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CHRIST AND PRAYER AFTER HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

Introduction

Read Matthew 21:1-11.

Today is what is known as Palm Sunday. It commemorates the passage that we just read about Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem in the days leading up to His death, burial and resurrection. (There are complimentary passages about this triumphal entry found in

Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19.)

Here we see Jesus coming to Jerusalem for the last time for the feast of Passover which He would eat with His disciples before His arrest.

The gospel of Luke records what some of the Pharisees said about this entry:

Luke 19:39-40–“And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

We just finished a “Prayer Revival” meeting with Bro. Beckum this past week. We learned a lot about prayer, but most of all we learned that we need to just pray.

I want you to see this morning that from this point to the time of Christ’s death, there is a lot of teaching by Christ about the matter of prayer and there was a lot of praying by Christ.

I.         CHRIST’S TEACHING ABOUT THE TEMPLE AND PRAYER.

            (Matthew 21:12-14)

According to Mark’s account of the triumphal entry it says: Mark 11:11–“And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.”

And then it says that this account of Jesus’ clearing of the temple for the second time took place on the following day. (The first account being found in John 2:13ff)

Merchants and moneychangers would set up their booths in the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple while crowding out the Gentiles who had come from all over to worship God.

The merchants sold sacrificial animals at high prices, taking advantage of those who had traveled long distances. The moneychangers exchanged all international currency for the special Temple coins which was the only money that the merchants would accept.

They would take advantage of those from out of town who did not know what a fair exchange rate should be.

All of this commercialism in God’s house hindered and frustrated people’s attempts at worship.

            Any practice that interferes with worshiping God needs to done away with!

            Jesus said here, “My house shall be called the house of prayer!”

And then it says there in verse 14 that “the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and He healed them.”

Jesus was in the Temple. The blind and lame came to Jesus with their needs. What is that called? Prayer. And it says that Jesus met their needs. Only Jesus can meet folks needs!

Jesus wants His house to be a house of prayer.

                        He wants it to be a place where He is.

He wants it to be a place where those who have been spiritually blinded and maimed by Satan can come and find help and have their needs fulfilled.

                        He wants it to be a place of worship.

He wants it to be a place where the praise of the LORD is and where it is acceptable. (Vs 15-16)

            CHRIST’S TEACHING ABOUT THE TEMPLE AND PRAYER.

II.       CHRIST’S TEACHING ABOUT FAITH AND PRAYER. (Matthew 21:17-22)

            Jesus was not suggesting here that we use prayer as magic.

He was making a strong statement about the part that faith or lack of faith plays in our praying.

We all face some mountain sized objects in our lives from time to time.

                        How strong is our faith?

                        Have we talked to God about those obstacles?

                        Do we believe God can move those obstacles?

Verse 22 is not a guarantee that we can get anything we want simply by asking Jesus and believing. This statement is not a blank check.

For this verse to be fulfilled, our lives must be in harmony with God. When our lives are in harmony with God, then our requests will be in harmony with the will of God.

True prayer is being in a right relationship with God and making requests that are in harmony with God’s will!

James 4:2-3–“. . .ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

1 John 3:22–“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

1 John 5:14–“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”

III.      CHRIST’S PRAYER AT THE LAST SUPPER. (Matthew 26:26-27)

It was a prayer of thanks even though the elements of the supper represented His broken body and His shed blood which would become a reality very soon thereafter.

IV.      CHRIST’S PRAYER FOR HIS DISCIPLES AND ALL BELIEVERS. (John 17)

            Seven times in this prayer He mentions those who the Father gave Him.

            (Vs 2; Vs 6 twice; Vs 9; Vs 11; Vs 12; Vs 24)

            He prayed for our protection from the world and Satan! (Vs 11; 15)

            He prayed that we would have His joy fulfilled in us! (Vs 13)

            He prayed that we would be sanctified by the Word of God! (Vs 17)

            He prayed that we would be yielded to Christ and in one accord! ( Vs 21-23)

            He prayed that we would eventually be with Him in glory! (Vs 24)

            He prayed that we would reach the world with the Gospel! (Vs 18)

V.        CHRIST’S PRAYER AT GETHSEMANE. (Luke 22:39-46)

Here we see that Jesus entered the Mount of Olives. His disciples were with Him.

One significant thing to note is that it was His custom to seek time alone with His Father on this mount when He was in Jerusalem. (Vs 39)

When we look back at Luke 21:37 we see that during the last days of His life, Jesus was spending every night in the Mount of Olives. (Read Luke 21:34-38)

            A.        Jesus told His disciples to take heed to themselves and pointed out three things that could burden them down from being ready for His Second Coming: (Luke 21:34-35)

                        1.         Surfeiting–Excess.

                        2.         Drunkenness–Whatever intoxicates.  

                        3.         Cares Of This Life–Whatever distracts us from where our focus should be. We can be focused on some “good” things or some things that in and of themselves aren’t all that bad, but they are just not the best thing.

            B.        Jesus told His disciples that the only way for them to be prepared for His Second Coming and the things associated with the end times was to watch and pray. (Luke 21:36)

            C.        Then we see the great example of Jesus.

The hour of His greatest temptation, what is known as “His passion,” was rapidly approaching.

                        1.         During this time Jesus was busy teaching.

                        2.         During this time Jesus was busy praying.

                                    a.         Every night He would go out and abide at this place of prayer. (Luke 21:37)

Although Gethsemane is not specifically mentioned here, it is mentioned in other of the Gospel accounts.

Gethsemane was an olive grove on the southwestern slope of the Mount of Olives. Gethsemane means “oil press.”

                                    b.         In His final hours before His arrest He went there one last time. (Luke 22:39)

                                                It was His custom to go there and pray.

In verses 41-44, we see that although Jesus dreaded the trials that lay before him, He reaffirmed His commitment to do what His Father wanted.

Hebrews 12:2 says that He “endured the cross, despising the shame.”

            D.        Jesus told His disciples to also pray. (Luke 22:40)

Jesus knew that the night would be full of trials and temptations for them all. They should have known what time it was, but they didn’t.

                        They should have been praying, but they were sleeping. (Vs 45-46)

VI.      CHRIST’S PRAYER FROM THE CROSS. (LUKE 23:34)

            A.        Christ’s Prayer For His Tormenters. (Luke 23:33-34)

                        Jesus asked His Father to forgive those who were responsible for tormenting Him.

                        Jewish leaders, Roman politicians and soldiers, bystanders, and you and me.

                        Since we all are sinners, we all played a part in putting Jesus to death.

His Father answered Jesus’ prayer by opening up the way of salvation even to those who were personally involved in His actual crucifixion.

Through the blood of Christ–His death, burial, and resurrection–the way of salvation is open to every sinner who will turn to Christ in repentance and faith, believing in His finished work on the cross of Calvary for their sin.

            B.        Christ’s Prayer In His Torment.

Matthew 27:45-46–“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

                        Christ suffered our hell for us. He suffered the penalty for our sin.

                        He suffered the separation from God the Father that should have been ours.

I don’t pretend to understand everything about what happened here, but I believe it. God accepted what Jesus did in full payment for my sin and for the sin of anyone who will place their faith and trust in Him!

            C.        Christ’s Prayer In His Death. (Luke 23:46)

                        Christ gave up His life. It could not be taken from Him.

                        He freely gave His life for sinners such as I am.

                        He will save you if you come to Him today!

Conclusion

Even in the days leading up to His passion, Christ was both involved in prayer and teaching His followers about prayer. Christ is still involved in prayer and teaching His followers about prayer. He ever lives to make intercession for us!

Hebrews 7:25–“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

The commands in Scripture for us to pray are just as valid today as they were when they were given.

1 Thessalonians 5:17–“Pray without ceasing.”

Romans 12:12–“. . .continuing instant in prayer;”

Ephesians 6:18–“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Philippians 4:6–“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 4:2–“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

James 5:16–“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Are you righteous? You can never become righteous on your own. The only way to become righteous is through Jesus Christ!

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