HE WAS STEADFAST, NONE-THE-LESS
And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
It began early Sunday morning as Jesus was walking toward Jerusalem. Jesus stops for a moment and sends 2 of his disciples ahead of Him into a nearby village to carry out a special errand. Here is how Luke records that event:
"As He approached Bethphage & Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, `Go to the village ahead of you, & as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it & bring it here. If anyone asks you, `Why are you untying it?’ tell him, `The Lord needs it.’" [Luke 19:28b-31]
The two disciples must have wondered about what Jesus told them to do, because none of the Gospel accounts about the ministry of Christ ever mention Him riding any animal to get from one place to another. He must have walked thousands of miles; there is no mention of Him ever riding, except in a boat across the Sea of Galilee.
But now, He gives this unusual command to go into the village to get a colt that had never been ridden, and to bring it to Him.
Jesus knew what He was doing – where was going – and why.
Jesus’ decision to go into Jerusalem must have been one of the most difficult he ever made.
Riding a colt into the city was a public declaration that He was a King. You see, in times of war the conqueror would ride upon a prancing stallion. But in times of peace, the king would ride a colt to symbolize that peace prevailed.
By doing this he was “upping the ante” so to speak. Throughout His ministry he had shied away from proclamations regarding His true identity but now he was making a very high profile one about himself.
And not only that – he was defining the type of Kingdom he would preside over … a Kingdom of peace not war.
And most of the gathered responded with joy.
Most.
All of a sudden Jesus stops. He pauses. He looks out over the city and … and … and begins to cry.
The King is crying!
More fully yet, God is crying!
Why? Because he knew the rejection that awaited Him. He knew what three short days held in store for him. Could Jesus see Golgotha from his current vantage point?
This was no parade as the crowds presumed … this was a death march.
Jesus knew that just over the horizon was the cross, looming like a monster ready to consume Him.
But Luke tells us that in spite of it all, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).
In the span of a week we will come full circle to the reigning King but first there would be “Hell to pay.” First there would be unmentionable and indescribable suffering.
Throughout Holy Week we will give you opportunities to understand these last days of Jesus more fully. Each day we will offer worship or service opportunities that I trust will give you insight into horror of this unfolding drama.
WE WAVED PALMS TODAY.
We waved palms today. We waved them in celebration and acknowledgement. It is appropriate to celebrate this foreshadowing of Jesus’ full identity but it is also incomplete.
And bittersweet.
Maybe you are inclined to be a “palm waver”. Maybe your personality is given to emotional expression. Good; Jesus always welcomes genuine praise and Heaven knows we need more celebration in the church.
We, like the first celebrants, are sincere. We like gathering and marching with the rescued.
• Among the crowds would be people He had healed.
• Some had been among the thousands He had fed.
• Many more had seen some of His miracles, & listened as "He spoke with authority." They had listened, & their lives had been changed.
• Bartimaeus was there. A man who had received his sight in replacement of his beggar’s rags.
• I supect Zacchaeus was present too. He had paid back his debt to society and had made his peace with God.
• And the lepers? Their skin had been cleansed & now they were rejoicing for the healing that the Lord had given them. I think they were there too.
• Maybe Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, Mary, Martha, and Mary Magdalene. I am certain they were there – everyone was flooding into Jerusalem on this day.
Identifying with this crowd in its acknowledgment of Jesus the Peaceful King is wholesome and worthwhile.
But … exuberant expressionists can be moody too. If you identify with the crowd here … you must identify with them on Friday too.
This is the same crowd that would line the streets on Friday morning watching the death march reach it’s climax , gawking like thrill seekers who were clamoring for his death and shouting “Crucify Him!”
Remember, if you identify with the crowd you will be moved by the crowd and your cheers will turn to jeers in just a matter of days.
Never-the-less, Jesus stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
Even though he knew what YOU would do.
WE MARCHED IN PARADE ALONGSIDE JESUS TODAY.
Okay. Okay. You don’t want to identify with the crowd. You are more low key than that. Maybe you’re not a “parader.”
So, maybe you are inclined to be a “follower”. You want to be with Jesus – to be like him and identified with him. You’re pretty sure you’re gonna remain faithful for the rest of your life and you’re quite content to be one of the disciples walking beside the king in the grand parade.
It’s not about you and you know it. It’s about Jesus and you want to see him exalted!
Can’t you see Peter as he walked with chest expanded -enjoying the throngs & the cheers of the crowd - maybe with one hand on his sword just in case something went wrong. This is the one who will just days later says “Even if all fall away, I will not.” (Mark 14:29)
Can’t you see Simon the Zealot? His very name shows he was politically inclined and seeking a King. “Yes!” he is exclaiming, “Yes it’s finally time!!!!”
Oh my, James and John’s political aspirations are well documented. The pulled Jesus aside right after he announced he was headed to Jerusalem to die (Mark 10) and asked if they could sit on his right and left as fellow-rulers!
You are inclined to be a “follower”.
However, if you identify with the disciples here you have to identify with them on Thursday too. They abandon Jesus quicker than the crowds do! They scurry like rats when the lights is turned on.
You’re not as strong as you think you are. You have a breaking point and, as much passion as you have, you will fail him too.
Being identified as a disciple is a good thing! I want to be a Christ-follower myself. But Jesus knows my limitations. He knows which one will deny him three times, another which will run away naked he’s fleeing so fast and that the others will slink into the darkness too.
If you identify with the disciples you have to identify with them on Thursday too.
You’re not as strong as you think you are. You have a breaking point and, as much passion as you have, you will fail him too.
You can march beside the parade gleaming with excitement about what was transpiring … but Jesus knew the future and it wasn’t so “thrilling” to him.
Never-the-less, Jesus stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
Even though he knew what YOU would do.
WE ACKNOWLEDGED HIS COMING KINGDOM TODAY.
But maybe you would have done things different. Maybe you are more serious than you are exuberant or blindly loyal. Maybe you plan things out a bit to make sure the right things happen.
That’s it … you are inclined to be a “strategizer”. Your personality is given to planning and seeing outcome. When others start giving the dream your mind begins putting the nuts-and-bolts together. You take matters into your own hands and mold a desired outcome. You’re not afraid to force the issue to see it through to completion either.
Judas’ was like that too. It is “possible” that Judas was trying to “help” Jesus by forcing his hand and making him confront the establishment.
Let’s face it … Jesus had missed opportunities before. Jesus had the crowds eating out of his hands and willing to crown Him king on at least three other occasions! And Jesus missed them … Jesus walked away from the opportunity or disbanded the crowd.
It was time to help Jesus out with this and you had the skills to do it. And a plan. And you might make a few bucks on the side for the treasury too.
What some call a scheme you might call a proactive plan. You’re not given to exuberant parades (even today’s parade made you feel a bit self-conscious) and you certainly would not make such bold and rash statements as Peter, or James, or John.
You prefer to move behind the scenes. Work the system. You’re shrewd and crafty and that’s what Jesus needs if he’s gonna survive in this political climate.
But … working your own schemes often ends with unforeseen consequences … tragic consequences.
If you identify with this planner you must also identify with him on Wednesday too. He sets a plan in motion that all eternity will not stop.
I am afraid to identify with the schemer. He walks away and never returns. Instead he just creates another scheme to end the misery (suicide). But he never planned for it to go that far or become that severe for anyone … anyone.
Working your own schemes often ends with unforeseen consequences … tragic consequences.
Never-the-less, Jesus stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
Even though he knew what YOU would do.
WRAP-UP
Palm Sunday is a microcosm of the week. Others were there too – those that were “neutral and his critics and his enemies.
The day starts with great promise but Jesus brings that to a screeching halt … he knows this parade is more closely akin to a death march than it is a coronation.
And God wept.
There are no successful supporting cast members in the story. They all bail on Jesus by week’s end. I don’t think any of them thought they would.
The motives are irrelevant and excuses break down quickly.
WILL WE BETRAY HIM ON WEDNESDAY?
Like the Traitor?
WILL WE DENY HIM ON THURSDAY?
Like the Disciples?
WILL WE CRUCIFY HIM ON FRIDAY?
Like the Crowds?
REGARDLESS – HE WILL SAVE US ON SUNDAY!
Never-the-less, Jesus stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)
Even though he knew what YOU would do.
He who has ears to hear,
Let him hear.
