Church On The Rock-Abilene
Sunday Morning Service - 3/29/2026
  • Graves Into Gardens
  • AIN'T NO GRAVE
  • Might Name of Jesus
  • AT THE CROSS (Love Ran Red)
  • O The Blood
  • John 12:12–23 NKJV
    12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!” 20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
    Introduction:
    Over the last two weeks, we have been walking with Jesus through two powerful signs.
    First, we saw Him open the eyes of a blind man. A man who could not see—was given sight. But what became clear is that physical blindness was not the greatest problem. There were people who could see—but refused to recognize who Jesus was.
    Then last week, we stood at a tomb. Lazarus was dead—four days dead. And Jesus did not just heal—He called a dead man back to life.
    So we have seen two things:
    Jesus gives sight to the blind
    Jesus gives life to the dead
    Now today, we arrive at Jerusalem.
    And the question is no longer, “Can He do it?” The question now is, “Who is He?”
    Because the same Jesus who opened blind eyes and raised a dead man is now riding into the city—and everybody has an opinion.
    Some see a miracle worker. Some see a threat. Some see a political answer.
    But very few see Him clearly.
    And that is the tension of Palm Sunday:
    They are praising Him—but they do not fully understand Him.
    They are shouting “Hosanna”—“Save us now!” But they are asking for the wrong kind of salvation.
    They are celebrating a King— but they do not realize He is on His way to a cross.

    The crowd thinks of Jesus ascending to a throne. However our Lord knows He has an appointment with the Cross.

    John 11:47–50 NKJV
    47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
    At this point the Spiritual Leaders of the nation are over the top.
    They are worried about loosing whatever freedom that they had. They would frame it as “for the faith.” However I suspect it was more for them.
    Hosanna.
    Tyndale Bible Dictionary Hosanna

    HOSANNA* Hebrew expression meaning “Save us, LORD,” taken from

    Psalm 118:25 NKJV
    25 Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
    that's what the religious authorities where worrying
    Jesus knows that the people think that He is coming to be a king in the sense that David was.
    Jesus is not coming to rule a nation He is coming to save the world.
    They are not celebrating what is happening they are celebrating what they want to be happening.
    it is profound to me to me that they are worshiping Him for what they think is happening, not because of what is actually happening.
    If you are early in your faith and you are on a pink cloud write now, you see the Lord and His hand everywhere and we celebrate what God is doing in your life. however, talk to me in ten years and you will see how God was not only doing the things that you saw he was doing but in the process of time you will see more fully what He was doing as time gives us experience we see the deeper work that He has done and is doing.

    Jesus fulfills prophecy by coming the way He does.

    John 12:13–15 NKJV
    13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
    Jesus comes not in majesty but rather humility.
    He was not born in humility not in majesty.
    He comes to announce His reign in humility.
    He was not a secret king. he was publicly.
    in the synoptic gospel He would often tell people to not to tell people who He was John 4:26.
    However, this is very public.
    In this way He is an example.

    The disciples obeyed what they did not understand.

    John 12:16 NKJV
    16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
    They obeyed him even though the did not understand what was going on.
    this is not Blind obedience, this is having learned how to follow Jesus.
    We are learning to follow Jesus to this day.
    Proverbs 3:5–6 NKJV
    5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
    The Disciples Obeyed What They Did Not Understand
    John tells us: “They did not understand these things at first…”
    They were part of it… but they didn’t fully grasp it.
    They helped fulfill prophecy— without realizing they were fulfilling prophecy.
    And here is what is powerful:
    They obeyed anyway.
    This is not blind obedience. This is formed trust.
    They had walked with Him long enough to know that even when they didn’t understand Him— they could trust Him.
    And that is faith.
    Hebrews tells us Abraham went out “not knowing where he was going.”
    Peter said, “Nevertheless at Your word…”
    Proverbs tells us, “Lean not on your own understanding…”
    Conclusion:
    On that day, they waved palm branches. They shouted. They celebrated.
    But within days—many of those same voices would fall silent.
    Because Jesus did not meet their expectations.
    And that is the danger:
    When we only follow Jesus for what we think He is doing, we will struggle when He reveals what He is actually doing.
    But the disciples give us another picture.
    John tells us: “They did not understand these things at first…”
    They did not have it all figured out. They did not grasp the full plan. They could not see the cross clearly.
    But they stayed with Him.
    And later—they understood.
    Bishop, that is faith.
    Not having all the answers— but staying with Jesus anyway.
    Not seeing the whole picture— but obeying what He said.
    Not understanding the season— but trusting the Savior.
    So here is the question for us today:
    Will you follow Him only when you understand Him? Or will you follow Him because He is the King?
    Because He is still riding into lives today— not always the way we expect… but always the way we need.
    And blessed is the one who can say:
    “Lord, I may not understand everything You are doing— but I will follow You anyway.”

      • John 12:12–23NKJV

      • Matthew 21:1–9NKJV

      • Mark 11:1–10NKJV

      • Luke 19:29–38NKJV

      • John 11:47–50NKJV

      • Psalm 118:25NKJV

      • Psalm 118:25NKJV

      • John 12:13–15NKJV

      • John 12:16NKJV

      • Proverbs 3:5–6NKJV

  • Broken Vessel
Church On The Rock-Abilene
churchontherockabilene@gmail.com
3256725446
https://church-on-the-rock-abilene-tx.faithlifesites.com
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