Read Matthew 21:1-11
- Palm Sunday is when we remember Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
- “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet He is humble, riding on a donkey-riding on a donkey’s colt.” (Zechariah 9:9)
- The Triumphal Entry of Jesus wasn’t simply a parade; it was a Masterclass in worship.
- To worship Jesus as He deserves, we must cease being spectators in the crowd and become true worshippers of Him.
Truly Worshiping Jesus Requires: PREPARING FOR HIS PRESENCE
- “Jesus sent two of them (disciples) on ahead. ‘Go into the village over there,’ He said. ‘As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” (Matthew 21:1-3)
- Preparing for God’s presence involves finding both corporate and personal places to worship.
- “When He came to the village of Nazareth, His boyhood home, He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath…” (Luke 4:16)
- Jesus’ example of regularly participating in corporate worship should encourage us to do the same.
- “Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” (Luke 5:16)
- Jesus’ example of preparing for worship should encourage us to create environments where we can experience God’s presence.
- Preparing for God’s presence involves confessing our sins and aligning our hearts with His.
- David – “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.” (Psalm 51:10-12)
Truly Worshiping Jesus Requires: PRAISING HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY
- Worshiping Jesus requires a genuine expression of devotion that is both physical and verbal.
- “Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of Him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.” (Matthew 21:8)
- The actions of those who welcomed Jesus was an outward demonstration of the condition of their hearts – overflowing with excitement and reverence.
- Praising God physically includes different postures – kneeling; bowing our heads; lifting and clapping our hands; etc…
- “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” (Psalm 95:6)
- Paul – “I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God…” (1 Timothy 2:8)
- “Come everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!” (Psalm 47:1)
- Worshiping Jesus also includes praising Him verbally.
- “Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around Him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9)
- The praises of those who welcomed Jesus were alive with faith and expectation, and they used their voices to exalt Him.
- “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God!” (Psalm 100:1-3)
- Worshiping Jesus wholeheartedly includes verbal actions like singing, shouting, reading Scripture, acknowledging Him, thanking Him, sharing testimonies about Him, and declaring His worth.
- “But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your followers for saying things like that!’ He replied, ‘If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!’” (Luke 19:39-40)
- Jesus is God and He will be praised, one way or another.
- “Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
Truly Worshiping Jesus Requires: PROCLAIMING HIM AS LORD
- “The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as He entered. ‘Who is this?’ they asked. And the crowds replied, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’” (Matthew 21:10-11)
- Proclaiming Jesus as Lord includes acknowledging Him before others.
- “Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
- When we acknowledge Jesus, we publicly declare who He is and the good news He offers.
- “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-the Jew first and also the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
- Proclaiming Jesus as Lord includes identifying with and following Him.
- “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
- Identifying with Jesus means being willing to stand with Him even when it is unpopular or leads to rejection.
- Jesus – “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in His glory…” (Luke 9:26)
- Proclaiming Jesus as Lord includes surrendering our lives to Him daily.
- Jesus – “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
- Surrender is an act of worship – a daily decision to put aside our own desires in order to follow His lead in all we do.
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.” (Romans 12:1)
*This sermon was originally written for the campuses of Celebration Church in the New Orleans region. Special thanks for consultation with Pastors Dennis Watson and David Ford.
**Image Courtesy of Brooke Lark
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