Making an Entrance Graphical sermon notes by, Rev. Ed Whitman Sunday, April 13, 2014 Evangelical Congregational Church in Dunstable Massachusetts © Copyright 2014 by the author, Rev. Ed Whitman, with permission to freely redistribute.

Today’s Scriptures Exodus 12:1-6 John 12:12-16

Passover 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.

Passover 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.

Passover 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.”

“Palm 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!”

“Palm 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 donkey’s colt.” (Zechariah 9:9)

“Palm 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.

Making an Entrance

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NJKV)

Dating for “Palm Sunday”  Early April, A.D. 30  Passover Season - Jewish month Nisan

Jesus’ Mission  Since February: Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem” Luke 9:51  Mid-March: Lazarus is raised from the dead “From that day on they (the Sanhedrin) plotted to take His life.” John 11:53 Nisan 10 (Sunday April 2, AD 30 ) Jesus is making final preparation for His entrance in Jerusalem

Let’s Pray

“Palm Sunday”  Not the triumphal entrance of a Monarch Warrior / King Messiah  Not the gentle entrance of a Confronting non-violent / Revolutionary Messiah The entrance of THE Passover Lamb

“He 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

“He 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

Invitation to Take a Closer Look Do you see the lambs?

Passover 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.

Passover 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.

Passover 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.”

Judaism: A Bloody Religion  Two lambs slain every day, more on Sabbaths and other holy days at the Temple  Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement (Fall) Blood of lambs carried into Holy of Holies  Nisan 14 - All families of Israel brought their Passover Lambs for ritual slaughter at Temple

Matthew 28:1 “After the Sabbath…” literally: “After the Sabbath s ”

Wednesday is Missing

The 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.”

The 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.”

Summary  The Easter account in Matthew 28 begins by referring to two Sabbaths  In AD 30 there were two Sabbaths back to back—the first one on Thursday (a “Passover” Sabbath)  Wednesday seems to be a “missing” day in all 4 gospels  “3 days and 3 nights”: Sunday is the second day after Friday, not the third. Where is this going?

The Gospel of John Seems to Indicate:  The crucifixion happened on Nisan 14 (Thursday) When thousands of lambs are slain in Temple yard  The “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… ”

The Gospel of John Seems to Indicate: Have we have been in error thinking Jesus’ death occurred on Nisan 15 (Friday) ?

Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem was planned by Jesus Himself to proclaim: “I am the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Palm Sunday is tightly woven together with the crucifixion and the resurrection.

“Hosanna!” = “Save” Not:  “Save us from political oppression!”  “Save us from the injustices of man!” But: “Save us from our sins!” “Save me from my sins!”

The Most Important Issue  Has the Lamb of God saved you?  Has Jesus taken away the sin in your life: -It’s penalty? -It’s power?  Has Jesus delivered you from the dark side and brought you into God’s Kingdom of light and love?

Palm Sunday – April 13, 2014 Day 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

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