Introduction: Attitude is one of the categories on the report card. Students are rated not only on their performance, but on their ATTITUDE. Palm Sunday is very much about attitude--Jesus’ attitude. It’s about how Jesus thought of himself and of the work the heavenly Father gave Him to do. Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem reminds us of THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDE.

I. It brought him to Jerusalem

A. Right before he wrote today’s text, Paul said: "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

B. When small children have guests, they may sometimes fight over toys. When a visiting child plays with a favorite toy, a child will say: "That’s mine! You can’t have it!"

C. Jesus could have clung to his "rights" as God’s Son, but he "emptied himself...he made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant."

D. The attitude of sinful humankind made it necessary for Jesus to empty himself. Illustration: the late Astronaut James Irwin commented: "As I was returning to earth, I realized that I was a servant, not a celebrity. So I am here, as God’s servant on earth, to share what I have experienced that others might know the glory of God."

E. This humble servant love is a lesson that Jesus had to teach the disciples often, as in John 13.

II. Jesus’ attitude laid him on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins--text, v8: "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!"

A. Jesus deliberately rode into Jerusalem knowing that his acclaim would lead to the cross--Lk 19:39 passim

B. Jesus knew that the religious leaders were envious of his popularity with the people--John 11:48ff

C. Jesus knew that he had to die in Jerusalem--Lk 13:33

D. Jesus’ attitude of humble love brings those who trust in him to God--1 Pet 3:8 & Rom 5:2

A. That was the purpose of the foot-washing lesson in John 13, especially v7

B. How we imitate Christ’s life of sacrificial love will indicate our love for him, as in Matt 25:40. There was a deacon in a church in Boston many years ago who said to himself: "I can’t lead a Bible class. There are many things I don’t have the talent to do, but I can do this: I can put two extra dinner plates on my table every Sunday and invite two young men who are away from home to have a meal with me." He did that for more than 30 years. He became acquainted with many young men who attended his church and some of them have followed his humble example. When he died, he was to be buried in Andover, some 30 miles away. Because he was a well-known businessman, a special train had to be chartered to convey the funeral party. Any of his friends who had become Christians through his influence were welcomed to sit in a special car set aside for them. 150 of them came and packed that car from end to end. "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Dan 12:3)

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THE MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN

Object: picture of a police officer in uniform