Title: TheTriumph of His Church!

Text: Jn. 12: 12-19

Key v. 13

Question: What was Jesus purpose in riding into Jerusalem?

Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew says that the King coming on the foal of a donkey was an exact fulfillment ofZechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Jesus rides into His capital city as a conquering King and is hailed by the people as such, in the manner of the day. The streets of Jerusalem, the royal city, are open to Him, and like a king He ascends to His palace, not a temporal palace but the spiritual palace that is the temple, because His is a spiritual kingdom. He receives the worship and praise of the people because only He deserves it. No longer does He tell His disciples to be quiet about Him (Matthew 12:16,16:20) but to shout His praises and worship Him openly. The spreading of cloaks was an act of homage for royalty (see2 Kings 9:13). Jesus was openly declaring to the people that He was their King and the Messiah they had been waiting for. – The triumphal entry!

[ 5 triumphs of Christ and His Church]

  1. Born in triumph – Lk. 2: 8-20
  2. Raised in triumph –Lk. 24: 1-6/ He conquered death, hell and the grave. – Rev. 1:17,18
  3. Coming again in triumph – Acts 1: 4-11
  4. His church willrisegloriously in triumph - 1 Thess. 4: 13-18; Eph. 5: 27
  5. His church will come back following our King in triumph. Rev. 19: 7-16

Question: After the birth of the Church in Acts 2 – when they received the power of the Holy Spirit, how did they live and continue to grow? Acts 2: 42-47 – 6 areas of persistence and consistency!

  1. They persevered (persisted, continued) in the Apostles doctrine (teachings – teachings of Jesus which encompassed the whole word of God. – Matt.4:4
  2. They had continual fellowship – Grk. Koinoonia - the intimate bond of fellowship which unites Christians. Genuine agape love for one another.
  3. They broke bread with one another. – They had meals and communion with one another.
  4. They had continual prayer; it was non- stop / 1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
  5. Witnessing was non -stop/ Acts 5:42- 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
  6. Giving was consistent and generous. 1 Cor 16:1-2-16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. KJV

Conclude: The church was birth in triumph and it is expected to rise up with Jesus in triumph. Therefore, we as the church cannot settle for anything less. Jesus said:….Matt 16:18b

I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. KJV