Berean Community Church Sunday Service March 29, 2026

Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect belief, a great I preach whose name is love, whoever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on his hands, a name is written on his heart, I know that while in me he stays, no tongue can believe in his neighbor, no tongue can believe in his neighbor. My sentence tempts me to despair, and tells me I'm a guilt you fear. Because a sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free.

Forgot the justice and satisfaction to look on him in heart and fear. To look on him in heart and fear. To look on him in heart and fear. In heaven, a risen lamb, my perfect smile is righteousness. The great unchangeable I am. The king of glory and the ghost. One with himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is living.

I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is living. I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is living. I cannot die. I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is living. I cannot die. I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is living. I cannot die. I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is living. I cannot die. I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My life is living. I cannot die. I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. I cannot die. My soul is purchased by his blood. My soul is purchased by his blood.

Please remember that we do have devotions Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 7:30. Please join us here in the sanctuary. But also on Thursday, there is still room for the Passover. If you haven't participated in that before, we highly recommend you do it. God has embedded into the feast that he has ordained as a tradition for people to see the necessity of Christ, the lamb and sacrifice. So please participate in that. There's room for that open to both members or non-members on Thursday night. We have Good Friday service at 7:30. And then Saturday night, we have a special gospel night. Because of the Resurrection Sunday, we have proof or evidences of the resurrection that we'll be presenting, including the full gospel.

We'll have dessert and our team members from the outreach team will be there to greet guests, have discussion with them. So please make sure to sign up for that and invite, again, coworkers or family that you want them to hear. And then in addition, just an announcement for all the members. There is a members meeting and service fair on Sunday, April 26th. And that's at 2:00 p.m. Please mark that on your calendar. You will receive email notification and reminder for that. There will also be, as usual, a lunch that's going to be a fundraiser lunch. And that way, you can stay on campus and save time. A big announcement that we have is we have been announcing that this year we'll have the all-church retreat over at the hot desert in Renaissance Esmeralda and Indian Wells.

But we're pleased to announce that we have the privilege of having Dr. Christopher Yuan as our retreat speaker. He is a well-known author, author of such books as Out of a Far Country or Holy Sexuality and The Gospel. After having gone to Moody Bible Institute, graduated there with a master's in biblical exegesis, he received his doctor's ministry and has been teaching there as a professor for over a decade. So he is going to be speaking on a very important topic of redeeming our identity, how the foundation of understanding God's design, God's image of us, that that serves as the grounds for everything else, including fighting against what the world is trying to push. upon us, whether it's identity in things, sexuality, and more, and has application to all.

So please make sure that you sign up early. That will help us a lot. Sign up for the event as, you know, the whole church, we want the whole church to come together for this. Okay. Well, just as a note, if you, this is the first time for you coming to church, we want to warmly welcome you. After the service is done, please visit with us over at the booth in the courtyard. You'll see our team members in the blue vests. We'd love to meet you there and get to know you. So let's take this moment to pray for our offering time. Heavenly Father, we thank you, God, for your grace. Lord, we thank you for your mercies to us. And particularly in every season, God, we know you're so faithful. And as we are desiring to remember the great sacrifice you have made, to remember the absolute mercy and love you have shown, we ask that you would fill our hearts with grace and mercy.

And Lord, with hearts filled, we want to pray for our offering. That from week to week, as we give to you this offering, may it truly be an expression of our gratitude to you. And Lord, we also pray that as we give, you would continue to use everything we have. But particularly the offering we give as a means to continue to the ministry, the gospel ministry that goes forth. And we ask God that whether it's our resources, our heart and time, all of it truly would be to your glory. We thank you this day. It's in Christ's name. Amen. As we stand for worship, let's just take a moment to greet those around us. Amen. Thank you.

Thank you.

Holy, holy is the Lamb who died, cancelling our debt at Calvary. Oh, rising from the great terrain on high, worthy, He is worthy. Oh, glory and glory and praise, be to your name, be to your name. Oh, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, Lord almighty, worthy is your name. Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy.

Oh, glory and praise, be to your name. Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. Lord of every age.

The world at his command, the world at his commandment. Now there is no other Savior, there is no other Savior. Amen.

How great you are, how great you are, how great you are, how great you are, there is no other Savior. You will reign forever, you will reign forever. How great you are, how great you are, how great you are, there is no other Savior.

And there is no other Savior. You may be seated. You may be seated.

moreover, moreover, moreover, I came to realize, moreover, I came to realize, moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover. I knew I said, I knew I could say, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover.

And moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover. And moreover, and moreover, and moreover, and moreover.

In other words, while I'm not perfect, I look forward with hope that when Christ returns, I will be made perfect. Applause. A reunion with Christ and his death is coming out. A reunion with Christ and his resurrected life. It's perfect. I'll pass you now to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Applause. Applause. Amen. That was a wonderful testimony.

Praise God. Let's take a moment to briefly pray. Our God, we thank you, thank you, thank you so much. Our hearts are blessed to hear Jonathan's testimony because of your work summed up so simply that to undeserving and wretched sinners, you gave your life. Thank God, we might have absolute newness of life. So we thank you and praise you. And we pray that particularly this morning as we meditate on your path to the cross, as we meditate on the great sacrifices you make all the way down, we pray our hearts will be so filled with gratitude. It's in Christ's name. Amen.

As we think about this Sunday, you know, called Palm Sunday, we think about the entirety of the week, and following all the events, we want to see the picture. We want to imagine the scenarios so that we can really grasp what are the sacrifices Christ has made, how can we appreciate all the more every step that he took. So before I read the text, it's going to be in Matthew chapter 21, verse 1 through 11. I want to set the stage that there was so much anticipation for the prophesied Messiah, okay? The people did have this grand expectation. Could it be that in our day the Messiah would come? But you know that that worldview had so much to it. Could it be that the Messiah would overthrow the Roman government?

Could it be that we would now be delivered from the oppression and more? And as you recall, this week, it wasn't just like one of many different events. For the Jewish people, it was the Passover week. And it wasn't just one singular meal. It was a pilgrimage. It took an entire week. It took more than that. It took planning, getting the right, you know, resources, the accommodations, finding relatives, finding an inn, all of that stuff, all to remember God's deliverance long ago, 1,400 years ago. And so it wasn't just a small commotion. This was huge. This was huge. And I want to set the stage, probably something that you've heard before, that in the city of Jerusalem, potentially over 250,000, some historians guessing a million people, would journey into the city.

And it was so packed. There was not only people and merchants, animals everywhere. Because there was going to be a grand ceremony at the temple, but also in the homes of the individuals. And then, just to set the stage, I want to remind you that already leading up to this scenario, every time Jesus was teaching, how many people were surrounding him? He could not enter into a home because there were thousands and thousands of people. He had to sometimes go on a boat because hordes of people, we're talking 15, 20,000 people, would gather around him just to hear him, just to touch him, just to have him show them some grace. And not only that, but just before this week, I'm talking days or maybe at most a week or two, the news that Jesus resurrected Lazarus went out.

And this news spread so fast, his enemies, the Pharisees, were thinking, we need to kill that guy, Lazarus, because the news of him was just going everywhere. So to say that there was a commotion, there was an excitement, anticipation is an understatement. This was huge. And it's into this scenario, Jesus walks into the city of Jerusalem. So Matthew 21, verse 1. It says, When they had approached Jerusalem and come to Bethage at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has needed them, and immediately he will send them.

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet. Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, full of a beast of burden. The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt and laid their coats on them. He sat on the colt. Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. The crowds going ahead of him, and those who followed were shouting, Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. When he had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?

And the crowds were saying, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee. As we stop there, what do we see in this massive moment? We see people in jubilation. We see people shouting and screaming, praising him, exalting him. Is it good? Is it great? Traditionally, we call this the triumphal entry. And I'm doing this triumphal entry because, yes, to the year, all the words are so great and grand. Because all the city is coming out, and people are shouting, and it just looks so awesome. But we know behind the scenes. We know in just a short moment of time. We know, even from the prediction of the past, things are going to turn absolutely sour. So this is triumphal entry. But what's more, Jesus Christ was the one who said, entering into the city, this is Mark 8, verse 31.

The Gospel of Mark, Jesus said that the Son of Man had to suffer many things. The Son of Man had to be rejected. And the Son of Man had to be killed by the scribes and the Pharisees, who were the leaders of the time. So what is this? Is this just a super encouraging moment before all the suffering? I'm going to make the case that this is a part of the suffering Christ experiences. This is a part of the burden to his road to the crucifixion. Point one, what we see as we try to imagine the story, what we see as we try to imagine the account is first that the people's praise was dramatically superficial. People's praise was dramatically superficial. In other words, the praise was super loud, but it wasn't true.

The praise, the people, it was so numerous. But was it sincere? It was super strange, actually. The people are saying so many different things. Let's walk through them one by one. First, they were singing, Hosanna, Hosanna. Hosanna, Hosanna. To us, our praise songs has it. It just sounds like praises, praises. But literally translated, it means save us now. Deliver us right now. It's a cry. It's a cry for help. It's a cry for mercy. Is there anything wrong in them saying that? There isn't. It's the right thing to say. The words are good. So what do I have a problem with? Question. Do we know what we're asking salvation for? Do we know what we're saying when we say, Deliver us, deliver us? Do they know how Jesus is going to bring this about?

Do you know who, do they know who they're actually asking? There is so much rightness to it, but underneath there's actually so many things that are off. But going a little further, piecing together the other gospel accounts, for example, observe Mark chapter 11, verse 9. Mark 11, verse 9. It says, Those who went out in front and those who followed were shouting, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. And look at this. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest. What were they saying? They were saying, you're the king. The kingdom is here. And the reason why they would put their coats on the floor, the reason why they would have him ride in, is because they're recognized as this is the promised king.

They're actually paying homage. They're showing submission. You're our king. So, what's wrong? Technically nothing. Jesus is the king. He brings the kingdom. They're saying the right things, that he is the savior, and he is the king. Not only is it right, they're quoting high-level messianic prophecy. They're straight quoting Old Testament text. You guys have probably heard of the Hallel. As a review, Psalm chapter 113 to 118, this portion of the scripture is called the Hallel, and the Jewish people sing it all the time. They sing it in different feasts, like the Passover, and also the Day of Atonement, but all the other ones too. They memorize it from when they were children. They sing it when they do their pilgrimage to the Jerusalem city.

But what's more, did you know, that when the priests walk up the steps of the temple to have their ceremony, to make the sacrifices, they sing Psalm 118 as they go up. Take a moment to listen to it then. It says here, this is Psalm 118, verse 22. Psalm 118, verse 22. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Wow, pause there. The stuff that Jesus sustained, the chief cornerstone that was rejected, they quote this all the time. And what's more, they say this, O Lord, O Lord, do save us. Hosanna, Hosanna. We beseech you. O Lord, we beseech you.

Do send prosperity. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. So what's happening? You have all the right words, but so many things wrong. Why am I saying that? Because when you look at the story and you go back to Matthew 21, verse 10, after Jesus actually enters into the city, do you know what they say? So who is this? Oh, it's Jesus of Nazareth. Do you see the disconnect? They're singing, Savior, save us. You're the king. Hallelujah. Who is this guy? That what a disconnect. If, if they were thinking correctly, they would think like the other disciples when they say, we found him, the Messiah. That, that's what you would say. But what you actually see is a massive disconnect where the words are technically correct, but the understanding is completely off.

and oh, what a conviction that is. I don't want to be necessarily too harsh on the people of the time, but do we ever, ourselves in our day, sing and speak loudly because everybody else is, but we kind of are still confused. Do we ever sing and then preach and all this kind of stuff because it's time, but then we go home and we don't care. So many things can be disconnected from reality. And the conviction here is that the crowd, they are actually saying the right things and perhaps they have curiosity but not sincerity. This enthusiasm is not going to last even a full week. There is something wrong. What we have then is a strange moment where the whole city is in worship to the true and rightful king, but absolutely ignorant, but absolutely ignorant.

Absolutely ignorant. And before we just dwell too long on that, what I want to say is in the midst of this background, then, we see a very beautiful Christ. Point two is going to be what we see is Jesus' humility shine. Jesus' humility. We see in this story Christ's humility. And what I'm saying is Jesus is receiving the shallow fake worship and that requires his absolute glorious humility. Glorious humility. Take a moment to think about this. Does Jesus even need to accept this? Couldn't he possibly walk in or ride in on the donkey and just say, no, forget this. I don't want this from you guys. He could. Why? Because Jesus is God. Because Jesus is divine. And God has shown us multiple times in the Old Testament, God does not need to take blemished worship.

As a matter of fact, God has said so many times, you disrespect me when you do this. He says, you spit at my altar. Why? How? Why would you say that, God? Because you bring the lame. You bring whatever. You just do it because it's time. You treat it as a tradition. You just throw up this blood sacrifice to me. And he says, shoo! Someone close the door. I don't want this. You don't care for me. God actually asked the question, when you do this, did you do it for me? Jesus also does not need to receive fake worship. He doesn't need to receive any of this. And I'm going to ask you a question. Isn't it difficult to deal with fake people? Have you ever felt that strange, weird sense of anger when somebody in front of you is trying to flatter you?

But you know, I think you're trying to manipulate me. Do you understand how much humility it takes? Consider this. Not too long before this in the Gospel of Mark, there's an interesting scenario. Jesus is healing. Jesus is performing miracles. And the disciples are doing the same, but there's a man with a son who is demon-possessed. The disciples can't do it. And then the Pharisees take the opportunity and start accusing them. See, you guys are wrong, whatever. And then they start fighting and they start arguing. It's like, how come we can't do this? And then the disciples come and say to Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, we couldn't do this. How come we can't do this? And do you know what Jesus says? In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, verse 19, Jesus answered them and said, O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you?

How long shall I put up with you? Whoa. That sounds impatient. That sounds irritable. Is Jesus just tired and fed up? Is he grouchy? No. No, he's not. What's happening is, Jesus is not frustrated because the disciples couldn't do something. Jesus is frustrated because for so long I have been with you, but you still don't trust me. So long I have been with you, but you still do not trust in my power. You don't know what's happening right now. Yes? They're so utterly consumed. Like, how come I couldn't do this? And they're fighting each other. And Jesus is looking at them. You haven't seen me make a paralytic, take up his mat, and just walk out the room? You haven't seen me calm the storm? I made you walk on water.

Why is it still you doubt me? We're walking through Genesis right now and I realize, oh my goodness, if God was not a patient God, can you imagine? Abraham's sitting there like, you still didn't give me this yet, and just this pouting, and how am I going to know? How am I going to know? It's only because he's so humble that Abraham can ask that. But if you were a king, you were a CEO, you were that much above somebody else, and they kept saying, I don't know, I still have reservations, you and I would run out of our patience and say, fine. I don't need to prove myself to you. What's more, I don't need to take this stuff from you. This fake, manipulative, kind of insincere worship? I don't need to take this.

Thank and praise God. Jesus is so humble. Walking through the masses, not just one, but masses of people with nothing but expectations, nothing but desires for him to do stuff, and when they realize he's not going to bring the revolution, but he's going to guide them to suffering, they treat him worse than criminals. He knows what kind of loyalty it is. In order to drive this home, I want us to imagine for a moment that you're Jesus talking to the disciples. What would you say to your disciples? Well, I think it's good for us. Be careful when you do this, the what would I do if I was Jesus, but it's good for us to imagine the scene. There was a moment when the disciples were so enthusiastic walking into Jerusalem.

They said, Jesus, did you see the temple? Oh my gosh. Because it was glorious. The temple, parts of it was laden with gold. It was a marvel, a spectacle of a building. Took years to accomplish, right? And so they would walk, and it was set on a hill. It was like, wow. Do you understand what Jesus did to them? He said, don't be excited, because if you knew what I knew, you would know not a stone would be left unturned. This is going to be destroyed. Don't get excited over this. So same thing here. All these people worshiping and praising. And I watched an episode of Chosen. I saw the episode when he walked into Jerusalem. It was really cheesy. The disciples were like, it's our moment. They were so enthused.

Like, yeah. And then the Pharisee comes, like, don't do this. And the disciples are like, no, that's going to happen. And then even Jesus was smiling, and it was so enthusiastic. I don't think so. I think Jesus would have been like, calm your enthusiasm if you knew what I knew in their mouths. Hosanna, Hosanna. Days it'll be crucified. Crucify him. That's why I'm saying, if you knew what I knew, could we walk this path like Jesus did? It would require a humility unspeakable, unfathomable, if we knew what he knew. Thank you, Jesus, for your great humility because you deserve a million times, a billion times more. For the King of Kings to receive this, some unplanned, small gesture of the people, technically Jesus could say, this is too small.

It's like pinning a most improved player award on the King of Kings. You understand that Jesus is the righteous King. Listen to this. Revelations chapter 7. Revelations chapter 7. After this, I looked and behold the great multitude that no one could number from every nation, from all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, crying out with a loud voice, salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. Jesus is so high above us, he could say, no, I'm not receiving worship from imperfect, sinful people with deviousness in their hearts. I only receive worship from pure souls, clothed in white.

That's Christ. But for him to simply walk through this is great humility, beautiful humility. So what we see is not triumphal entry. What we see is Christ in his humility, dedicated, determined to walk to the cross past this fake worship. And so that brings me to my third point, which is we see Jesus' determination. We see Jesus' determination. The story of Palm Sunday is just Palm Sunday? No. We see a walk towards Jerusalem and having to enter in, knowing what this means. And so, we see Jesus' determination despite the interest of all the people, the selfish interest of the whole city, my point is that Jesus is so fixated on the cross, he's walking and actually every single step he takes is a very purposeful, decisive step towards suffering.

And this, receiving this whole hoopla, is part of that burden. And the burden is the people are constantly pressing him, wanting things from him, expecting their own interest. But Christ is so single-mindedly determined. Consider this. Earlier, I kept referring to the story of when Jesus started making very explicit statements. Disciples, I love you, but I'm going to leave. Why? Because I have to suffer. I have to suffer many things. Scripture says, yes, people were confused. It's not because Jesus was confusing. Scripture actually says that as he was approaching the time of his suffering, he started being super explicit, showing them how I'm going to suffer, showing them how he has to be rejected by the leaders, that he's going to be mocked, and then he's going to be killed, and he's going to rise on the third day.

It just didn't make sense to them. And it didn't make sense so much that in the story of the Gospel of Mark chapter 8, what happens is Jesus says this, I am going to die very explicitly, and that's when Apostle Peter does his thing. Can you now imagine and picture the scene of you being Apostle Peter? You're with the disciples, and Jesus says this, and you're just like giving a side eye. What? And you grab him, and you go, come to my office. You pull him over, and you start rebuking him. Don't say that. Don't say that, Jesus. And maybe Apostle Paul had like a coach moment where he was like, hey, you know, he felt like he needed to pump him up and say, you can't have doubt in yourself. I believe in you.

These guys believe in you. We got your back. You can do this. That's how I, he didn't say any of that. That's how I picture it, okay? That Apostle Peter felt like a teammate, maybe a coach, amping up his player, and be like, no, you're the champion. You're the best. You can do this. You're not going to fail. No one's going to hurt you, and we got your back. We're with you. And then Jesus says, get behind me, Satan. But do you remember why? This is so crucial. Because your mind is not on God's interest, but man's. This whole time, what I'm saying is the whole city is the whole city, exactly the same. Their mind is not on God's interests, but man's. And Jesus feels the pressure that people have been wanting to force him to be king, that people have been pushing him and pushing him and pressing upon him.

Deliver us. Do it. Do it now. Show us. Are you really? And Jesus has to withstand all of that with sheer determination. And that's why, did you know, before, there was a thing called the messianic secret. And what they're referring to is through the gospels, what you will notice are various moments when Jesus does miraculous messianic king divine things and tells everybody, shh, don't say a word. For example, even after healings and miracles, there's so many I can't give it to you all, but in Mark chapter 1, early on, he cleanses a leper. Can you imagine being a leper all your life? You show the signs of scars on your face. You're at the risk of, your immunity is deficient and you're at the risk of dying.

Jesus cleanses you. Your skin now is like a child's skin. You're like, praise the Lord. He's like, shh, don't tell anybody. Are you serious? How do you not tell anybody? I mean, if you are blind and then you're like, you can't even not tell anybody because all of a sudden you see it, like I see you and then how do you keep that a secret? But then Jesus says, shh. And even Apostle Peter, when Jesus asked, who do people say I am? And they said, oh, Elijah, the prophets. And then he's, who do you say I am? Apostle Peter says, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. And then Jesus says, blessed are you, Peter, son of Barjona, flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but God. and then he goes, shh, don't tell anyone.

Did you know that? When the disciples confirmed who Christ was, he told them not to say. When the demons said, oh, Jesus, the son of God, what do we have to do with you? And he's like, shh, you be quiet. What? And the reason why is because the timing is Christ determined. The timing is God determined. This event of Jesus coming into the scene and everybody worshiping, praising, this is amazing because it's not something just happening to him. It's Christ when it's his time, he determines to enter in this way. The simple story of Jesus in Matthew 21, our text, when he says, go in and get the donkey. Get the foal. That's not just a little story, that's a miracle. And it's Christ's miracle entering into this city.

Can you imagine that scene? Can you imagine if I told you I've got a special job for you, go to CarMax and get me a car. Not just any used car, an undriven car that no one has ever sat in. And you're like, what? I can't go to CarMax and find that? What's more, get it for free. Tell them Pastor Mark needs it. And it'll happen just as I say. That's a miracle. What does that show us? It's Christ determining his timetable. So it does us a kind of a loopy thing where it's like, whoa, what is this? Is this a triumphal moment? I don't think so. Is this potentially even the temptation of the devil trying to use the praise and the honor of men to derail him to get his disciples? Like, why, Jesus? This is the best thing ever.

Everybody's happy. What are you doing? Why are you turning over tables? Knock it off. Probably. Probably. But is this also Christ exercising his divine sovereignty determined to go to the cross? Yes, it is. Yes, it is. And the reason why I say that is because you know Christ is fulfilling prophecy. Christ is fulfilling every letter of the word. In Zechariah chapter 9, verse 9, Scripture says, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king is coming to you. He is just and endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Wow. Thank you, Lord Jesus. On the journey to even just the city, there was so much that was happening.

But thank you for your determination. How determined was he? In Isaiah chapter 50, verse 6, this is often called the servant's song. It's a messianic song. And it says this, I gave my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pluck out the beard. I did not cover my face from humiliation and spitting, for the Lord God helps me, therefore I am not disgraced, therefore I have set my face like flint that I know that I will not be ashamed. Wow. Jesus was determined to go so much so the scriptures describe it like his face was locked in, honed in, zeroed in, and so focused that yes, not even the special interest groups like the Pharisees, not even the annoying disciples who kept asking, is it time now?

Are we going to rule with you? But who's going to be the best? Not even a million people saying flattering things would deter him for his purpose, to lay down his life for the lost. And in echo fulfillment of this, Luke chapter 9, verse 51, Luke 9, 51, says, when the days were approaching for his ascension, he was determined, literally translated, set his face to go to Jerusalem. The story of Psalm Sunday is not a story of the praises of men, it's a story of Christ's determination. And so in that, we see, aside from the mocking, aside from the doubt, he was taking his necessary steps towards suffering. What's more then, as we keep thinking about the scene above and beyond what meets the eye, we see Christ on his face, something strange, beautiful, and alarming.

Why? Because we see Christ crying alone. When you piece together the different gospel accounts of Psalm Sunday, we see actually that before entering the gates into Jerusalem, the road to Jerusalem, what had all these people laying down palm branches and laying down their coats, but before he actually enters the city, look at what it says in Luke chapter 19, verse 41. It says, when he approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it. He saw the city and wept over it. This is a crazy scene. I've watched many different kinds of movies, renditions of Christ. Long time ago, I watched The Passion of Christ. I've watched even other movies. I watched the episode of Chosen. And what you see is Jesus like half laughing because everyone's so excited, half upset at the Pharisees, but most of the time they fail to capture this one singular line.

He's weeping, going to Jerusalem. But why? If it was us, maybe it was because we realized, oh my goodness, I'm alone in this. Nobody really gets me. Is Jesus weeping because he's so sad that I'm so misunderstood? No one really truly knows who I am. No one knows my suffering. Is that why Jesus is weeping? Is he weeping because he knows the pain that's about to come? Oh, nobody knows the pain. Nobody knows the suffering of being separated from the God you love like Christ would. Nobody knows how painful it is to be falsely accused like Christ is. We've been falsely accused but not like Christ where he's so pure and so idiot he's pristine and yet accused of the worst blasphemous man. Is he crying because he just feels like nobody's on his team?

That everybody's going to desert him and he knows the pain of betrayal? No. Take a look in Luke chapter 19 verse 42 Luke 19 verse 42 Jesus is very aware of his coming death but he's crying because of the death of the city. He says if you had known in this day even you the things which make for peace but now they have been hidden from your eyes for the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you and surround you and hem you in on every side and they will level you to the ground and your children within you and they will not leave you one stone upon another because you do not recognize the time of your visitation. Oh my goodness Jesus is weeping over the whole city who is wrought with ignorance a facade who has earthly ambition who has such disloyalty in their heart Jesus is weeping over the people who are going to be destroyed for their ignorance Jesus is weeping I'm not sure exactly if any actor could ever capture what's on his face we shouldn't try you know this scene in Psalm on Psalm Sunday Palm Sunday it made me think about another scenario as Jesus was walking towards Jerusalem several other events happened and one of those events is that Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him and they get upset because people don't receive them well and do you know what they say take a look with me in Luke chapter 9 verse 51 Luke chapter 9 verse 51 it says

when the days were approaching for his ascension he was determined to go to Jerusalem and he sent messengers on ahead of him and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for him but they did not receive him because he was traveling toward Jerusalem when his disciples James and John saw this they said Lord do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them so confident but he turned and rebuked them and said you do not know what kind of spirit you are of for the son of man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them wow thank you Jesus for your compassion this radical mercy we're reading through Genesis and God looks at Sodom and says the wickedness is so great I must destroy it and Abraham is like please maybe for like 50 no and God says I would for 50 45 40 30 and he just keeps going down the line if Jesus responded saying do it rain down fire would that be wrong of Christ to say the answer is no the city Jerusalem was using God's name for profit it was Ichabod it was an empty shell with no spirit of God long time ago it had already left people were using God's name as a stepping stone for their own glory the entire leadership was corrupt they were compromised there was all kinds of gross things happening at the temple unspeakable if God wanted to rain down fire it would not only have been okay it would have been in his justice

but Jesus's mercy says I wish you knew what I knew Jesus's mercy is even you if you knew the hour and the visitation if you actually let go of your idolatry and just looked up because he came to save so this week we're going to sing that he came to save we're going to say over and over again thank you so much Jesus for your humility I don't understand how in your knowledge how in everything you're aware of that you could take these steps for sure none of us could if I had a time machine and I jumped into Jesus's scene now I would look at him and say Jesus don't trust any of them I'm not even just talking about the Pharisees I'm talking about them don't trust any of them don't even trust your disciples Jesus would look at me and say I know more than you Mark I've come to save let's pray Lord Jesus thank you on this day for your determined and sovereign might and power but thank you God that that is driven by your love and compassion we thank you this day for your mercies that come to you at such great cost but comes to us so freely help us father to never mistake this freeness as something light but help us father God to every day and every season give you all the thanks and glory you deserve we praise you it's in Christ's name amen Jesus your mercy

is all my plea I have no defense my guilt runs too deep the best of my works pierced your hands and your feet Jesus your mercy is all my plea Jesus your mercy is all my most the goodness I claim the grounds of my hope whatever I like is still what I need most Jesus your mercy is all my bones praise the king who bore my sin took my place when I stood condemned oh how good you've always been to me I will sing of your mercy Jesus your mercy is all my rest the fears weigh me down and enemies press the comfort I cling to in life and in death Jesus your mercy is all my rest praise the king who bore my sin took my place when I stood condemned oh how good you've always been to me I will sing of your mercy jesus your mercy is all

my joy forever I lift my heart and my voice to sing of treasure no power can destroy jesus your mercy is all my joy praise the king who bore my sin took my place when I stood condemned to oh how good you've always been to me i will sing praise the king who bore my sin took my place when i stood condemned oh how good you've always been to me i will sing of your mercy let us pray now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the great presence of his glory blameless with great joy to the only god our savior through jesus christ our lord be glory majesty dominion and authority before all time and now and forever amen they called him jesus he came to love he came to love heal and forgive he lived and died To climb upon it, empty grave is there to be my Savior lived.

Because He lived, I can face tomorrow. Because He lived, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living trust because He lived. Rejoice, all the earth, rejoice. Peace.