5 Road Signs on Your Road to the Resurrection—The Palm Sunday Story

Matthew 21:1-11

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,  2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”       
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

Matt. 21:5           “Say to the Daughter of Zion,

                  ‘See, your king comes to you,

                  gentle and riding on a donkey,

                  on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Matt. 21:6           The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.  7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.  8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

         “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

         “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

         “Hosanna in the highest!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Luke 19:41-42

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

Matthew 21:12-16

Matt. 21:12         Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  13 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’’”

Matt. 21:14         The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.  15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

Matt. 21:16         “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

         “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

         “ ‘From the lips of children and infants

                  you have ordained praise’?”

Luke 19:47-48

Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.  48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

What are the signs telling you?

#1    Road Work ahead 

This is the relationship road sign

Question—
What relationship for you is currently under construction?  What can you do to get to firmer ground? 

#2    Dangerous Curve 

This is the Will of God Road Sign
What decision is pressing right now?  Where do you need to sense God’s leading in a very real and present way?

Andy Stanley puts it this way…

”Sometimes the best question is not, “Is this right or wrong? The best question is often “Is this wise?”

Question—

What are the signs telling you about your decision?

#3    Traffic Circle  
         This is the Chevy Chase Road Sign.

Question—
What patterns of broken, destructive, or self-centered behavior need to be abandoned in order to start fresh?  

#4    U-Turn—

This is the “do-over” road sign

Can you remember a time where you relationship with God was real, present, active, alive?  For one reason or another, you now find yourself in a place where you're heading 180º in the opposite direction.  If the Gospel is about anything, it's about 2nd chances, about do-overs—about starting over again.

Question—
What's the one move you need to make in order to  accept God’s grace and forgiveness and right your direction?

#5    Fork in the road  

This is the one sign you can’t miss.

“It is insanity to run from God and search for love.”  Erwin McManus

Prov 3:5-6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.  In all of your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”

Question—

What’s the one move you have to make in order to right your relationship with God?




Make Easter 2011 one to remember.  Follow the signs.  Open your eyes.  


Because the question is not, is God trying to get your attention?  The question is—Are you listening, are you looking for the signs???


Sunday's coming,


Adam