“I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday” reveals how Jesus’ sacrifice fulfilled God’s plan, transitioning from law to grace and ending centuries of rituals. The message has video, audio, and notes.
We see God’s grace. We don’t see laws, regulations, animal sacrifices, temple worship, etc., so God will tolerate me. All this ended the night of the last Passover and the first Communion. You and I live in the dispensation – administration – of the GRACE of God. The body of Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus Christ, and the New Testament are not about laws, animal sacrifices, rituals, or Sabbaths. It’s about the grace of God.
Palm Sunday
By Pastor Delbert Young
I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
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I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
Scriptures: Luke 22:1-6, Revelation 13:8, John 10:18, John 17:1, Luke 22:14-15, Luke 22:16-18, John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Luke 22:17-18, Luke 17:20-21, Luke 22:19-20, Ephesians 3:2-6, Revelation 7:9-10,
Luke 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the PASSOVER, was approaching, and the CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then SATAN entered JUDAS, CALLED ISCARIOT, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the OFFICERS OF THE TEMPLE GUARD and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
To the superficial reader and non-student of the Bible, it would appear that the hideous Judaic religious system turned demonic, the cruel Roman governor Pilate, Judas Iscariot the traitor, and directing it all, Satan himself orchestrated the death of Jesus. Was it Satan’s plan? Was Satan directing it all? Did God have to scramble at the last minute to come up with something because Judaism rejected Jesus and would crucify him? Absolutely not!
I see Grace Part 1
Revelation 13:8 …THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Before God created the world, God planned the slaying of the Lamb. It was not Satan’s plan. God planned Jesus’ death before the world began. Jesus was not a victim, and Jesus directed every aspect of his death up to the very moment. Furthermore, Jesus knew how he would die, where he would die, and why he would die before there was time. Jesus did not seek acceptance by Judaism. He does see acceptance from you.
John 10:18 NO ONE can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily.
Jesus came as Immanuel to our earth at precisely the right moment (Gal 4:4) and died at exactly the right moment—Passover.
John 17:1 …he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, THE TIME HAS COME. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
Jesus had miraculously passed through crowds who wanted to kill him, but the time had NOT come. The Jews would become furious and want to stone Jesus to death, but the time had NOT come. Jesus did not die because Satan had a plan, or because the Jews had a plan, or because Pilate had the authority. He died the day Judaism slayed the Passover lambs because God had a plan.
Over and over again, the time had NOT come, but now it was time. Jesus orchestrated it daily and spoke of it more and more to his men. He had complete control over every person and every event leading to his death.
I see Grace Part 1
We find several unforgettable characters as we study the story of Christ’s crucifixion.
We find religious leaders – High Priest, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians. Jesus’ friends, enemies, mother, observers, and Judas were there. Judas is the one name known worldwide for his betrayal of the Son of God, but Judas couldn’t help himself. Pilate – a man known for washing his hands of the innocent blood of Jesus, yet having him crucified, but Pilate couldn’t help himself. God used compelling characters to build the most incredible drama the world has ever known and refuses to forget.
Yet, Jesus is the shining star who eclipses all other characters as he captures even the hearts of those far from God. We watch him humiliated yet exalted, punished but innocent; others hate while he loves and forgives. He moves through each scene in total control of every character and himself. Jesus was no victim. He was not a good man who made a good attempt at morality but made the wrong people mad along the way. Jesus was the divine plan – the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. God wasn’t scrambling. God was waiting.
It was the Thursday night before Christ’s crucifixion on Friday. The long, long-awaited moment was there. By that time tomorrow, Jesus would be dead, bled out, and buried. However, the Scriptures long awaited something else from the foundation of the world, and it must happen first. Something must END, and something must BEGIN.
I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
Luke 22:14-15 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, WITH DESIRE I HAVE DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER:
Jesus desired with desire THIS PASSOVER. He had anticipated THIS moment to come for millennia. Why? He experienced over thirty Passovers. What was so special about this one? Was it because he was about to die, or did something else happen?
Luke 22:16-18 For I tell you, I will NOT EAT IT AGAIN until IT FINDS FULFILLMENT in the kingdom of God.”
Not eat what? Until what finds fulfillment? The answer is THAT Passover. Jesus desired with desire to eat that Passover because that would be the LAST PASSOVER. It was about to find its FULFILLMENT. Jesus would eat the Passover’s fulfillment. All the lambs slain since the exit from Egypt would find their fulfillment in the Lamb of God. This Passover was the last Passover with any meaning.
Notice the language. “…I will not eat it again…” We find a Greek word used twice: ouketi {ook-et’-ee} meaning no longer, no more, no further. Jesus repeated ouketi, ouketi. He would never, ever, never, no longer, no more, no further eat of that Passover again. It was the last Passover. Jesus ate a lamb and then became the Lamb. Imagine how many lambs Jesus watched sacrificed but knew on this day he would be the suffering Lamb. That was an epic moment. It turned all of history. Jesus ended the Old Covenant and Law that evening by terminating the Passover.
I see Grace Part 1
The Passover inaugurated the Old Covenant, bringing God’s people from Egypt.
The children of Israel were in bondage to Egypt for 400 years. God sent Moses to declare from God, “Let my people go” (Ex 5:1). Pharaoh would not, so God sent ten plagues upon Egypt, each more devastating than the one before it. The final plague would bring the death of the firstborn of every family, even the Israelites, unless they slay a lamb, eat it, and its blood purposefully placed on the doorpost of every house.
That night, the death angel came throughout Egypt, and, indeed, the firstborn died in every home without the blood of the lamb on the doorpost. Pharoah released God’s people from Egypt. At that time, God instituted the Passover, inaugurating the Old Covenant. Every year, every family slaughtered a lamb between 3 and 6 p.m. and ate it prepared as a feast called Passover.
The Old Covenant began with the Passover. It was full of animal sacrifices, laws, Sabbath, regulations, and commandments. However, no animal could bring forgiveness of sin, and no law, regulation, or commandment could either. At best, they made a way for God to tolerate sin. Nothing could take away the sin of the world until God sent his only begotten son.
John the Baptizer has already identified Jesus and what he came to do:
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!
I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
Jesus, with desire, desired THIS Passover. Finally, he, the Lamb of God, would bring forgiveness of sin. The Lamb of God would not cause God to tolerate us. The Lamb of God took away sin completely. God loves us and desires to be with us. Jesus said emphatically, “For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” What was the fulfillment of the Passover?
1 Corinthians 5:7 ” …For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Christ’s death on the cross fulfilled the Passover. Jesus had more to say.
Luke 22:17-18 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. FOR I TELL YOU I WILL NOT DRINK AGAIN of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
This cup was not the cup for the Lord’s Table (Communion). It was one of the cups used for the Passover. The Passover included four cups of red wine to be drunk at specific times during the meal. Jesus said the same thing about the drinks of the Passover. I WILL NOT DRINK AGAIN… Jesus is emphatic. It’s over! Has the kingdom of God come? I’ll only use one scripture.
I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
Luke 17:20-21 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.”
It’s come to me. Has it come to you? God instituted the Passover to begin the Law, and God had to end the Passover to end the Law. With desire, he desired to do this. Not finished yet, Jesus went on.
Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, THIS IS MY BODY which is given for you: this do IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. Likewise also the cup AFTER SUPPER, saying, THIS CUP IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOOD, which is shed for you.
The transition is monumental. Jesus ended the Old Covenant with one swoop and instituted the New Covenant. I want to make sure we get it. Jesus ended the entire Law of Moses and Old Covenant – dietary laws, Sabbath, rituals, sacrifices, altars, temple worship, priesthood, and Holy of Holies, on and on. It was the end of that religion. The bread and the cup (of wine) replaced the Passover.
I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
The bread is to put us in remembrance of Jesus on the cross – the beating, scourging, humiliation, pain, bleeding, suffering, and finally, his death – all for our eternity. The cup is to put us in remembrance of his blood shed for you. The Eucharist isn’t transubstantiation – magically, the bread becomes his literal body, and the juice becomes his literal blood. The elements are for remembrance.
The cup is the New Testament in his blood. The blood of Christ covers the New Testament. To get to the New Testament, we must go through his blood. The New Testament replaced the Old. You receive the New Testament and Jesus Christ as your savior by drinking it. The Old is gone. The New is now. Keeping the 10 Commandments won’t save you from hell. Being a good person won’t save you from hell. The only thing that can save you from the hellfire of eternity is the blood of Jesus Christ – The New Covenant.
I see Grace Part 1
In one swoop, Jesus terminated the Passover and inaugurated the Lord’s Table, which we call Communion.
Jesus ended thousands and thousands of years of animal sacrifices, laws, and rituals. Today, there is no legitimate Passover. Jews worldwide celebrate Passover every year, but it means nothing. If you reject Jesus Christ, your religion is false, and hell awaits you. Eat all the lamb, bitter herbs, unleavened bread sopped in vinegar, wash your hands, sing the Hallel, and drink all the wine you want. It means nothing. The cross of Christ fulfilled the Passover.
That’s all interesting, especially if you are a Bible student, but how does that apply to everyone?
Ephesians 3:2-6 If ye have heard of THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN ME TO YOU-WARD… Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men… THAT THE GENTILES should be fellowheirs, and of the SAME BODY, and PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE in Christ by the gospel
I see grace. I don’t see laws, regulations, animal sacrifices, temple worship, etc., so God will tolerate me—all that ended that night of the last Passover and the first Communion. You and I live in the dispensation –administration – of the GRACE of God. The body of Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus Christ, and the New Testament are not about laws, animal sacrifices, rituals, or Sabbaths. It’s about God’s grace, meaning the love of God for you, your children, your loved ones, and all who partake in his promise.
I see Grace Part 1
Revelation 7:9-10 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in FRONT OF THE LAMB. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the LAMB.”
Jesus brought an innumerable multitude into the kingdom no man can count. How about you? Will you be there? Will your children be there? Let’s pray.
I want to have Holy Communion with you today. I desire with desire, but not for the same reason Jesus desired. See, I want us to take time together in remembrance of his body and his blood of the New Covenant. Friday would be the day Jesus was crucified. I think it is only proper to take time together. We will pass out the elements. Hold them, and we will all remember together.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
I see Grace Part 1: The Significance of Palm Sunday
Other Related Sermons:
Feasts Of Israel Part 2 Jesus Our Passover
Matthew 26:13-30 Judas Betrayal – Passover Audio
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