1. It was Sunday, one week before the resurrection. Jesus went into Jerusalem three times.

-Sat. Mark 11:11, entered as Priest going to the temple.

-Sun. Matt. 21:12-13, entered as King, in Triumphal entry.

-Mon. Matt. 21:28-44, entered as Prophet and wept over Jerusalem.

 2. Jesus earlier had left Jerusalem because of their unbelief, and had been preaching in the north in Galilee.

 3. Jesus now comes to Jerusalem, presenting himself as the Messiah.

HE CAME AS A LOWLY KING.

1. Zech. 9:9, prophesied that the Messiah would come not as a mighty King, but in a lowly fashion.

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

2. Jesus entered riding not on a stallion, but a colt. The horse was used for war and to ride on a horse was to present oneself as a warrior, but Jesus came on a lowly donkey which would symbolize peace.

Matthew 21:2 records that Jesus sent two of His disciples into the village and there they would find a ass and a her colt. They brought both, but Jesus rode on the young colt that had never been ridden before. Probably they led the colt’s mother ahead of her with the colt following.

3. The saddle upon which Jesus rode was the garments of is

disciples.

AS THEY PROCEED TO JERUSALEM.

1. He is accompanied by those who saw him raise Lazarus. John. 12:17-18

2. A great number of people met them. Matt. 21:9

3. Spreading their garments, cutting palm leaves to place in His path, they sang, "Hosanna', to the son of David, Blessed is He the cometh in the name of the Lord."

a. Hosanna means: "grant or give salvation." 

 b. Jesus was being honored as the Messiah King of Israel, their redeemer and Savior.

 c. Matt. 21:11, Those in the procession told over and over again. "This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth." From the form of the verb, "said" it indicates over and over they told people as they moved along.

4. The disciples according to John 12:16, did not fully understand what was going on. Later they did. In only a few days, the cry from the streets would be "crucify Him!"

5. The Pharisees wanted the message stopped, and ask Jesus to rebuke His disciples.

6. Jesus coming back on Monday, weeps over the city. Matt. 23:31-39.

7. Jesus weeping warned of the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

8. Jesus drives the money changers from the Temple.

FOUR TRUTHS FROM THESE VERSES.

1. Jesus is truly the Savior of the World.

2. Many fail to accept Him as who he is.

3. Some openly oppose Him as Savior

4. Jesus desires all to be saved.

I. JESUS IS TRULY THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

A. There was ample proof of who he was.

1. He had only days earlier raised Lazarus from the dead, four days after death.

2. Many miracles he have done openly, and all of Him.

3. He said He was the promised Messiah, and He called himself God.

B. Jesus was presenting himself as the Savior.

1. Those that praised Him sang, Psa. 118:26 which was a messianic song.

2. When the Pharisees wanted Jesus to stop the multitude from singing... Jesus replied if he did the stones would cry out.

C. Even at this hour Jesus is still presenting Himself as the Savior.

1. Across the world, the Gospel is being preached.

2. Many disciple, still tell others the Good News that Jesus has come to the world.

3. Preachers are still called of God, to preach and teach this truth.

4. Many through simple trust in Him, by faith experience the miracle of the new birth.

II. MOST FAIL TO ACCEPT HIM AS WHO HE IS.

 A. Jesus came and presented Himself as the Savior of the World, but they only wanted a deliverer from the Roman domination.

 1. His disciples did not fully understand until later. John. 12:16

 2. The multitudes sang praises to God, yet in only a couple of days they would be crying for his death.

 B. They saw him as great man, one who would help them, and be the hero who lead Israel to throw off Roman rule.

 C. Today, also many see Jesus as a great moral man.

 1. He is seen as one who had great compassion.

 2. Great moral leader of the world.

 3. Many call upon Him, to help them in the time of trouble.

 4. To many He is the Santa Claus god. The god of love.

 5. He is seen as being a god of peace, setting the example for all men, to love one another and thus bring peace to the world.

D. Yet, Jesus is the same today as He was then.

1. He came as the Righteous Savior, He came as He did then preaching Righteousness.

2. Many want a savior, but not a God. They want the peace, and salvation from trouble yet He said His peace comes from repentance of sin, and letting Jesus be the Lord of their life.

3. Many want a King, who sits on a throne some- where way off, but do not want a God who sits on the throne of their lives.

 4. Many seek in Him a temporary saving, but not an eternal life.

5. Many use His name, but refuse to let him make any claims on their lives.

6. Matt. 7:21, Jesus said many call him Lord, yet at the judgment will stand condemned to Hell because they do not know the real Jesus, who is our God. Jesus, said he would profess to them that he never knew them, you that work iniquity.

III. SOME EVEN SEEING HIM AND BEING CLOSE TO HIM REJECT HIM AS SAVIOR.

A. The Pharisees, afraid of the Romans, and the opinion of others, urged Jesus to silence this message of Him being the Messiah.

B. Today, many still, through the preaching of the word, hear the truth, and gospel.

1. Many being afraid of others, afraid of what someone might think of them, refuse to trust Him as Lord and Savior.

2. How many have died and gone to Hell, close to salvation, yet ashamed to trust Him.

3. How many have refused salvation, afraid being of having to give up, petty, detrimental sin.

4. Many as the Pharisees, willing condemn them- selves to the Devil's Hell, in order to keep feeding the lusts of their flesh.

 

IV. JESUS STILL CALLS MEN TRUST HIM AND ACCEPT HIM AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR.

 A. LUKE 19:41. Jesus wept over the city.

 1. He told of the coming destruction of the city, which accused in 70 AD.

 2. Titus, the Roman general, literally leveled Jerusalem. The siege of the city was so horrible, that mothers cast lots to see whose child would be killed and eaten.

B. In Matt. 23:37, Jesus poured out His heart and tearfully wept over Jerusalem.

C. Oh, that the lost sinner, would understand the awful truth of those who refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior, when He said, in V38 "Behold your house is left desolate!!!"

CONCLUSION:

1. It is a fact this morning, that the one who rode on the colt into Jerusalem was the Savior of the World, as much NOW as THEN.

2. So many want all Jesus has to offer, yet refuse Him as their Lord.

 3. Some even hearing the Word of Truth, being so close to understanding with the eye of faith, never in faith trust Him as Lord and Savior. So many, ashamed of the opinion of others, let eternal life past them by.

 4. Even now, in this place in this time, Jesus so strongly desires you to be saved.

 He waits, illustrated by the example of the mother hen, who would scoop you under his wing, and lovingly protect you.

 5. Don't let anything stand between you and God, you and eternal live, and heaven.