CHRIST CREATIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
A SERMON PREACHED ON SUNDAY
MARCH 28, 1999
BY
THE REV. DR. GEORGE ST. ANTHONY FERGUSON, SR.
AUTHOR: Mark
THEME: Jesus Christ, The Servant
DATE: 50 AD
TEXT: Mark 11:10
All of us should know that God is omnipotent. All of us should know that God is omniscient. All of us should know that God is omnipresent. God is all powerful. God is all knowing. God is everywhere. And because God is all in all, God can do anything He wants to do. God can move mountains. God can change the flow of rivers. God can change the course of history. God can do whatever God wants to do. God can do anything but fail. But inspite of His all encompassing power, God in the form of Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem just like us. God in the form of Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem like we would. God in the form of Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem just like John. So on this Palm Sunday as we head towards Easter, Jesus told me to preach on the topic, Hosanna, Blessed Be The Rock.
Our lesson is found in the 11th Chapter of the gospel of Mark. By way of introduction, I want you to understand that there are four gospels and Mark is the second one. Most scholars, to include me, think that Mark is the oldest written gospel. Mark or John Mark was a young Jew who became a believer in Christ under the ministry of Peter. Acts 12:12 states his mother was Mary. Mark was the nephew of Barnabas and he went with Paul and Barnabas on their 1st Missionary Journey. But he turned back. Paul prohibited him from going with them on their 2nd Missionary Journey and Paul and Barnabas fell out over the issue. But later on while in jail, Paul said Mark was profitable to him for the ministry. But Mark was a son in the ministry of Peter. The gospel of Mark reflects Peter’s view of Jesus. And the gospel of Mark is the gospel of action. The gospel of Mark appeals to the man or woman of action. The gospel of Mark appeals to the Jew or Gentile who believes in doing and not just saying. And in the gospel of Mark, we see Jesus moving in Nazareth. We see Jesus teaching in Galilee. We see Jesus preaching in Jerusalem. Jesus was always on the go. Jesus was always on the move. Jesus was always doing something. Mark said suddenly Jesus went somewhere. Mark said immediately Jesus was in some place. Mark wants us to know that Jesus Christ is the Servant of God who is on the move. And as Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to walk in Jerusalem just like John, he came to Judea crossing the Southern part of the Jordan River. When he got to Judea He began to teach the people. The Pharisees came to ask Him if it was lawful to divorce your wife. They did this to tempt Him. But Jesus said only because of the hardness of their hearts did Moses include divorce in the Jewish Law. Jesus said but from the beginning of the creation it was not so. God created us male and female, to be one. That’s why in all Christian weddings the preacher ought to say what therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder. God’s ideal is one man and one woman for life. But Jesus knew that all of us have sinned and continue to fall short of the glory of God, so He gives us grace. And after those hard hearted Pharisees left, Jesus blessed the little children despite the fact that His disciples tried to keep them away. Jesus said suffer the little children to come unto me. Then Jesus met the rich young ruler who asked Him what good thing he had to do to get into the Kingdom of God. To this Jesus said sell everything you have and give to the poor. The rich young ruler left sad because he had much possessions. Jesus said it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven. Then Jesus said but with God all things are possible. And beginning in chapter 11, V1 says, “And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples.” My 1st point is this: When You Are A Disciple Of Christ, Jesus Will Send You Forth. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to die for our sins. And as he was about to enter Jerusalem, he sent two of His disciples to get something for Him. He told them, Go into the village in the opposite direction and as soon as you enter it, you shall find a colt tied up, where never a man sat on. Jesus told them to loose him and bring him. The fact that Jesus told them to get a colt that never a man sat on meant that the donkey was wild. It meant that the donkey was unpredictable. It meant that the donkey could do anything. And usually when a wild donkey is approached by a man or woman, it starts bucking, hew hawing and acting wild. Jesus gave these boys a task. Then on top of all of that, Jesus said if any man say unto you, Why are you taking this donkey? then you say that the Lord has need of him. And immediately he will send him with you. And when God calls you
HE’LL PREPARE YOU
HE’LL GET THING READY FOR YOU
HE’LL SEND YOU
HE’LL TELL YOU TO GO
HE’LL SEND YOU
HE’LL PREPARE THE WAY
Jesus told his disciples to take up your cross daily and follow me. The Lord will make a way somehow. Can I get a witness up in here? I’m talking about Hosanna, Blessed Be The Rock.
Mark said that the disciples went to a little village near Jerusalem and lo and behold, they found things just like Jesus said they would. Mark said they went their way and found the colt tied by the door outside in a place where two roads met and they loose him. They found the donkey outside in a place where the road split in two. They found the donkey outside in a place where there was a folk in the road. Isn’t that just like God! He sends you to do a work for Him and you find that His work takes you outside to a place where there is a folk in the road. A folk in the road is a place where you can either go right or go left. You can either do right or do wrong. You can either go on the road most traveled or the road less traveled. God wants us to be on the straight and narrow path. Ain’t that just like God? God always brings us to a place in our lives where we must make a decision. But if you listen to the voice of the Lord, if you listen to that still small voice in your heart, you’ll always choose the right thing. You’ll always make the right decision. You’ll always do the right thing. But even when you do the right thing for the Lord, somebody will say something against it. Living the Christian life is not an easy thing to do. If you believe the Christian life is easy, just keep on living and the Lord will send you to get a donkey for Him. And don’t know you know that the devil will try to make you look like a jack ---. But Jesus knows how to put him in check. Greater is He who is in you than he... The Lord won’t put no more on you than you can bear but with the temptation, He’ll give you the way of escape. Mark said one of the men that stood there said unto them, What are you doing loosing the colt? One of the owners of the donkey said, why are you loosing the donkey? He said, why are you loosing my donkey? Don’t you know that inquiring minds want to know. Then the disciples told them that Jesus had commanded them to get the donkey. And when they heard that the Lord Jesus needed the donkey, they let them go. How many of you know that when you do what the Lord tells you to do, then he will make even your enemy to be your friend? And V7 says, “And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.” My 2nd point is this, Jesus Is Lord Over Everything. Earlier I told you the donkey was wild. I told you the donkey was unpredictable. I told you the donkey would do whatever he wanted to do. And I told you that when a man or woman would approach a wild donkey, it would start to hew haw and jump wild. But here was Jesus sitting on the donkey. The disciples cast their garments on the donkey and Jesus was sitting on the donkey. The disciples put Jesus on the back of the donkey and Jesus was sitting on the donkey. The donkey was a peace with Jesus. Friendship, Jesus wants to be a peace with you. Through Jesus Christ we have peace with God. And when Jesus sat on the back of the donkey, the donkey did not hew haw. The donkey did not buck. The donkey did not go wild. The donkey just stood there like he was use to having somebody on his back. And the fact that Jesus sat on the back of the donkey without him doing anything means that
JESUS IS LORD OF THE ANIMALS
JESUS IS LORD OF NATURE
JESUS IS LORD OF HUMAN BEINGS
JESUS IS LORD OF THE WORLD
JESUS IS LORD OF THE UNIVERSE
When you have a problem in your life, Jesus will come walking on the waters of your storms and say peace be still and know that I am God. Am I right about it? I’m preaching about Hosanna, Blessed Be The Rock.
V9 said, “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” My final point is this: Always Give God The Glory And Give Him The Praise. When Jesus got on the back of the donkey, Mark said many spread their garments in the way. Mark said others cut down branches off the trees and threw them in the way. The disciples spread their garments in the path. The disciples cut of palm leaves of the trees. The disciples put the palm leaves in the path. That’s why we call today Palm Sunday because on the Sunday before Jesus died on an old rugged Cross, he came riding on the back of a donkey that walked on palm leaves. This reminds me of a story of the donkey who Jesus rode on. The story goes like this. The donkey who Jesus rode on was young and impressionable. He was excited when they put clothes on his back. He was excited when they put palm leaves under his feet. He was excited as he heard the praises of hosanna. So when he got to the barn, he told the other farm animals, you should have seen me today. They put clothes on my back. They put palm leaves under my feet. They shouted hosanna as I walked by. They just loved me. To that, one of the chickens looked around the post and said listen donkey, don’t get the big head. They were not praising you. They were praising the one you had on your back. The moral of the story is this: Always give praise to the Lord because when people praise you, they are really praising the God who is you carry in your heart. Jesus was coming to town and the disciples were saying hosanna. Jesus was coming to town and the disciples were saying blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Jesus was coming to town and the disciples were saying blessed be the kingdom of our father David. Jesus was coming to town and the disciples were saying hosanna in the highest. The word hosanna means save us and the name Jesus means Savior. The people were in fact saying save us, Savior. Save us, Son of David. Save us, Son of Man. Save us, Son of God. Save us, Lord. The adults were saying save us, Savior. The teenagers were saying save us, Savior. The children were saying save us, Savior. Everybody was saying Hosanna, Jesus; save us, Savior. And on this Palm Sunday Friendship Baptist, I want you to say save us, Savior. I want you to say save us, Jesus. I want you to say Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna. And whenever you come to church you ought to be ready to praise the Lord. You ought to be ready to serve the Lord. You ought to be ready to say hosanna.
THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S AND FULLNESS THEREOF...
PRAISE YE THE LORD FOR IT IS GOOD TO SING PRAISES TO OUR GOD
PRAISE THE LORD O JERUSALEM
PRAISE THY GOD O ZION
PRAISE YE THE LORD
PRAISE GOD IN HIS SANCTUARY
PRAISE GOD IN THE FIRMAMENT OF HIS POWER
PRAISE HIM FOR HIS MIGHTY ACTS
PRAISE HIM ACCORDING TO HIS EXCELLENT GREATNESS
LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH, PRAISE THE LORD
Say amen, somebody! Hosanna, Blessed Be The Rock!
Well, as I go to my seat, I want you to know that not everybody was happy that the disciples were praising Jesus. Matthew in his gospel said that the scribes and the Pharisees were against Him. They had made the Temple of God a house of thieves. But Jesus said My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves. And Jesus had to upset their apple carts. Jesus had to upset their money carts. Jesus had to rain on their parade. So they told Jesus to tell the children to stop praising Him. But Jesus said out of the mouths of babes and sucklings God has ordained praise. Jesus said if they these should shout their mouths, the very rock would cry out. And I don’t know about you but I don’t want no rock crying out for me. I’m gonna praise Him until the day I die. I will trust in the Lord until I die. David said Oh taste and see that the Lord He is good. And that reminds me of a poem called Heaven’s Grocery Store. It goes like this. I was walking down life's highway a long time ago. One day I saw a sign that read, “Heaven's Grocery Store.” As I got a little closer the door came open wide And when I came to myself I was standing inside. I saw a host of Angels. They were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, “My Child shop with care.” Everything a Christian needed was in that grocery store. And all you couldn't carry, you could come back for more. First, I got some Patience: Love was in the same row. Further down was Understanding: You need that everywhere you go. I got a box or two of Wisdom, a bag or two of Faith. I just couldn't miss the Holy Ghost, For He was all over the place. I stopped to get some Strength and Courage To help me run this race. By then my basket was getting full, But I remembered I needed some Grace. I didn't forget Salvation, Because salvation was free, So I tried to get enough of that To save both you and me. Then I started up to the counter To pay my grocery bill, Because I thought I had everything To do my Master’s Will. As I went up the aisle, I saw Prayer: And I just had to put that in, Because I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin. Peace and Joy were plentiful; They were last on the shelf. Song and Praise were hanging near, So I just helped myself. Then I said to the angel, “Now, how much do I owe?” He smiled and said, “Just take them everywhere you go.” Again, I smiled and said, “How much do I really owe?” He smiled again and said, “My Child, Jesus Paid Your Bill A Long, Long Time Ago.” Jesus paid it all... During Palm Sunday your mind ought to be on Jesus. Paul said let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Paul said be not conformed to this world... Paul said but we have the mind of Christ. God will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. Focus your mind on Jesus and you will always praise the Lord. You’ve got to do the will of God. In the Garden of Gethsemene, Jesus did not want to drink the bitter cup. But Jesus said not my will but thy will be done. Jesus was nailed... Jesus died... David said I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. David said the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. David said the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid. David said for in the time of trouble, He shall hide me; He shall hide me in His pavilion. David said the Lord is my Shepherd... David said ya though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... Paul said rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Because the Joy of the Lord is my strength. Ain’t God good? God is good how many times? ALL THE TIME. Did He wake you up this mornin’, started you on your way? Did He put food on your table; clothes on your back; money in your pocket; a roof over your head? They you ought to praise Him today. Praise him for his mercy. Praise Him for His love. Praise Him for His grace. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. Grace, grace, God’s grace. His grace is sufficient for me. I need grace in the morning, grace in the noon day, grace in the midnight hour. And grace will take me home. Because I’m going to another house... God ain’t gonna make you a Christian. God ain’t gonna make you a disciple of Christ. God ain’t gonna make you praise Him. You got to praise Him for yourself. Praise God, praise God, praise God from whom all blessings flow. Because my hope is built on nothing less.... And if I were you I would say Come let’s magnify the Lord. For He is worthy to be praised. Come let’s magnify the Lord. For He is worthy to be praise. Hosanna, blessed be the rock. Blessed Be the rock of my salvation. Hosanna, blessed be the rock. Jesus is the rock of my salvation. And I just want to ask you one question, “Will you praise God this Palm Sunday and shout HOSANNA?” The doors of the church are now opened.
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