Jesus Was Generating Something

Everyone knows what it is like to ride on a roller coaster; the ups and the downs and the turns and the loops.

A roller coaster can be fun and exciting and it can be terrifying and cause anxiety.

When I was younger I would love to go on a roller coaster. The faster it was the better it was.

I remember the feeling as we would go up that first hill. Even though I was afraid of heights, I remember the adrenaline rush that came as we got to the top and then made that 60 mph descent to the valley and then back up again.

The last roller coaster I was on was at 6 Flags 4 years ago and it was called Batman. It was one that went upside down a few times but it had no floor boards. You sat on a seat with nothing under your feet.

It was freaky and it was my last roller coaster ride.

What about an emotional roller coaster? Have you ever been on an emotional roller coaster?

I have been on those before and I don’t like them.

The account of Jesus’ last days on earth could be considered an emotional roller coaster for the disciples and those who knew Jesus.

We are going to look at some of this today and next week.

Pray

Father,

Open my eyes so I can see Your truth.

Open my ears so I can hear Your voice.

Open my mind so I can understand Your Word.

And open my heart so I may receive all that You want me to receive.

AMEN

The Easter story is one of the most emotional accounts that is contained in the Word of God and it is probably the most important story for mankind.

As Christians, we base all that we believe on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an event that was set into motion the day He was born and it picked up momentum when Lazarus was raised from the grave, which was another emotional event.

That was an awesome miracle that was performed just a few days before Jesus hung on the cross.

Lazarus and his family were very close to Jesus. It was an event that even caused Jesus to weep.

Lazarus had been dead for 4 days when Jesus said, “Lazarus, come out.” It was a huge miracle that excited the people and many put their faith in Him.

About a week after Lazarus was raised from the grave Jesus made His way into Jerusalem. This was done to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy.

In Zechariah 9:9 we read, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a cold, the foal of a donkey.”

In all there are well over 300 Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah and Jesus had fulfilled all but those that reference His second coming.

Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament and that was what He was doing at this time. It was time for Jesus to fulfill His purpose and so He instructs His disciples what to do.

Let’s look at it together in Luke 19:28-44.

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As 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. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

Now if that was today and Jesus told His disciples to go and they would find a car on the corner and they should get in it and start it and bring it back, someone would call 911!

It wouldn’t matter if you said the Lord needed it!

The disciples obeyed Jesus and they found everything the way He said it would be so that Jesus could be announced as the King of Israel, just as it was written.

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

37 When 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: