1. Psalm 116 Palm Sunday April 1, 2012 Grace Baptist Church THE GOD THAT SAVES

2. THE SETTING OF THE 1 ST PALM SUNDAY MATTHEW’S WITNESS Matthew 21:1-11 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 "And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 "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.' " 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" 11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

3. A VIEW OF THE EASTERN GATE FROM GETHSEMANE

4. AND FROM THE INSIDE ON TEMPLE MOUNT.

5. JOHN’S WITNESS John 12:12-19 12 ¶ The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"

6. A LONG TIME BEFORE PALM SUNDAY POLITICS… …David looked and understood another aspect of his LORD. Yes, He will come again to deliver Israel and reign on the Throne of David for 1,000 years. But David’s Hosanna Testimony of his Lord in Psalm 116 is personal – not political. Today, rather than to review the Triumphal Entry again, let us look to Psalm 116 and … Express our thanksgiving for His salvation and His care in our lives. Take that personal LOOK today at Hosanna – Help Now!

7. A QUICK FIX? The people of Jesus' day were looking for a deliverer from their political, economic, and social woes. They drew their own conclusions from His power and words – His miracles and message. Even the disciples could not see “defeat” in Jesus’ immediate future – only a royal throne room. When they looked at Him, they could only see Him as the victorious “Save ME from MY Troubles” King.

8. I. OUR LOOK BACK (1-11) The Exclamation (1a) The Explanation (1b-11) Let me tell you about my Troubles My Calamity (3) My Call (4) Let me tell you about my Lord (5,6a)

9. Let me tell you about my Conversations I tell myself… (7) I tell God… (8) I tell you (9-11)

10. II. OUR LOOK AHEAD (12-19) The Appropriate Question (12) What shall I give back for all His benefits? The Abounding Answer (13-19) I will be thankful for the blessings of Your salvation. I will call on Your name. I will fulfill my promises to you. The Affectionate Parenthesis (16)

11. More than national/political, our salvation is personal. It answers our fears. It is born in faith. And it results in gratitude. Hosanna! DAVID COULD SAY AS HE LOOKED BACK AND AHEAD “YOUR PEOPLE ARE PRECIOUS. YOUR HOUSE IS PRECIOUS. YOUR CITY IS PRECIOUS.” BUT ALSO, “ LORD, YOU ARE PRECIOUS. MY SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE ARE PRECIOUS. OUR RELATIONSHIP IS PRECIOUS”