2. Beyond Imagining
Luke 19: 28-44; John 12:12-19
p. 969, 992

3. Holy Week In the Gospels 30 of 89 chapters (33%) Palm Sunday:
An important week in Jesus’ life
Palm Sunday:
Waving palms in celebration before God (Lev 23:40)

4. Holy Week . . . The Crowd: Five days later, Jesus is dead.
Luke: Jesus’ disciples and followers
John: People in Jerusalem for Passover
Hosanna [“save us”], Glory in the highest.
Five days later, Jesus is dead.

5. 1. Small Hope Expectation of a Great Davidic King – Messiah
Sometimes … unconquerable, mighty king
Other times … suffering servant
Messianic Expectation – restore the fortunes of Israel

6. 1. Small Hope A season as dominant power – not enough.
God was restoring “Shalom” [peace, wellbeing]
God was going for renewal of the cosmos.
Messianic Empire -or- Shalom in the Cosmos.

7. 2. Stunted Purpose Specific hopes – end Roman occupation.
The King riding on a donkey
A symbol of humility – he’s going to be good to us.
Then he will ride out on a horse with a conquering army.

8. 2. Stunted Purpose … Crowd wanted liberation:
Not from sin … from the Romans.
Prestige, wealth, power.
Peace, gentleness, shalom for us … Great ! !
For everyone else … not so sure.

9. 2. Stunted Purpose …
The other picture of Messiah … Suffering Servant – NO
They had a very specific, very stunted purpose.
Expanding our imaginations – sets us free.

10. 3. Short Timeframe Now -vs- Eternity
Want to be sure of the life we can see.
Messianic Kingdom – emphasis on this life on earth.
In Trials – hopes of resurrection sustained them
If the King is here … focus all about now.
E.g. the disciples (Acts 1:6)

11. 3. Short Timeframe . . . God looks to the reality of eternity.
Jesus’ Messianic Kingdom:
No geographical location Everywhere
Not limited to a people-group Everyone
Not short lived Everlasting.

12. 3. Short Timeframe . . .
Crowd came with a range of motives, ideas, hopes.
Events of Holy Week a brutal reality check.
Only got it once the Holy Spirit empowered them.

13. Our will -vs- God’s will
Living it . . .
Our will -vs- God’s will
We bring our desires, wants, prejudices to our understanding of God
Our imaginations are too small
Our hopes are too local
Our perspectives are too limited.

14. Living it . . . The magnitude of what God was about to do
He would lay down his life as a ransom for many
Consequences much bigger than anyone could imagine