Palm Sunday
Prisoners of Hope – Zechariah 9:9-12
Crosspoint – Dave Spooner – March 28th, 2021
Rom 15:4 NIV
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
- My goal is to teach and encourage you from the Scriptures so that you will have hope that will give you strength to endure. I want to encourage you and strengthen you so that you will have hope.
- Our focus this morning is on the passage where Jesus enters into Jerusalem for His final week leading up the crucifixion (which is Good Friday) and resurrection (which is Easter). We are going to “drill down” into the foundational passage in which this event is built upon so that you will be encouraged, and your hope will be strengthened.
Matt 21:1-11 NIV
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, tell him 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 the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, 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, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 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!”
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.”
- To answer the question, “Who is this?” we need to look at the Old Testament passage that Jesus was fulfilling to find the answer. The passage is Zechariah 9:9-12 and we are going to separate it in two parts.
Zech 9:9 NIV
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
- The book of Zechariah is one of the last books of the Old Testament and was written between 500 – 600 years before the time of Christ. This passage was a “messianic” passage that points to and prepares the people for the coming of the messiah.
- What Jesus did when entering the city was directly fulfilling this prophecy which identified Jesus as the long-awaited messiah – the one who would “crush the head of the snake” (see Gen. 3:15).
- The people of God (generally) were to “rejoice greatly,” and the people of Jerusalem (specifically) were to “shout.” They were looking forward to this, but we are looking back at this event. They were to look ahead to be encouraged and have hope, and we are to remember back to this part of the prophecy to be encouraged and have hope.
Remember who Jesus is
- He is the king (Your king)
- This means that He has the right to rule, that He has power, that He is to be obeyed, that He is the embodiment of the law. He is not just “a king” but the King of kings and the Lord of lords (see 1 Tim. 6:15, Rev. 17:14; 19:16).
- He is the initiator (comes to you)
- We can’t go to Him. Ps. 15:1-2 says, “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? 2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous.”
- At just the right time, while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6-8).
- He came to His own . . . the word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:11-14).
- He is the righteous one (righteous)
- In Him there is no sin (1 John 3:5), in Him there is no flaw (Ps 15), in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). He is the “righteous one” (Acts 7:52).
- He is the redeemer (having salvation)
- Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:36). “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).
- He is gentle (gentle)
- Matt 12:18-21 ESV “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen . . . 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
- When you see a guy riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, on a colt of a donkey with great fanfare, palm branches, and celebration, this is Him!!!
- Remember who Jesus is; this will give you hope and encouragement. Not only do I want you to remember the past, but also look to the future in anticipation as to what He will do. This is the second half of the prophecy that we are waiting to yet be fulfilled. We need to couple what he did and who He is with what He will do. This is the part we are still waiting to be fulfilled.
Zech 9:10-12 NIV
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war-horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. 12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
Anticipate what Jesus will do
- He will create peace between the nations (10a-b)
- He will rule over all creation (10c)
- He will free people from the penalty of sin (11)
- He will restore far more than what was lost (12)
Col 1:15-20 ESV
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Rev 22:12-13 NIV
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Conclusion
- Return to your fortress O prisoners of Hope! May He be your fortress – your safe place – your defense against all the troubles and storms of this life. May the only thing that captures you is the hope we have in Christ.
- Remember who He is and what He has done. Anticipate and hold onto what He will do in the future. Be encouraged and have hope. He is faithful, and He will do it! (1 Thess. 5:24). It will get better.
- Prayer
