Pastor Jann Braaksma
Today we remember what biblical event? Yes, Palm Sunday or Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Is the account found in all four Gospels? Yes.
Do I have anything new to say about it? No, not really.
I do want us to review a couple of things and then move onto a pressing matter in need of our prayer support.
Let’s hear Mark 11: 1-11
Thank you.
We have here the story of the public entry Christ made into Jerusalem.
He came into Jerusalem remarkably, first to show that he was not afraid of the power and malice of his enemies in Jerusalem. He did not steal into the city incognito, as one who was afraid to show his face.
And two, to show that he was not cast down or disquieted at the thoughts of his approaching sufferings. He came, not only publicly, but cheerfully.
The outside of this triumph was very lean; he rode upon as ass’s colt.
Christ went upon the water in a borrowed boat (Luke 5:1-3);
ate the Passover in a borrowed chamber (Matt 26:17-19);
was buried in a borrowed sepulcher (Luke 23:50-55)
and here rode on a borrowed ass.
We, as Christians, must not scorn to be beholden one to another, and, when need is, to go borrowing, for our Master did.
He had no rich trappings; they threw their clothes upon the colt, and so he sat upon it.
The disciples furnished Jesus with the best they had, and did not object the spoiling of their clothes when the Lord had need of them.
We must not think the clothes on our backs too dear to part with for the service of Christ, for the clothing of his poor destitute and afflicted members.
Now, concerning this great multitude (or ramble as some may say), we are here told, what they did; according to the best of their capacity, they showed honor to Christ.
They spread their garments in the way that he might ride upon them.
Where on earth did this come from? Let’s hear about it from 2 Kings 9:12&13
Took every man his garment – This was a ceremony by which they acknowledged Jehu as King. The ceremony was expressive: “As we put our garments under your feet, so we place every thing under your authority, and acknowledge ourselves your servants.”
We who take Christ for our King must lay our all under his feet; the clothes, in token of our hearts.
How shall we express our respects to Christ? What honor and what dignity shall be done to him?
When a king comes, something great and magnificent is expected. But there is nothing of that here. When Christ appears in his glory, it is in his meekness, not in his majesty.
His temper is very mild. He is meek to suffer great injuries and indignities for our sake.
He is easy of access, easy to be entreated. His yoke is easy. As an evidence of this, his appearance is very mean.
Sitting upon an ass, a creature made not for state, but service.
Not for battles, but for burdens.
Slow in its motions, but sure, and safe and constant.
Our King comes riding, not on a prancing horse, which the timid believer dares not come near.
Or a running horse, which the slow-footed believer cannot keep pace with.
But on a quiet ass, that the poorest of his subjects may not be discouraged in their access to him.
By the way, who lives in Bethany? Yes, Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
Do we know that by osmosis, or does the bible tell us so?
Martha complaining that Mary is not helping is found in Luke 10:38-42.
John 11:1-3 clearly says; “Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha”.
John 12:1-2 says; “Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.”
Please read Mark 11:12-14.
“When they came from Bethany” implies to me they were at Mary, Martha and Lazarus’. But if they were, why was Jesus hungry?
I get the fact He was fully God and fully man, and His earthy body got tired, dirty and hungry. But why would the sister let a guest leave the house hungry?
None of my commentaries touch on that, I just wonder about it.
Was it not unreasonable to curse the tree for being fruitless when, as Mark expressly says, “it was not the season for figs”?
The problem is most satisfactorily cleared up in a discussion called “The Barren Fig Tree” published many years ago by W.M. Christie, a Church of Scotland minister in Palestine.
He pointed out first that time of year at which the incident is said to have occurred would be the first days of April.
“Now,” wrote Christie, “the facts connected with the fig tree are these. Toward the end of March the leaves begin to appear, and in about a week the foliage coating is complete. Coincident with [this], and sometimes even before, there appears quite a crop of small knobs, not the real figs, but a kind of early forerunner.
They grow to the size of green almonds, in which condition they are eaten by peasants and others when hungry. When they come to their own indefinite maturity they drop off.”
These precursors of the true fig are called taqsh in Palestinian Arabic.
Their appearance is a harbinger of the fully formed appearance of the true fig some six weeks later. So, as Mark says, the time for figs had not yet come. But if the leaves appear without and taqsh – he knew that “it was an absolutely hopeless, fruitless fig tree” and said as much.
Now let’s hear Mark 11:20-26
Speaking of prayer, we need to talk about Mike Murrell and his family.
As some of you know Mike has been gone from home in his Spring Revival tour.
While he was in Arizona he received word that his wife, Teresa, had moved out. He was heart broken of course. There was some hope that she was “running” and would return.
Also, the church board contacted the conference superintendents about a matter, even though they had told Mike they would wait for his return to discuss it.
He continued with his revival services in Illinois, although they would have released him.
So he arrived “home” late Wednesday night, actually early Thursday morning, 12:30 A.M.
Later Thursday morning the Sheriff served him with papers to appear in court on Friday.
Friday he was presented with divorce papers and a no-contact order for Teresa and his daughter, Makayla.
Yesterday, the powers that be of our denomination arrived and Mike surrendered his credentials and was removed from his church.
I can’t begin to imagine his pain, his fear, his hurt, his everything.
What he said next broke my heart, “If you still want me, I’m still planning on coming there for revival.” I said of course we wanted him to come.
He wanted me to express his deep gratitude for your previous prayers, but needs your continued prayers.
One bright spot in this is that 15 minutes after the district superintendents lest, a job offer came over the phone. I don’t believe he accepted yet, but it gives him hope and assurance that God wants him to continue to preach.
I’ve put in your bulletins a nice chart of how to pray for other Christians. The verses all come from Colossians, chapter 1.
Let’s look at it together for a moment.
How to Pray For Other Christians
Colossians chapter one
From The Life Application Study Bible
1. Be thankful for their faith and changed lives (1:3).
2. Ask God to help them know what he wants them to do (1:9).
3. Ask God to give them deep spiritual understanding (1:9).
4. Ask God to help them live for him (1:10).
5. Ask God to give them more knowledge of himself (1:10).
6. Ask God to give them strength for endurance (1:11).
7. Ask God to fill them with joy, strength, and thankfulness (1:11).
How many people in your life could be touched if you prayed in this way?
Let us close in prayer
Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Matthew Henry’s Commentary; Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible;