Jesus' Goal: Understanding His Mission on Palm Sunday

Jesus' goal from birth was to go to the cross and be raised from the dead.

He came to bring blessings to people, including healing the sick and opening blinded eyes.

However, people often take these blessings for granted, as seen in the story of the ten lepers.

Jesus' ultimate goal was to lay down his life on the cross to save humanity from sin.

Music Today I want to talk to you though about what Jesus' goal was. We look at Jesus and we think of Jesus as the baby in the little manger. And that's what we think of so much. But Jesus' goal from the birth was not to just grow up and be born and just live. No. His whole purpose, his whole goal from the get-go was to go to Galilee's cross. To die. But most importantly of all. Raised from the dead. As Jesus walked the shores. He would bring so much blessing to people. He would heal the sick. He would open blinded eyes. He would cause deaf ears to hear. He would make crippled limbs strong. So that they could walk. and yes, he would even cleanse the lever. But it was something interesting because so often what would happen is maybe people would just kind of take that blessing for granted. If you want proof of that, all you've got to do is see the ten levers. Ten levers came to Jesus. They came to Jesus for the blessing of being made whole. They came to Jesus and they said, Master, would you make us whole? And Jesus simply said to them, go and show yourself to the priest. Why do you say that? Because they had to show themselves to the priest that they were clean so that they could reenter society. So those ten lepers began to make their way to the high priest. And as they made their way, their faith made them whole. They began to be made whole. But what happened? When we read the account One leper turned back To thank God for the blessing What happened to the other nine? I think the other nine just took it for granted I think sometimes that's what we do We take things for granted We take the blessing of God for granted being able to be in church is a blessing I want you to understand that being able to be in church is a blessing it's not just something we should take for granted we have the ability to get up on our feet and get to church that is something we need to praise God about we really do well see Jesus at this point had done so many miracles he raised Lazarus from the dead he met Zacchaeus and he told Zacchaeus, come on down, I want to go to your house today. And what a blessing Zacchaeus had because he ended up meeting the master and most importantly of all, he began to give back. He said, if I've cheated anybody in my ways, I'm going to give them back double fold. What a blessing. Talk about true repentance, amen. That was the point. Jesus had seen so many miracles and done so many things and people had seen the blessing of God but it was about to come to an end Jesus had his disciples go get a little donkey and they brought him to Jesus and they fixed him up and they began to ride through the streets in verse 37 it says when he was come near even now to the descent of the Mount of Olives the whole multitude of disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen now I first want to make this perfectly clear when it says disciples it is not talking about the twelve this is talking about the people that had seen the Messiah do wonderful works. A disciple is just someone that is a follower of Jesus. We are disciples of God. We are disciples of God if we love the Lord and if we're following Him. And these ones that have seen all these miracles began to praise God with a loud voice. A loud voice. Hosanna! Hosanna! Right? Beautiful words. And they said in verse 38, Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest. Now these are beautiful words that Jesus truly deserves. Why does Jesus deserve these words? Not because of all the miracles that he did, but because of the miracle he was about to do. It was about a miracle he was about to perform. Jesus was about to lay down his life on Calvary's cross. Not because of his, anything that he'd done wrong. No, no. It was because of our sin. The people's sin in Bible times. Clear down to us now in this generation. Every single human are born in sin. None of us are good. No, not one. Save God the Father in heaven. That's the only one that's good. That's what the Bible says. None of us are good. None of us are worthy of Jesus dying on the cross. None of us. There's not one of us that can say, Oh, I did this and this and this and that is why I deserve Jesus dying on the cross for me. No. You can do all the good works you want, That doesn't mean you're worthy of Jesus dying on the cross for you. You're not. These people have seen the amazing things that he'd done. And they were beginning to praise him for all those amazing things that he saw. But I want you to understand something. That the Jewish people were looking for a conquering king. They were looking for someone that was going to knock down Rome. knock down all the surrounding areas that were oppressing the Jewish society and they were looking for a conquering king. Someone that was going to come in and knock down all the thrones But Jesus was not coming to knock down worldly physical thrones No Jesus was coming the first time to knock down all the thrones But Jesus was not coming to knock down worldly physical thrones No Jesus was coming the first time to knock down a throne that Satan had set up Saying, I am the God of this world. And Jesus with his one glorious, glorious sacrifice on Calvary's cross when he laid down in that tomb and he laid there. But on that third day, when the stone rolled away, Jesus came out of that grave with death, health, and victory over all things for you and for me. He kicked down Satan's throne once and for all. He said, no more will you have reign over my people. And he kicked that throne down. He said, no more. No more. My people can call upon me and they will be saved because of my sacrifice. Hallelujah. He kicked out Satan's throne. He knocked that throne into pieces. Because I want you to understand something. When Satan, when he put God on that cross and Jesus died and he put Satan in that tomb. I want you to understand something. Satan was in hell rejoicing he was in his kingdom sitting on his throne rejoicing saying I did it I killed God but on that third glorious day when the storm rolled away and Jesus came out of that tomb that's when Satan said uh oh I was wrong no no no I can't kill God you can't kill God no matter how much this world is thinking and kill God. No matter how much this world thinks they're going to eliminate God from God's people, it can't be done. They're not going to eliminate Him. Oh, you can take God's Word. You can take this Word. You can try to take it out of our work, out of our houses, out of our houses, out of our churches. You can take it out of the government. You can do all that. But there's one thing you can't do with God's Word, and you can't take it out of His people's hearts. Oh, hallelujah. Anything that's planted here, they can't take it out of there. Oh, if it's planted here in your mind, they can't take it out of there. That's why it is so vital for us to plant God's Word in our hearts and in our minds. Because they can't take that away. They can take the Bible, they can burn it down. But they can't burn it out of your heart. They can't burn it out of your mind. Hallelujah. This is almost Easter sermon. I didn't read it that way, but this is almost Easter sermon. Hallelujah. They're screaming and singing praises to God as He's riding in. But I love what happens here. In verse 39, something very interesting happens. Look at what happens here. And some of the Pharisees, ha ha. Some of these religious people You ever met some religious people? These ones that wear their suits They're good stuff Nothing against suits I'm not talking about that They wear their religious suits They're all printed proper And they got their nose way up in the air And they think they're better than everybody That's what the Pharisees were And they saw this thing going on All these praises going on and they came to Jesus and they said these words Master, rebuke your disciples let's put it in 2021 language they came to Jesus and said Jesus, shut your people up that's what they said they said, sir shut your people up they're making too much profit What's going on in 2021? This world is trying to shut up the church. That's what they're doing. They're saying, oh, we don't want you to talk about God. You're going to offend people. If this offends you, I'm sorry. that I'm not going to stop preaching. If this offends you, then go someplace else where you don't have to be offended. I love you. I love everybody. I love y'all coming. I do, but I'm just saying, I cannot not preach God's Word. I had a conversation yesterday with a fellow preacher at the radio station. And we talked about it a little bit. He said, I get so hurt because sometimes when I preach, I know it's hurting people and I don't know what to do. And I said, there's nothing we can't do. Because we have to give an account someday for what we said. And I don't want to be up in heaven and have to give an account to God and say, oh, have God look at me and say, on such and such a day. And you pulled back. You didn't tell the people the truth. Because I am fearful what God just might do. Maybe, just maybe, God might say to me, because you compromised, you can't enter. That's why I have to preach it like it is. That's why sometimes it's a little harsh. I feel bad that I have to do it. I'm not going to do what I've got to do. The religious leaders, the Pharisees, were tired of people rejoicing to God. Kind of sounds familiar, though, doesn't it? Because the government is tired of the church trying to seep into the government. they keep saying oh we need separation of church and state but I want you to understand something and this is the thing that people don't realize this nation was founded on God and the belief in God and the separation of church and state had nothing to do with the church entering the government, it had to do with that the government couldn't enter a church. The government could not tell the church what to do. That's what that was about. But somewhere along the lines we flipped it and we said, okay, now that means we've got to eliminate the church from anything that is God from the government Now that why we don have prayer That why we don have anything I going to be honest with you You can get in trouble today but that okay Maybe some of you had seen this. This was really funny. It's funny, but it's sad. Okay, let's go that route. A few weeks ago, a few months ago, they had a meeting up in Washington. And they had one of the guys sitting there pray And I thought that was so funny He sat there and he finished his prayer You know how he finished his prayer? He said, all men and all women Because we have to be equal here But see, amen is not a gender thing The term amen means let it be so has nothing to do with men and women. See, that's why people don't, they don't get it. They don't get it. You can't. And there again, who put him out there to pray? Well, here we know what a man means. Who put him out there to pray? I mean, let's be honest. I don't know. But anyway, that's another issue for another time. The idea is what I'm saying is this. God has said he wants his people to praise. and what we have done is we have silenced the church. The church of the living God has become silent. And I'm not talking, I'm not talking just down here, I'm talking all around the country, all around the world, we are becoming silent Christians. We don't say amen. We don't say praise the Lord. When's the last time we said hallelujah? You know, we don't say those things anymore. Because we become silent. Because we're, I don't know, are we afraid we're going to offend somebody? If I offend you by saying hallelujah, hallelujah. Sorry. Sorry, but that's, well, no, I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry. I'm sorry. because I'm not saying hallelujah for your applause. I'm saying hallelujah because he deserves it. That's why I say hallelujah. That's why I say amen. That's why I say praise the Lord, because God deserves his praise. Now, interestingly enough here, that's what the Pharisees, the religious leaders, couldn't get wrapped around their heads there. that people were trying to give God praise that He truly deserves. So that's why they said, Master, rebuke your disciples. Tell them to be quiet. And then Jesus said this. He answered and said unto them, I tell you that if these would hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out, Why? And I'm going to tell you something that God revealed to me, that I was so amazed about. I thought it had to do with praise, but it actually had something more than that. This, why would the rocks cry out? Because prophecy said that the praises of God would have to bring forth as he made his way in. And if the people would stop praising, the prophecy would not be fulfilled. So they had to have praises and that's why Jesus said the rocks would cry out if these people kept their silence. Isn't that awesome? That's what he was saying. God is mind blowing. But that's what I found out and it's so amazing. And then interestingly enough in our final verse it says this and when he was come near he beheld the city the city of Jerusalem. And what did he do? He wept over it. Now as I read that, I got to thinking about America. And I thought about it today and I thought, if Jesus began to ride through the streets of the different towns all across America, would he weep? because of what America has become. And then as I thought about that, I went a step further. And I thought about it and I thought, I wonder if Jesus would walk down the aisles of our churches all across the country and all across the world right now. Would he weep? Because of what we have become. And I'm not talking we don't love God. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about when God weeped. When's the last time when we were singing a song of worship that you just got the joy of the Lord so built up inside of you that you couldn't help it, that you had to just say, Amen, praise God. When's the last time? We become so silent. And I sit and I wonder and I think, would Jesus say the rocks are going to cry out because you're being so silent. I want you to understand something today as I conclude and it is this. We have this beautiful cross lit behind us. If you look at it, there's three lights. You notice that? Three beautiful red lights. Notice there's one in one corner, one in another corner. There's one down at the bottom. Why is that? One hand was pierced. Two hands were pierced. Feet were pierced. The blood ran from the corners and the bottom of the cross of Calvary. And why did it happen? Because you and me, we needed a Savior. Jesus didn't come because he had nothing else to do Jesus came because without a sacrificial lamb mankind could not be saved and he was the perfect lamb that perfect sacrifice and next week I'm going to share something with you that is mind blowing about the crucifixion and you're going to see some amazing things and that's for next week but I want you to understand that Jesus' sacrifice was for you and for me I needed a savior you needed a savior those three beautiful lights represent the precious glorious blood of Jesus that was bled and pierced and run down the cross for you and for me. We need to stop worrying about what people think. Maybe that's what we do. Maybe that's why we got silent. We're fearful that somebody might think we got too much religion. I remember my dad said this one time And they were going to conclude But this is something that my dad said one time My dad Was just a new Christian He was going to church Every week Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night He would go well ahead of schedule And sit down with the pastor Before church And they would talk And they would study the word a little bit before church And he was so Wanting the word in his heart he was living with his mom at that time because he was like about 17 years of age just a young Christian and he came home one Wednesday night kind of late because they had stayed afterwards and read the word and studied a little bit he came home a little late and back in those days you know it didn't matter if you were 17, 18, 19 if you lived in a house you'd run by the world you know And back in those days, parents weren't so nice. Maybe nice is a wrong word. They were a little more disciplinary. They didn't spare the rod, if you will. And I'm not saying that's something we should do. I'm just saying, but my grandma, when he walked in the door, she met him with a yardstick. And she took that yardstick and she snapped it over his back. broke it in half. Picked up both pieces, put them together, and she went, and hit him again. She said, don't you ever come in this house this late again. And he said, Mom, I can't help it. I need to be where God is. And she said, son, you're getting too much of that religion. And my dad said, Mom, no disrespect. I can't get enough. I can't get enough. And I look at that and I think, is that what we're feeling in our hearts? I can't get enough of God. I can't get enough. No matter what it costs me, I can't get enough. Do you feel that way today? Or are you happy with the way you're living there? Are you happy with what you have? Let's bow our heads before the Lord. As we examine our hearts today, I want you to examine your life. I want you to think about it today I want you to think Am I satisfied with what I have? Am I satisfied with what I have? I mean, I don't care what little it is If it's too little, if it's just enough Or whatever, I'm satisfied with what I have Or do you have a hunger and thirst For God? Do you look into your life and you say I need more Of you, God that beautiful song says more of you more of you i've had all what i need is more of you of things i've had my fill but yet i hope are still empty and bare lord hear my prayer for more of you would you be honest to god today i'm not going to ask you to come up front i'm not going ask you to do anything like that, but would you be honest to God today and say, God, I need more of you in my life. Will you raise up the hand and say, God, I need more of you. Hands going up all over the house. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. That's beautiful. That's beautiful. Maybe you're watching the video this morning or this afternoon sometime wherever you are. Maybe it's a Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or whatever. You're watching this video now and you're saying, I want more of you, God. Wherever you're at, I want you to raise up your hand right there too. Just raise up your hand. God will see it. And he's going to pour out that blessing upon you right now. Father God, you saw these hands going up. Of people saying, God, I need more of you. Father God, I ask right now that you will pour down upon your people. Those ones that raised their hand. Pour down upon them, God, more of the blessing. that, Father God, they will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love them, that you will fill them. As that beautiful song says, Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord. Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. I pray right now, Father God, you will fill their cup as they lift it up, and you will make them whole, Father God, that the blessing of God, the anointing of the Father, will be in their lives, and they will have the joy of the Lord, which is their strength, and they will no longer be a silent praise of God, but there will be a boisterous praise of God and they will be loud and they will be boisterous and they will let the world know that you love them and that they love you. I pray that right now, Father, in Jesus' name. I thank you, Father, for that blessing. I thank you, Father, for the anointing. I thank you, Father God, that you hear the prayers of your people. Father I want to thank you for each and everyone that came out today Father as we dismiss I ask you not dismiss us but Father God that you will go with us that Father God will keep us safe and then Father God will bring us back safe into your house that we will be able to worship you and Father for all that you are for all that you do we give you praise and honor and glory for everything for it's truly in Jesus name we beg these blessings today and we say a heart of you Amen and amen. Thank you. Thank you.

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