Chapter 19 - "The Triumphant King" Series

Revealing the Revelation

Chapter 19 “The Triumphant King”

March 28, 2010

Today is a day of triumph. Today is a day of victory! Today is a day of praise! Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. We call this day Palm Sunday. It is the celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Let’s take a look at that event. The Triumphal entrance into Jerusalem is recorded in all four gospels, but Luke’s Gospel gives a little more detail.

Luke 19:28-44

28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "

32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

34They replied, "The Lord needs it."

35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

Luke 19:28-44

I don’t know if it is coincident or not, but this is the 21st sermon I have preached on the Book of Revelation and I have had Bob preach a number of times in between sermons, and it so happens that this chapter coincides with this particular Sunday. I find that interesting. I couldn’t have timed that if I tried.

Did you notice, as we read about the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, that it was bittersweet? It was Joy and sorrow. The people ‘joyfully’ praised God in loud voices. When some of the leaders of the day told Jesus to quiet them down, Jesus said, “If they keep quiet – the STONES will cry out.”

I find that fascinating! Wonder what He meant? Would the stones really have voices? Can rocks make noise? I don’t know - but Jesus HAD to be praised! The King had to be crowned. The King had to have His coronation.

But then there was the sadness as Jesus looked over the sinful city and cried. He prophesied that it would be totally destroyed one day. And why would they be destroyed? Because they didn’t recognize the time of God’s coming to them.

Was Jesus referring to that particular time in history? I think every person ever born is approached by God in some way- at some point in his life. God makes Himself and His will known to them. Every person has to choose between right and wrong – life and death. And many do not realize the implication and consequence of their choice. Their eternal destiny hangs in the balance. And Jesus weeps over those who refuse to come to Him. He weeps over those who refuse to believe in Him. He weeps over those who refuse to trust in Him.

That brings us to Chapter nineteen in Revelation. I think the Triumphant Entry, in Luke 19, was a foreshadow of Revelation 19. In this Chapter we see Jesus take up His Kingdom completely and eternally.

1After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:

"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.

He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3And again they shouted: "Hallelujah!