’s love for sinners

The measure of God’s love is shown by the degree of his sacrifice in saving us he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). The measure of his love increases still more when we consider the degree of our unworthiness. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay it.

 

#4) To show Jesus’ own love for us

The death of Christ is also the supreme expression that he “loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It is my sin that cuts me off from God. All I can do is plead for mercy.Jesus paid the highest price possible to give me—personally—the greatest gift possible.

#3) To take away our condemnation

The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To be “in Christ” means to be in relationship to him by faith.The death of Christ secures freedom from condemnation for those who believe that Christ has served their death sentence.

#2) To bring us to God

“Gospel” means “good news,” and it all ends in one thing: God himself. The gospel is the good news that at the cost of his Son’s life, God has done everything necessary to captivate us with what will make us eternally and ever-increasingly happy—namely, himself. “Christ…suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

#1) To give eternal life to all who believe on Him

Jesus made it plain that rejecting the eternal life he offered would result in the misery of eternity in hell: “Whoever does not believe is condemned already....the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:18, 36).But for those who trust Christ, the best is yet to come. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). We will see the all-satisfying glory of God. “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).For all these reasons and more, Christ suffered and died. Why would you not embrace him as your Savior from sin and judgment, and live with God eternally?

There are many stories of personal sacrifice from all the wars Canadians have fought.  In WW1 we had Billy Bishop in two years as a airplane pilot shot down 72 enemy planes.  There was Tommy Prince the most decorated Aborginal soldier who won 11 medals in WW2 and the Korean War.   There is Leo Major who liberated the Dutch town of Zwolle a community of 50,000 from the Germans by himself.  All people who made great sacirfices on behalf of others.  They should be remembered.  As we close today let us remember the words of as he closed his eys to die.Its Finished, Jesus Christ gave His life so we could have eternal and abundant life.  He destroyed the power of death, hell and the grace.  He came to destroy the works of the devil. 

QUOTES FOR MAY 12, 2025

 

REST IN THE LORD

 

Rest in the Lord

 

Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.

 

     Well here we are again looking at Jacob’s final prophetic speech to his sons.  Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah have been address now it is Zebulon and Issachar.  Jacob looks at Zebulon and says, you are going to be a seafaring nation.  Your territory will be near the sea.  Now this was interesting considering that in Joshua times when the land was settled Zebulon was given seashore on two fronts.  On the east their body of water was the Sea of Galilee and on the west the Mediterranean Sea.  Here are some interesting series of side notes concerning Zebulon.  They answered the call to help Gideon to fight the Midianites, they went to make David king and they were the first tribe in Israel to answer the call by Hezekiah to come to Jerusalem and to destroy their idols.  Zebulon’s mother was Leah and his descendants would compose one of the largest groups of fighting men.  They were also single out in the song of Deborah has great helpers when taking the land. 

     So here is Jacob showing how their land would be allotted, the significance in the Israelite federation and their prophetic future.  His name means gift, to dwell and prince.  He would be a gift to Israel and they would be a nation of people who loved the sea and known for it.  This is my thought.  I think that maybe Zebulon had discussed with his father a love for the sea and boats.  They would also be a haven, a resting place for those who made their living on ships.  The people of Zebulon were famous for their hospitality and tolerance for strangers.  Let us be like Zebulon, be the first to hear the call of God and respond.  Let us be takers of the land.  Let us give up all our idols.  Let us be hospitable and let us be people of adventure.

 

Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens.  15 When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor. 

 

     Issachar name means reward.  Now Scholars of the Talmud say that this blessing refers to his name but also some have said that because he was more of a pragmatic person.  He saw his place in the family as one of peacekeeper.  Jacob knew that Issachar was a raw and rugged individual when he was young he did like to venture out but as he was getting older he was he became more sedate and prefer comfort and stability verses ambition and action. 

     There is a powerful lesson we can learn from Issachar.  Let us never lose our sense of adventure our desire for new things.  Let us keep learning, growing, and striving to be better in the Lord and as a person.  Let us be careful that with age and circumstance that our comfort becomes more important than our desire for change.  So many people do not like change.  They like the stability of the same day after day.  Talk about the guys I see at Tim Horton everyday dropping off Rebekah.

     People like consistency, stability and predictability.  Yet with it also comes, slavery.  Jacob says that because his need for comfort as he gets older Issachar would begin a spiritual and physical pattern for his descendants for future acceptance of situations that even unhealthy situations for consistency.  This acceptance for predictability is so dangerous.  We have nations accepting corruption, evil leaderships because as the old saying goes, the devil you know over the one you don’t.  We have women and men staying in abusive relationships because at least they know what to expect.  Issachar would bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to force labor.  His desire for peace, comfort and stability would make him submit to tyranny, slavery and loss of self esteem.  Brothers and sisters this happens every day, in marriages, homes, communities and countries.  For a myriad of reasons, spouses stay in abusive relationships out a sense of false love or to be loved.   People prefer attacks on self –esteem for economic security and doing it for the kids.  Now I believe any relationships can be saved, fixed and made better with the Lord’s help, with counseling and a choice to do something about it.  Yet being abused, enslaved, threatened is not a relationship it is evil and wrong.  We allow governments, employers, management and society in general to do this.  I call this the Issachar complex.  Our comfort, stability, predictability makes us accept abusive people to exploit us.  True believers are not enablers.  We are peacemakers but we are strong in the Lord and we allow the Lord to guide us and if change needs to be made we make it.  Change can be good. 

 

Here are some benefits to change: 

 

Personal growth.  You grow and learn new things every time something changes.

Flexibility. Frequent changes make you easily adapt to new situations, new environments, and new people.

Improvements and progress

Life values are often look at and changed

Strength, you actually become stronger

New opportunities you never dreamed of.

 

Benefits of Risk

 

Risk urges you to learn new skills and evolve already existing ones.

Fear of failure gets obliterated once you embrace a risk-taking culture.

It inspires creative thinking.

 

Now our recent Covid 19, we a period of dramatic change and that change is still going on.  Folks do not be deceived we are paying and will pay for this crisis for years to come.  300 billion dollars and counting this year alone.  As a church we have learn the value of meeting together, virtual meetings, online communication.  Of using text, phone and social media.  We also are now church right now different than ever before.  Social distancing, sanitizing, masks, no singing are our reality this day.  Do we like the change not all but maybe right now this may be best, I do not know but one thing I refuse to do is give up.  I lost two things during this crisis.  I lost my physical pulpit but not my virtual.  I lost my radio dream but last Friday I was given it back.  I will be back on the air on July 6.  I did not like the change but I was forced to learn to adapt, grow and change.  I also learned  never take anything for granted.  God is in the change business.  Stability often leads to stagnation, acceptance and slavery.  If God wants you to change you can either do it when He wants you to do it or it will be forced on you. 

 

Now  in 1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the  from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.  Men of Issachar is a must read for men who are meditating on God's Word day and night. It is current as only God's Word is and is enlightening and appropriate for male leaders in the Body of Christ, Godly husbands, Godly brothers, Godly fathers, Godly uncles and Godly step-fathers.  Great Thought.