“To Honor A King”
Luke 19:41-44
Do you love a parade?
Billy Graham wrote in "The Key To Personal Peace"
“One of the powerful, enduring images that my wife, Ruth, and I have of our early years together is of the ticker-tape parades in New York City celebrating the end of WWII. The war was finally over! And those who were spared from death by the enemy were jubilant beyond words.
“Millions of multicolored streamers and mountains of confetti rained down on the returning heroes… Friends, family, and fellow citizens danced in the streets to express their own happiness and excitement.
“Emotions ran extremely high – unfettered joy, exuberant hope for the future… But the emotion that ran deepest, causing tears to rush down the faces of moms and dads, grandparents, and even stalwart soldiers – from privates to generals – was relief. The war was over! … there was peace at last.”
Some of you remember the joy in those parades.
But Dr. Graham did not mention another emotion present in those times. The sorrow of those whose sons, husbands, fathers; daughters, wives, mothers were not coming home. The sorrow of soldiers for their brothers buried on battlefields or graves across these states. The sorrow of those weeping for the massive loss of life in the war.
Can you recall a time you wept while everyone else celebrated?
Perhaps when our nation went to war to retaliate against attacks on us, you were grieved while so many around you celebrated that action. Some of you have lost a loved one during the holidays, and you wept while everyone else enjoyed feasting and celebrating with their families. Maybe you broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend during prom week, and stayed home alone while all your friends went to the big party.
Jesus knows about all about lonely grief. He experienced it on Palm Sunday.
The crowds are shouting, praising and rejoicing. But the One the parade is meant to honor is weeping!
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ’If you… had only known on this day what would bring you peace— but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you… on every side. They 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 19:41-44, NIV)
This story shows how we can bring grief to Jesus. I want you to remember three words: ignorance, rebellion, apathy.
I. To give Jesus grief…
A. Insist on ignoring the source of true peace.
"If you… had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19:42, NIV)
We understand the value of peace, even when we’re young. Two sisters, a 4-yr-old & 6-yr-old gave their mom a very nice potted plant for Mother’s Day. They bought it with their own money, and mom was very happy. But the older sister said sadly, "We saw some flowers that we wanted to get. But we didn’t have enough money. They had a pretty ribbon that said, ‘Rest In Peace.’ We knew they were perfect since you’re always asking for a little peace so you can rest.”
We know the value of peace, but seem to insist on looking in the wrong places. Someone said, “My therapist told me the way to true inner tranquility is to finish what I start. Already today, I’ve finished two bags of chips, a chocolate cake, and I feel better already.”
Jesus wept because these beloved people insisted on looking everywhere but to God for their peace.
They had done that before. Their ancestors were threatened by Assyria. The nearby nations made alliances with Egypt to protect them, and God’s people also wanted to trust in Egypt for their deliverance.
Isaiah voiced God’s response: The Sovereign LORD… says, "Only in repentance, in returning to me & trusting in me will you be saved… But you refuse my way. You say, ’We’ll get our help from Egypt. They’ll give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you’re going to see is that of your enemies pursuing you!" (30:15-16)
They wanted to trust the Egyptian army and their horses to keep them in peace. God said, “It’s only when you trust me that you’ll have peace.”
They needed to learn what David had. "The LORD saves his anointed… with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots & some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God… we rise up & stand firm." (Psalm 20:6-8, NIV)
In Jesus’ time, Jerusalem lived under the Pax Romana–the terms of peace imposed by Rome, dictated to a defeated people. It was an uneasy peace without much liberty. It’s one reason the Pharisees told Jesus to silence his disciples who were shouting “Hosanna,” which means “save us now!” If it appeared to the Romans this was the start of a revolt, they would crush what few freedoms the Jews had (not to mention the authority of these jealous leaders).
Jesus wept because they’re doing it again. He was there as God’s offer for true peace but the people will ignore and reject Him for the false peace of an emperor.
Perhaps you understand that the peace God offers is more than freedom from war. His peace has to do with our well-being in every dimension of life – not only the absence of trouble, but tranquility, wholeness, harmony, fulfillment, provision.
Where are you looking for these? Are you ignoring the source of real peace? Jesus weeps for you if you insist on looking everywhere but to God for your well-being.
B. Persist in rebellion.
"… you have rejected the opportunity God offered you." (Luke 19:44, NLT)
Does it seem strange that Jesus rode a donkey for His “triumphal entry” into the Holy City? It isn’t strange at all when we realize he was intentionally fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah. "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…" Zechariah 9:9, NIV)
By His deliberate fulfillment of that prophecy, Jesus demonstrated he came at this time, not as a war-maker, but as a peacemaker.
The Prince of Peace had come to town. And they not only missed Him, they rejected him!
Like us, they wanted God on their terms. They wanted a powerful leader, but God sent a suffering servant. They wanted a king on a throne wearing a crown, they got a poor carpenter’s son hanging on a cross wearing thorns. They couldn’t have God on their own terms so they sent him back. They rejected him. And he wept for them.
Does He weep for you because you persist in your rebellion? Are you demanding a Savior who…
• must let you call the shots and dictate the terms?
• must make you comfortable, rich, happy?
• won’t expect anything difficult or require any real sacrifice?
You will not know peace as long as resist the real Jesus and try to make Him conform to your mold. Does He grieve for you because you persist in rebellion?
C. Exist in apathy of the consequences.
Jesus saw an awful future for these people attending this parade in Jerusalem. He looked beyond this day and saw the horrors that were to come in about 70 A.D. when Titus of Rome would lay siege to the city and conquer these people.
On this day in Jerusalem, He saw children shouting, laughing, dancing, waving branches. But He looked forty years into the future and saw their grown bodies in these same streets, starving, bleeding, dying.
He saw the spectacular temple, the strong city walls. But He looked beyond this day and saw it all in piles of rubble. The rubble of people’s lives when they reject Christ and give no thought to the consequences of it.
Jesus understood what their rejection cost – the consequences they would suffer. Though they went on about their lives in apathy, His love for them and what He knew they’d suffer moved him to tears.
Jesus is still weeping for our cities & towns today because in every city and town people gather in churches to wave palm branches & sing "Hosanna!" But inside our church walls and in the homes next door, people he loves insist on ignoring His offer of peace, persist in rebellion, and exist in apathy of the consequences.
Is He weeping for you? That can all change. It isn’t too late.
Before I tell you how, I need to offer a second important application of all I’ve said so far. Some of you are not ignoring Him. You’ve responded to His offer of peace. You’ve quit your old resistance and live in obedience. As a result, you do not live in fear of His judgment or the consequences of sin.
So is there anything relevant to you in what I’ve been talking about? There sure is.
Do you share Jesus’ heart? Do you grieve for people who are ignoring His offer of peace, persisting in rebellion, and living in apathy?
Or do you just think, “to hell with ‘em?” Do you despise them, or pray for them? Do you avoid them, or offer Jesus to them?
The joy & celebration of Jesus triumphal parade into Jerusalem that day was short-lived. But for many it was a genuine honoring of their King. Instead of bringing grief to Jesus, how can we bring pleasure to our King?
This story also shows us how to honor King Jesus. And now I want you to remember three new words: Ambassador, allegiance, adoration.
II. To honor the King…
A. Welcome the Ambassador and His terms of peace.
Jesus said, “… in me you have peace .” (John 16:33, NIV)
Paul wrote, “… we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1, NLT)
In the Passion Week story we’re often surprised that the mood of Jerusalem took such a drastic turn. How could these people go from praising Jesus to calling for His execution in just a few days?
But why should we be surprised? He failed to meet their terms. They yearned to be delivered from servitude to Rome, but Jesus wanted to deliver them from the bondage of their sin. They wanted a king to sit on the throne of David, but Jesus wanted to occupy the throne of their hearts. They longed for political freedom, but Jesus came offering the gift of spiritual freedom.
They rejected the King’s terms of peace.
Luke 19, verse 42 records Jesus lament, “If you… had only known on this day what would bring you peace…” A similar phrase appears in Luke 14:32 where it is translated “terms of peace.”
So what are this King’s terms of peace?
• Stop insisting on ignorance and face the truth. Without faith in Christ, you are a lost sinner incapable of winning your own redemption.
• Stop resisting Him and reach out to Him. Receive the grace He offers.
• Accept His sacrifice in your place. You can’t pay off the penalty for your sin and you don’t have to suffer the consequences of it.
You honor the King when you welcome the Ambassador and accept His terms of peace.
B. Give Him your complete allegiance.
Many who threw their coats and palm branches onto the street, who shouted their praises did so just to be on the band-wagon with everyone else. They had no real allegiance to Jesus himself, only to their idea of what He should be.
A lot of people make their marriage vows like that. They want to be married, but to some ideal they’ve created in their mind of marriage and a marriage partner. They later decide they’re not really committed to the person they married when they discover reality doesn’t fit their ideal.
Likewise, many kings throughout history have been abandoned and betrayed by disappointed subjects.
But there have also been many kings faithfully supported and loved by subjects who remained loyal no matter what hardships came. That’s the kind of allegiance that honors our King, Jesus. Will you stick with him whatever the journey brings?
C. Gladly offer your sincere adoration.
Among the crowds waving branches and shouting "Hosanna" were those offering sincere affection to Jesus. But the expressions of adoration by many others were hollow and phony.
Kings can be fooled. They can be convinced that insincere praise is genuine. Some kings seem glad to fool themselves into thinking it’s all real (after all, who wouldn’t love them). Others are content to accept displays of adoration, even when they know it isn’t sincere.
Jesus isn’t fooled. He is only honored with genuine affection and adoration. Is that what you’re bringing?
There is a story about a old village in Spain. The people heard the king planned to visit there. No king had ever done that. They became excited and wanted to offer a great celebration that would show their adoration and that would honor the king. But what could a village of such poor people offer?
Someone proposed that since so many of the villagers made their own wines – very good wines – they could offer that to please the king.
On the day of the king’s arrival, they all came to the village square early in the morning with a large cup of their finest wine and poured their offering into a small opening at the top of a large barrel. They were excited to see the king enjoy the best wine he’d ever tasted.
When he arrived, the king was escorted to square where he was ceremoniously presented with a silver cup and invited to draw wine from the barrel. He was told the villagers were delighted to have him taste the best they had to offer.
He filled his cup from the spigot. And when he drank the wine, he tasted only water.
Had some miracle-worker turned wine to water? No. Each villager had reasoned, "I’ll withhold my best wine and give water. There will be so many cups of excellent wine poured into the barrel that the difference won’t even be noticeable.”
And their king was greatly dishonored by their phony expressions of adoration.
You’ve been singing with the crowd in this triumphal parade we call “worship.” When your King looks at you and the offering you pour out for him, does He see a phony or a follower? Are you gladly giving the best of your sincere adoration to honor Him?
Prayer:
Jesus, are You weeping for us because You know we continue to…
• Ignore the real source of peace?
• Remain in rebellion, dictating our terms to You?
• Go on in apathy toward the consequences?
Or are You deeply honored by our worship and our lives? Do You know us as ones who’ve welcomed You, the Ambassador of God’s peace…
• Accepting Your terms of peace?
• Willingly giving our loyal allegiance?
• Gladly pouring out for You our sincere adoration?
