Dennis L.
Finnan Commentator OPPORTUNITY LOST!
I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment, we’ll talk about a great opportunity that was and is still lost to many… …We see in the Bible, that the three and a half years of
ministry that Jesus of Nazareth performed among His people, the Jews passed by
fast and furiously. As this weekend celebrates for millions of Christians around
the world, a church event called Palm Sunday; it also began in the Bible what is
called the Passion Week of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Now the traditional
calendar for the events of our Lord’s last week of ministry look like this: 1.
Sunday— Witnessed His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem 2.
Monday— Saw His Cleansing the Temple 3.
Tuesday— Embroiled Him in Serious Controversy with the Jewish
leaders 4.
Wednesday—Was Apparently a Day of Rest 5.
Thursday—Final Preparations for Passover Celebration 6.
Friday—Brought the Terrible Trial and Gruesome Crucifixion 7.
Saturday— Revealed that Jesus Rests in the Tomb 8.
Sunday— Gloriously brought us Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead! In viewing such
events, calendar wise, we must remember that the Jewish day ran from sundown to
sundown, so that “our” Thursday evening would be their Friday, the Day of
Passover. Now preceding all this we
have a marvelous account of an event in the life of the Lord Jesus that stands
to be one of the most momentous of all for the human race. It was the Triumphant
Entry into Jerusalem made by Jesus on what is now celebrated as “Palm
Sunday.” In a moment after another musical pause, I’ll return to talk about
the significance of it for all people, especially you and for me today, in our
21st century! Don’t go away; I’ll be right back… …When one reads
the account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the beginning of the Passion Week
just prior to His death on the cross, one would easily think it was truly a
triumphant moment (Luke 19:28-44). From all evidence of the response of the
people to whom Jesus ministered for those 3 ½ years, He had achieved His goal
of turning their hearts toward His majesty and greatness as the Messiah of
Israel. However, in this long text of Scripture, I haven’t time to read in its
fullness, I want to zero in on one text for starters, that gives us a clue as to
the tragedy that was unfolding in the midst of the pomp and circumstance. We
read in,
You see, while Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed Donkey, a symbol in that day of royalty to the Jews (1 Kings 1:33, 44), the people warmly received him. Why? Well for 3 ½ years his glorious exploits and miracles performed, made him famous among the people. Remember, Jesus had just prior to this, miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead. Word got out everywhere, and when it was known Jesus would be entering Jerusalem, the crowds were ready to greet him “royally.” Amazingly, this was the only time Jesus ever permitted anyone to praise Him, and acknowledge His Messiahship publicly. Yet, the Bible tells us what happened that day,
Hear we see the “Hosannas” of the multitudes of Israel crying out and praising God! Combining meekness and majesty, the Lord enters Jerusalem. Now while the crowds cried out, the Jewish leaders heard this and were greatly offended. They called out to Jesus to quench the crowds’ enthusiasm and words and deny their praise, for in their eyes Jesus was blasphemously receiving praise that only was to go to God! Again, we read of their offense,
Now, Jesus’ response is the main theme of my message for what He said that day reveals the tragedy of the very first Palm Sunday event. Listen carefully to the exact words Jesus spoke,
Yes, God sent forth His Son, the Lord Jesus, in wonderful fulfillment of Jewish prophecy and promise. In God the Son’s coming, He spent 33 years living among His creation to show them the beauty of perfection, obedience, and loveliness of God the man Christ Jesus. Upon witnessing His Person and perfections seen in the power of His miracles and love, the world of lost sinners were to find their forgiveness and acceptance by a holy God that had been estranged from His creation since the Fall of the human race in the Garden of Eden. We learn from the Bible that, God first sent His Son to His chosen elect people of Israel, who were the keepers of the Word of God that gave the world the promises of God. But now the nation as a whole rejected Him. For within seven days He would be dead on a cross, murdered for sin and evil He never committed, and then buried in a tomb to be remembered no more. REJECTION is a terrible thing, but rejection of the greatest gift of love and need of the human race is – unforgivable! It is in this context that Jesus made this astounding statement. You see this is why on this glorious spring day, Jesus wept as he saw the crowds, praising Him now, but later in the week crying out “crucify Him, crucify Him… give us Barabbas! (Luke 23:18, 21).” Jesus while riding into Jerusalem looked at the crowds and saw “rejection.” With all the light of Heaven shining upon them through the visible image of God in the flesh, the Jews were the first to reject their Messiah and Lord. It began with the leaders of Israel who should have known better. You see Jesus Christ fulfilled all the prophetic Scriptures that revealed and promised “who, for what, and when,” the Messiah would come and more, “be killed!” This last public event in the ministry life of Jesus was God’s last opportunity for the Jews to publicly receive their Messiah God had sent – alas, they rejected Him. John’s Gospel sums it up for us in,
Yet, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem that historic day, the “door of opportunity” was wide open! The Jews first were to enter, but the Gentiles were to follow and receive their God come in the flesh, and honor Him not just with their lips as this entry revealed, but also with their hearts. Jesus Christ Himself being God, always looked on the heart to see what really was thought and believed. Outward words often do not reflect the truth inwardly believed. Jesus once said,
The time had come for God’s chosen people to be first and publicly receive their Messiah and King Jesus. But the nation, through their leaders, fully and publicly rejected Him and called for His death later that week. It was interesting some years ago, that Pope John Paul absolved the Jews of being implicitly involved in the murder of Jesus. Although it was a noble gesture, no one can absolve sin but God, and no one can remove the stigma that the Jews were the first to call for the death of the Messiah. Now let me say this. The Jews sin of rejection is not unique nor worse than the sin of any other peoples, for the Gentiles are as guilty as the Jews are in rejecting God’s love gift. Why even Pilate, the Roman ruler sent Jesus to His death, knowing in His heart this was the greatest sin and evil he would ever commit. The Roman soldiers at the foot of the cross jeered and spit upon the Lord who hung their dying in total innocence for them. Yes, the fact is we all are guilty of murdering the Messiah, for God’s revelation of Who He is and what He came to do, is written on our hearts everywhere, with none excused of this high crime against God’s love and care for us. But now this very first Palm Sunday, when Jesus declared that if everyone remained silent, why even the “stone would cry out.” This was a reference to the fact that His entry into Jerusalem was an exact literal fulfillment of prophecy in literal time and place, of God’s promise to send us a Savior from our sins (Daniel 9:25;Zech 9:9). The Jewish nation ignored God’s Word, and officially rejected Christ, and now as a result God the Son, officially rejects the nation of Israel and reveals their judgment that would come,
Jesus predicted the sacking and destruction of not only the Jews beloved Jerusalem, but every facet of their worship and place before God. Indeed, 70 years later, Jerusalem was virtually gone, the temple obliterated from existence and with it the entire ancient records, proof and history the Jews cherished and preserved. Indeed, judgment fell upon the nation and to this day, the Jews suffer the hate of the world of Satan and those who follow Him. This is why the religion of Islam in its pure form, incited by demonic teachings and ways, cannot exist until the Jews are all killed and dead. Added to this is anything that smacks of honoring Jesus Christ as God. America is seen by the Islamic purest, as an extension of Jewish hate and must be destroyed. There can be no peace, or tranquil existence until in their eyes, their god of Islam, which is Satan himself rules with Christ the Messiah destroyed from the minds and hearts of the peoples of the earth! It all is seen in the tragedy of this first Palm Sunday. Now in the 21st century, we can look back and see the temporal judgments that fell upon the Jews that day and even exist to this day. We can also see the temporal judgments that fall upon everyone Jew and Gentile alike who, when we see, hear and experience the offer of God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness in Christ the Messiah and Savior, and we too reject Him in our hearts. Look around at our world. What do you see? Wars, rumors of wars, bloodshed, starvation, disease, poverty, immorality, broken hearts, unrelenting crime and evil prevail everywhere! Friend it’s because of our sins, and ultimately our rejection of the opportunity to turn from them and receive the Messiah of old, the Lord Jesus Christ first in our hearts. This radio program is designed to do one thing! PREACH THE “GOOD NEWS” GOSPEL, that Jesus Christ, God the Son, the glorious Messiah of old lives, and is now reaching down through eternity to every soul that listens and is willing to open their hearts to receive Him. Say friend have you received Him? Or, are you part of the further evidence of the massive rejection of that Palm Sunday? Jesus made it clear, while alive on the earth in His pre-resurrection form, that He came not to destroy us, but to save us. His death was clearly man’s rejection of God’s love and purpose for us, but His death was God’s secret plan to REDEEM us. Yes, God died for our sins as a substitute for our dying in eternity, for our own sin. The “time of visitation” had come for the Jews that day in Jerusalem, and they rejected Him in their hearts. Many today live the same mindset. Outwardly, they cry Hosanna to the Lord, but inwardly they live like the devil. Their lives are filled with sin, greed, and self and their hearts reject all the Bible teaches for them to live by and be. Oh, some attend church or synagogue to outwardly show off their piety, but giving the least of performance they go back to their godless secularized world and live it up according to their own moral and social desires for life. Are you one of these worldlings? I was, for almost thirty years of my life! That is, until Jesus passed by me. He came into my life through the preaching g of the Word of God. Along the road, literally, the voice of God spoke out calling me to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. God offered me a Savior, a Messiah, for my sins. Oh yes, I was one of the crowds crying out “Hosanna in the Highest.” I professed to be a Christian. Why I went to church on Easter and Christmas. I was born not of Jewish blood, so I was a good American Christian. Yet my heart was far from God, and more surrendering it fully to Jesus Christ. But… Jesus passed by, and the Father had Him riding on the majesty of His Word, the Bible. Thanks be to God! I not only cried out Hosanna, but I stepped out and bowed my heart and knee to acknowledge Christ as my Lord God and Savior from my sins! I thank God that day… I didn’t lose my greatest opportunity, for I had no promises Jesus would ever pass by my heart and life again! Yes, Palm Sunday in the Bible, is a picture for all of us, that Jesus Christ is still “riding through” presenting Himself as the final call of God to receive His Son Jesus into your heart and life. It is my prayer you too will not pass Him by, and not become one of the multitudes who with their lips honored Him, but were far from Him. May the beginning of this Passion Week of remembrance of the events of the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection, be enough that the tragedy of lost opportunity not befall you. Jesus still comes to us all today. He comes riding on the Word of God, riding on the words of His faithful witnesses who know, love and faithfully follow Him in this life. Remember, Jesus promised that if you miss your day of opportunity, it might be a tragedy that will befall you that will last forever. Today if you hear the voice of Jesus passing by, bow your heart to Him, accept Him as your Lord God and Savior, and openly and publicly receive Him… …Now the true message of Palm Sunday is a message of FORGIVENESS, and PEACE. God offers amnesty to all sinners in this age of grace which has gone on for over 2000 years, but the promise of its continuance is never before us. What a tragedy it would be if you perish in your sins, because you did not recognize your “day of visitation,” and you allowed Jesus the Savior to pass you by. May this week that brings us the wonderful Easter story, turn your hearts to Jesus, and your life to be centered on loving Him now and for eternity. Friend God loves you, He proved it by dying for you, and now He offers you His peace and forgiveness through Christ. May you respond today, in a new love and commitment to Him, or with a renewed love and commitment that will bring all believers to new and higher ground. · Radio talk #1102 · Broadcast date: MArch 24, 2002 · Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator · Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast · Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504 The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director. 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