April 13th, 2025
Palm Sunday 2025
Popularity Isn’t Everything
John 12
Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
April 13, 2025
Opening Verse:
“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.”
John 6:26 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to an exciting Sunday here at The River of Faith Church! Today is Palm Sunday! This marks the official start of the “Holy Week” or the “Passion Week of Christ!”
Palm Sunday marks one week before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here we celebrate his triumphal entry into Jerusalem where His followers gathered palm branches and spread their cloaks on the road as Jesus entered the city riding a donkey.
Main Pointers:
“When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” (Zech. 9:9) His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.”
John 12:9-16 NLT
1. Popularity and numbers does not always mean true converts.
A. One of the main keys in understanding this story is to know the event that happened before Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem.
B. Jesus had just raised someone from the dead named Lazarus and because of this the rumor about Him spread out quickly. This was now a few days before Passover, so many visitors were flocking to go to Jerusalem.
C. What many did not understand including Jesus’ disciples was the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Everything Jesus did was to point out to everyone that He was indeed the Messiah.
2. Many were amazed that day but none were transformed.
“Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him— because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!””
John 12:17-19 NLT
A. The reason many followed Jesus had nothing to do with a changed heart but mostly just a curious mind. Many were intrigued by the news of a dead man being raised but failed to realize that the resurrection and life was right in front of their eyes.
B. “Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
John 11:21-26 NLT
3. The greatest tragedy is to see Jesus face to face and still miss the point.
“But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?” But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said, “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts— so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.” Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”
John 12:37-43 NLT
A. Jesus, despite of the victorious welcome, knew what was waiting for Him. He mourned for the people who have come to see Him but failed to recognize Him.
B. “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
Luke 19:41-44 NLT
Conclusion:
As we get ready for this coming “Holy Week” or “The Passion Week of Christ”, let’s ask ourselves, am I missing the point God? Am I seeing you for who you really are? Am I trusting in you because I really believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior? Let’s take advantage of this time to recognize God’s visitation to us.
Popularity Isn’t Everything
John 12
Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
April 13, 2025
Opening Verse:
“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.”
John 6:26 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to an exciting Sunday here at The River of Faith Church! Today is Palm Sunday! This marks the official start of the “Holy Week” or the “Passion Week of Christ!”
Palm Sunday marks one week before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here we celebrate his triumphal entry into Jerusalem where His followers gathered palm branches and spread their cloaks on the road as Jesus entered the city riding a donkey.
Main Pointers:
“When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” (Zech. 9:9) His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.”
John 12:9-16 NLT
1. Popularity and numbers does not always mean true converts.
A. One of the main keys in understanding this story is to know the event that happened before Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem.
B. Jesus had just raised someone from the dead named Lazarus and because of this the rumor about Him spread out quickly. This was now a few days before Passover, so many visitors were flocking to go to Jerusalem.
C. What many did not understand including Jesus’ disciples was the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Everything Jesus did was to point out to everyone that He was indeed the Messiah.
2. Many were amazed that day but none were transformed.
“Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him— because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!””
John 12:17-19 NLT
A. The reason many followed Jesus had nothing to do with a changed heart but mostly just a curious mind. Many were intrigued by the news of a dead man being raised but failed to realize that the resurrection and life was right in front of their eyes.
B. “Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
John 11:21-26 NLT
3. The greatest tragedy is to see Jesus face to face and still miss the point.
“But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: “Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?” But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said, “The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts— so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.” Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.”
John 12:37-43 NLT
A. Jesus, despite of the victorious welcome, knew what was waiting for Him. He mourned for the people who have come to see Him but failed to recognize Him.
B. “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
Luke 19:41-44 NLT
Conclusion:
As we get ready for this coming “Holy Week” or “The Passion Week of Christ”, let’s ask ourselves, am I missing the point God? Am I seeing you for who you really are? Am I trusting in you because I really believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior? Let’s take advantage of this time to recognize God’s visitation to us.
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