Making an Entrance

Making an Entrance

Graphical sermon notes by,Rev. Ed WhitmanSunday, April 13, 2014

Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts Copyright 2014 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.Todays ScripturesExodus 12:1-6 John 12:12-162Passover Instructions Exodus 12:1-6 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt. This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month (Nisan) each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.

3Passover Instructions Exodus 12:1-6 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.

4Passover Instructions Exodus 12:1-6 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.

5Palm Sunday John 12:12-16 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast 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!

6Palm Sunday John 12:12-16

Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see your king is coming, seated on a donkeys colt. (Zechariah 9:9)

7Palm Sunday John 12:12-16 At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.8Making an Entrance9Making an EntranceBehold! The Lamb of Godwho takes away the sin of the world!John 1:29 (NJKV)10Dating for Palm Sunday

Early April, A.D. 30Passover Season - Jewish month Nisan 11Jesus MissionSince February: Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem Luke 9:51Mid-March: Lazarus is raised from the deadFrom that day on they (the Sanhedrin) plotted to take His life. John 11:53Nisan 10 (Sunday April 2, AD 30)Jesus is making final preparation for His entrance in Jerusalem12Lets Pray

13Palm SundayNot the triumphal entrance of a Monarch Warrior / King MessiahNot the gentle entrance of a Confronting non-violent / Revolutionary Messiah

The entrance of THE Passover Lamb14He was led like a lamb to the slaughter Isaiah 53:7Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

15He was led like a lamb to the slaughter . Isaiah 53:7 Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

16Invitation to Take a Closer Look

Do you see the lambs?

17Passover Instructions Exodus 12:1-6 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt. This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month (Nisan) each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.

18Passover Instructions Exodus 12:1-6

If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.

19Passover Instructions Exodus 12:1-6 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.

20Judaism: A Bloody ReligionTwo lambs slain every day, more on Sabbaths and other holy days at the TempleYom Kippur Day of Atonement (Fall)Blood of lambs carried into Holy of HoliesNisan 14 - All families of Israel brought their Passover Lambs for ritual slaughter at Temple 21Matthew 28:1

After the Sabbathliterally: After the Sabbaths

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24Wednesday is Missing

25The Sign of Jonah Matthew 12:38-40 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to Him: Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you. He answered, A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

26The Sign of Jonah Matthew 12:38-40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.27SummaryThe Easter account in Matthew 28 begins by referring to two SabbathsIn AD 30 there were two Sabbaths back to backthe first one on Thursday (a Passover Sabbath)Wednesday seems to be a missing day in all 4 gospels3 days and 3 nights: Sunday is the second day after Friday, not the third.

Where is this going?

28The Gospel of John Seems to Indicate:The crucifixion happened on Nisan 14 (Thursday) When thousands of lambs are slain in Temple yardThe Last Supper meal was on the evening of Nisan 13 (Wednesday) before Passover.John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come 29The Gospel of John Seems to Indicate:Have we have been in error thinking Jesus death occurred on Nisan 15 (Friday)?30Jesus Entrance into Jerusalem was planned by Jesus Himself to proclaim:I am the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!31Palm Sunday is tightly woven together with the crucifixion and the resurrection.32Hosanna! = SaveNot:Save us from political oppression!Save us from the injustices of man!But:Save us from our sins!Save me from my sins!33The Most Important IssueHas the Lamb of God saved you?Has Jesus taken away the sin in your life: -Its penalty? -Its power?Has Jesus delivered you from the dark side and brought you into Gods Kingdom of light and love?

34 Palm Sunday April 13, 2014Day to acknowledge the need for rescue

Day to thank Him for His saving work

Day to repent and, with faith, ask Jesus to make to make an entrance into our lives

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Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Hosanna!37