“Heaven’s King Comes To You.”
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on April 1, 2023 in Matthew 21:1-9
The Sixth Sunday in Lent – Palm Sunday April 2, 2023
Text: Matthew 21:1-9 Historic Series 23:2379
Theme: “Heaven’s King Comes to You”
Do you someday wish to get to heaven? Then Heaven’s King must first Come to You. No one will enter the heavenly Jerusalem unless the Savior has first entered his life here. Paul joyfully confessed, “Christ lives in me. The life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Ga.2:20).
“Christ lives in me.” Anyone in whom Christ does not live does not belong to Christ. Jesus warned, “He is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (Jn.15:6). He means the fire of hell. That person will not see heaven for no one can someday enter the heavenly Jerusalem into whose heart Christ has not already made His gracious entrance here.
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem can be seen as a visible picture of this necessary entrance of heaven’s King into our lives. As He came to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Heaven’s King Comes to You. We will note the similarities. First…
I. …everything is initiated by Him. He takes the first step.
Think of it. What did Jerusalem do to prompt Christ to enter it? Nothing. Jesus came without the desire or bidding of those who lived there. There were many who didn’t want Him. And when the crowd came out to greet Him, He had already begun His entrance.
He took the first steps to enter by sending His disciples to bring Him a donkey and its colt so that He could ride into the city. He had never done that before. He always walked wherever they went. This time Jesus would ride so that the prophecies of old were fulfilled. There would be no mistaking who He was. “Go to the village ahead of you,” He said. “At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him ‘the Lord needs them,’ and he will send it right away.”
It happened just as Jesus said. The two brought the animals back. The others threw their cloaks on them like a saddle. Jesus sat on the colt and began His entrance into Jerusalem. Everything was initiated by Him – His willingness to come, His instructions regarding the animals, all were His doing. It was a matter of God’s grace, not the people’s doing. Before they even responded and went out to greet Him, He had already begun His entrance there.
That foreshadows the way that He comes to all. If people with sin-filled hearts must make the beginning for Christ to come to them, it would never happen. It did not happen that way in your lives either.
You did not prompt His coming to you. How could you do that if, as God’s says, we are dead in our transgressions and sins? A dead man can’t take any steps on his own. Likewise, in the spiritual deadness of our hearts, we cannot take one step towards Christ. He must come to us. He must initiate His presence in our lives. But if you genuinely with a heartfelt desire say: “O Christ, my Savior, come to me,” then He has already begun His entrance there. The inner longing of your heart for Him is a sign that you have already tasted of His grace. Find comfort in it. For that is the very reason, I pray, that you hunger and thirst after Him. If you can cry with the throngs in our text, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (“Lord, save me; Lord, help me”), then Christ has already entered the door of your heart. Otherwise, you would not want Him.
Yes, not we but Christ Himself initiates His entrance; not we but Christ makes the beginning. We do not seek Christ; He seeks us. We do not find Christ; He finds us. As Zechariah prophesied, “See, your King comes to you.” That, dear friends, is a wondrous comfort and assurance to all in faith. And who may receive Him when He comes?
II. No one is restricted.
There are no restrictions as to whom He comes and as to who may receive Him. Of His own free will, He resolved in eternity to dwell among all men. Of His own free will, He came at His birth for all men. Of His own free will He came to Jerusalem to give His life as a ransom for all (1Tm.2:5). And of His own free will He says, “I stand at the door and knock” (Rv.3:20). There is no restriction to whom He comes. He comes to you, He wants to come to all people for the prophet said, “He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea…to the ends of the earth.” Rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, mighty or lowly, Heaven’s King Comes to You.
He wants to enter your heart. Do not say: “I am unworthy to have Him come under my roof.” Indeed, we all are unworthy to have Him come under our roofs, for there is no one who is righteous in himself, not even one…no one who seeks God…they have altogether become worthless” (Ro.3:10f). Still, Christ comes and desires to come to all. No one is restricted from Him. There were no restrictions when He came to Jerusalem, not even for His enemies. And there are no restrictions today.
None of us are worthy, but it is your King’s will to come into the lowly, dark, unclean hovel of your heart. Believe it. Then He gladly is the Guest of your soul, and you possess the gifts He wants to bring.
III. He comes with gifts that are eternal.
“See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” He Comes in humility. There is nothing frightening, nothing threatening about Him when He is on His way to your heart. He does not come in the splendor and majesty of righteous power. He did not come riding into Jerusalem in a golden chariot, led by a powerful team of horses. He did not come with armed soldiers and military might. He did not come as a world conqueror, but He came in meekness and humility, full of love and compassion, riding on a lowly beast of burden. Contrast that with what you see in the world leaders of today. The Putins, the Xis, some of our own leaders here. His dear disciples escorted Him, surrounded by groups of singing children (v.15). That’s the same way that He draws near to the door of your poor, sinful heart.
And what does He bring? The gifts of Christ are twofold. First, He gives freedom from evil, and then He gives Himself. If Jesus lives in you, you can say: “What belongs to Jesus, belongs also to me. His righteousness is mine, His holiness mine, His life mine, His suffering and death for sin mine, His sonship with God mine, His glory, salvation, and heaven mine. Hosanna! He has saved me!” When Christ enters, everything damning leaves and His grace rises over you. As a result, St. Paul writes, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” (Ro.5:1-2).
How great the gifts He brings! They are eternal. Watch this week as He brings these gifts to you from His cross and empty tomb.
How blessed you are through your faith in Him! How blessed you are through your baptism where He made you His own. How blessed you are through the Lord’s Supper where He freely gives you of Himself that you might have full assurance of your forgiveness! How blessed are you through His Word that now saves you. If you keep that Word in your heart, Christ is within you and with Him all grace is yours. In life or in death He will not forsake you. Indeed, in the last hour your faith in Him will call, “Look, your King is coming to you! Rejoice for He now receives you into His heavenly Kingdom.” So many are the gifts He wants to bring you in His Coming. They are eternal. But shall a Christian only take from Him and give nothing?
IV. No! For we have a holy and important Guest within us.
The heart of a Christian is a continuously open road where Christ lives and walks with us, and we strive to adorn the Savior’s road with our “garments” of thanksgiving and love.
The people in Jerusalem took off their outer garments and spread them on the way. They cut down palm branches and strewed them in His path. And we should use whatever we have to show how holy and important the Guest is who comes to dwell within us.
And as He comes to us, we should openly show to the world through our attitude and life that we have such a holy and important Guest within. There is nothing that holds Him back from us, except we, ourselves. Be comforted in Him and hold to His holy Word. Then one day when He appears in all His glory, you will enter with Him through the open doors of heaven. God grant it in our lives of faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen
The Sixth Sunday in Lent – Palm Sunday April 2, 2023
Welcome in our Savior’s name. Although Jesus’ outward appearance is not that of royalty and His kingdom is not of earthly splendor, we honor Him today as heaven’s King.
Palm Sunday marks the gateway to Holy Week, the climax of the Lenten Season. From the earliest of times, it has been observed within the Church with great joy.
We recall Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. He came like no ordinary king and the people received Him as no ordinary king. But the crown He will wear will not be made of gold or precious jewels. It will be plaited with thorns. The throne He ascends will be a cross. Yet, from that cross He rules as the Church’s King, the One who conquers sin, death, and the devil for us. That is the cause of our great joy this day.
So it is that with the saints of old we join this day to sing the praise of our Savior who comes for us. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
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Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the LORD
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
The Entrance Hymn: “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” #413
Order of Worship: Service: Setting One with Holy Communion: pages 154-160
Prayer of the Day
The Ministry of the Word
(The Lessons for the Day are taken from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)
The Responses following each lesson are on page 160
Zechariah 9:9-12 Discouraged by their captivity in a foreign land, God gives new hope and encouragement to His people. He foretells the coming of the Savior-King in whom they will rejoice.
The Choir: “No Tramp of Soldiers Marching Feet”
Philippians 2:5-11 Paul describes in a simple yet profound way the person and work of Christ Jesus. Although He came in humility to be our Savior, God exalted Him above all things. He is heaven’s King.
The Gospel Acclamation for the Lenten Season bottom of page 161
Matthew 21:1-9 Jesus makes His entrance into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. He rides into the city on a young donkey, the transportation of the poor and lowly. But He rides to the shouts of praise from His disciples who spread palms before Him.
The Sermon Hymn: “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” #412
The Sermon: “Heaven’s King Comes To You.” Matthew 21:1-9
Our Response to the Word
The Confession of Faith: The Nicene Creed page 162
Prayer of the Church page 164
The Offering
The Lord Blesses Us
The Order of Holy Communion pages 165-169
(We invite our communicant members to the Lord’s Table, believing that in the bread and the wine, they receive the Savior’s true body and blood for forgiveness of sins. Since Holy Communion implies a oneness of faith, our practice is that of close communion. We therefore ask visitors to speak with the Pastor before communing.)
The Distribution
The Distribution Hymn: “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” #324
Thanksgiving & Blessing Beginning the middle of page 170
Closing Song: “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” #411
Silent Prayer
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The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Point to Ponder: It should be a source of endless comfort and joy to us that in the week before His crucifixion, with the agonies of Gethsemane and Calvary only a matter of days away, our Savior did not turn aside from that which lay ahead. Rather, He willingly, humbly, resolutely rode into the jaws of death to give us life. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should lay down His life for His friends” (Jn.15:13). It was love, pure love, that had brought Him from His heavenly throne. It was love, unsearchable love, that impelled Him to ride into Jerusalem where His enemies awaited Him. It was love, supreme love, that drove Him to the altar of the cross, there to atone for the sins of the world. In the presence of such love this Holy Week, we bow our heads and rejoice with the hymn writer: “Amazing pity, grace unknown, And love beyond degree!”
Lent 6 – Palm Sunday – Historic Series
Old Testament Lesson: Zechariah 9:9-12 – Your King Is Coming
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your King is coming to you. He is righteous and brings salvation. He is humble and is riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem. The battle bow will be taken away, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. His kingdom will extend from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, you prisoners who have hope. This very day I declare that I will restore double to you.
Epistle Lesson: Philippians 2:5-11 – Jesus Humbled Himself
5 Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 6 Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, 7 but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 21:1-9 – Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Immediately you will find a donkey tied there along with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 Tell the daughter of Zion: Look, your King comes to you,
humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their outer clothing on them, and he sat on it. 8 A very large crowd spread their outer clothing on the road. Others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them out on the road. 9 The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed kept shouting,
Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019
Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue), Springfield, MO 65810
Church phone: 417.887.0886 www.zionluthchurch.com
Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244 email: revelehmann@gmail.com
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| Today
April 2 |
Monday
April 3 |
Tuesday
April 4 |
Wednesday
April 5 |
Thursday
April 6 |
Friday
April 7 |
Sat.
April 8 |
Next Sun.
April 9 |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
Palm Sunday – Lent 6 |
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4 pm
Confirmation
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11 am
Midweek Bible Class
7 pm Maundy Thursday/Good Friday Tenebrae Service at Peace |
7 pm
Maundy Thursday/Good Friday Tenebrae Service at Zion
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9:00 am
Divine Worship Service online – Facebook 10:15 am Easter Brunch
The Resurrection of Our Lord |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
Nearly two thousand years ago Jesus entered Jerusalem to the praise and adoration of the people. Laying palm branches and their cloaks in the road, the people honored this prophet from Nazareth as the Savior. As the songs of exultation rose, some surely saw their Savior from sin. Others, sadly, may have only seen an earthly savior from the Romans’ foreign rule over them. As our eternal Savior we join with believers to say, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that comes!”
The Old Testament Lesson: Zechariah 9:8-12 (answers are found on the back side)
- How is Christ “your King”?
- How would this king be different than other earthly kings?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Kirsten Jaster (Laurie Moon’s sister); Greg Pierson (the Long’s son-in-law); Libya, Jodi Milam’s granddaughter; Lucille Huston; Barbara Long; Lois Wiese; Barbara Breidel.
Forward in Christ’s issue for April has arrived and is in the narthex. There are plenty of copies for family and friends.
Holy Week Services at Zion and at Peace will be the same service, a combined worship around the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Holy Communion will be celebrated in the first half of the service and a Tenebrae Service of Darkness in the second half will take our thoughts to the cross where Christ gained the victory over sin for us. You are invited to join us at either or both congregations as we consider most directly the Passion of our Lord in our behalf. Following the Easter Festival Service next Sunday, we hope you will join us in the fellowship hall for our traditional Easter Brunch. There is a meal sign-up list in the fellowship hall.
Easter Lilies If you would like to help us decorate the chancel with Easter lilies in memory of loved ones, a sign-up sheet is in the narthex. Please sign up by this coming Thursday, April 6th.
Upcoming Services and Events
Thursday, April 6 – last day to sign-up for Easter Lilies
Friday, April 7, 7 pm – Combined Maundy Thursday/Good Friday Worship at Zion (at Peace on Thursday, April 6)
April 9 – Easter Festival Service followed by Easter Brunch
Tuesday, April 11 – Elders, Trustees, and Church Council meet
Saturday, April 22 – LWMS Spring Rally at Christ Alone LC, Dardenne Prairie – Mission Speaker from Indonesia
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
The Resurrection of Our Lord: Isaiah 25:1-8; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Mark 16:1-8 (Historic Pericope Series)
Answers to Today’s Old Testament Lesson Brief Study:
- Jesus never claimed an earthly kingdom like we normally think with the word “king.” Instead, Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. We often consider Him ruling in three kingdoms: the Kingdom of Power (places him above all things in heaven and earth), the Kingdom of Grace (His rule in the hearts of believers), and the Kingdom of Glory (His rule in heaven that continues into all eternity).
- This king is gentle and humble, not the ruthless, power-hungry despot of earthly kingdoms. He also extends peace, contrasting the bloody kingdoms of worldly empires.
This week I am praying for……
