SN - notes from 2/27/10
Michael Smith February 27 at 11:34pm Check out the video at www.calvarychapelcostamesa.com and podcast at www.thesngroup.net!
Jesus’ Humble and Triumphal Entry
Mark 11:1-11
v1 - Bethpage - (lit. “house of green figs” in Aramaic), is a village on top of the southern section of the Mount of Olives chain.
v1 - Bethany - (probably from “house of the poor or afflicted”) was a village on the Mount of Olives about two miles southeast of Jerusalem on the way to Jericho.
v2 - a “true” triumphal entry was when a Roman general had routed an enemy and had killed 5000 soldiers. Amidst a large, cheering crowd, the treasures would come first, then prisoners, then soldiers, and then the general - riding in a golden chariot pulled by
beautiful horses. It was a very prideful ordeal, often culminating in the death of the prisoners in the arena.
v2 - Jesus was far different. Having healed, fed, and preached to thousands, He rides in on a colt - a sign of a peaceful entry - which culminates in His death that frees a multitude of prisoners/sinners.
v3 - v6 - Jesus might of already made an arrangement with the colt owner, or it was strictly prophetic.
v7 - … and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it.
observation 1 - Jesus sat on a wild, unbroken donkey displaying His power over nature.
observation 2 - in context in Matt. 21:5 (and Zech. 9:9) - “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’
observation 3 - Notice the word, “lowly”. The humility of Jesus is baffling when you consider Isaiah 6 and Revelation 1.
A. Isaiah 6:1-5 (compare with John 12:41)
This captures the holiness of Jesus.
Notice the words: “throne”, “high”, “lifted up”, “holy x 3”, “glory”, and “woe is me” (coming from a very righteous prophet)
B1. Revelation 1:11-20 (compare with Rev. 2:8)
This captures the power of Jesus.
Recall that John has seen Jesus: during the 3.5 year ministry, walk on water, transfigured, crucified, resurrected, and ascended.
B2. But in 1:17, John falls down “as dead” just from the sheer greatness and power of Jesus.
C1. And back to Zech. 9:9 - “lowly”! In light of His holiness and power, the humility displayed by Jesus in saving us is staggering.
C2. How was Jesus humble?
1. Declared so by himself. Matt.11:29.
2. He became a bondservant. Php 2:7 - Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form
of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
3. The incarnation (Luke 1)
4. His subjection to His parents -
Luke 2:51
5. His career - Matt. 13:55
6. His poverty -
Luke 9:58 - “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
7. By allowing Himself to be tempted so He could sympathize with us -
Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
8. By exemplifying servitude -
Matt. 20:28 - “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
9. By associating with despised people -
Matt. 9:10-11 and Luke 15:1-2
10. By washing the disciples feet - John 13:5
11. By allowing Himself to suffer -
Isa. 50:6 - I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting
12a. By allowing Himself to die -
John 10:18 - No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
12b. By allowing Himself to die -
Phil. 2:8 - And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and nbecame obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
So, humility was exemplified in His life and also commanded for Christians throughout scripture.
Why?
1) Humility makes us useable (see Moses’ life, Daniel’s life)
2) Humility is attractive (1 Cor. 10:13 - love does not boast)
3) Humility makes you wise (Proverbs 11:2)
4) Humility makes you more gracious (Proverbs 3:34)
4) Humility on earth is easier knowing you’ll be glorified in heaven… and maybe earth (1 Peter 5:6)
How?
1) Get your eyes off of yourself and onto Jesus.
Self focus = depression or pride.
Jesus focus = humility.
2) Associate with the humble (Rom. 12:16)
