Luke was the only Gentile author in the New Testament. He wrote in a way that a non-Jew could understand what had happened in those days. Because of this Luke is for many the easiest gospel to read. This gospel clearly shows us Jesus, a compassionate Savior, King who has come for all mankind, Jews and Gentile. It is a writing where all people are valued. Samaritan, leper, woman caught in adultery, poor, etc. That “all mankind will see God’s salvation.” (Luke 3:6)
It is through his perspective that we see the original Palm Sunday. To get a fuller understanding of this compassionate King we can look at the chapter that precedes it. In Luke 18 Jesus is approaching the city of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, where he knew he would face suffering and death. He was traveling through crowds with his disciples. A blind man who was begging by the roadside heard the crowd and asked what was happening. When he was told that it was Jesus of Nazareth he cried out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those around him immediately rebuked him and told him to be quiet.
At this time in history it was thought that those who were disabled or poor must have offended God, so they must be sinful people. But this was not Christ’s opinion of him. Even though Christ was focused on Jerusalem and the cross that laid before him he still took time to meet the needs of this man who was an outcast of society. Jesus had the man brought to him and healed him. We see in this story our compassionate king.
In Luke 19, starting in verse one, we see Christ’s compassion again. He was entering Jericho and the crowds were continuing to follow Him. Scriptures tell of a man named Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. He was one of the chief tax collectors in Jericho. He collected taxes from his own people for the Romans. He was allowed to charge whatever he wanted and keep the extra for himself. Because of this he was seen as a traitor, a thief, and the worst of sinners.
He was a short man so he climbed up in a tree so he could see Jesus over the crowd. As Jesus walked by he saw Zacchaeus in the tree. Jesus stopped, looked at Zacchaeus and told him to come down. He was going to his house to visit him. Many were surprised that a “holy” man would spend time with this “sinner.” By the end of their time together Zacchaeus repented of his sin and committed to repay all he had taken from people unjustly. Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house. . . for the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Once again the compassionate King had stooped down to the level of man and met them in their point of need.
In Luke 19:28-44, through Jesus’ triumphal entry we see His proclamation that He has come as our compassionate King.
At times in scripture God instructed his prophets to speak his instructions to God’s people. At other times God instructed his prophet to present an object lesson or living example of the idea that God was trying to communicate to his people, especially when the people were slow to listen to the words of God. We find an example of a living example in Luke 19:28-44.
At this point Jesus had been ministering to the people for almost three years. The time of His death was drawing near and most of the Jews still were choosing not to believe. So Jesus presents them with a picture, where the lesson, His claims of being the Christ, would be unmistakable. It was the time of year to celebrate the Jewish Passover and thousands upon thousands of Jewish pilgrims had already gathered in Jerusalem. Religious fervor and passion was high.
Scripture tells how Jesus was approaching the Mount of Olives riding on a donkey that had never been ridden before. The Mount of Olives was just east of the city of Jerusalem. It was a place with sacred importance. In the book of Ezekiel God had given the prophet a vision of God and His glory leaving and returning to Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives, the mountain to the east of Jerusalem. The location of this story being the Mount of Olives was significant to the people of Jesus’ day.
As we continue to observe the culture of that day and the scriptures of the Old Testament we can begin to understand much more about this story. An unused animal was often used for sacred purposes. On example can be found in Numb. 19:2 where God gives instruction concerning an animal that was to be sacrificed. “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.” Christ riding on an unused colt was another message to the people about the sacredness and importance of who Christ was.
A third important detail was the type of animal on which Jesus was riding. A conquering king would enter a city riding a horse. A king coming in peace would ride a donkey. (Matt. 21:2; 1 Kings 1:33-34) Jesus had not come to be an earthly, military king who would free the Jews from Rome. He came as an eternal king that would free many from the condemnation and slavery of sin. He came in peace. . . the Prince of peace. Jesus was following this same pattern as seen in Zechariah 9:9 that had been written 500 years before.
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 colt, the foal of a donkey.
In contrast to this in Revelation 19 Jesus comes riding on a white horse as a conquering King of kings and Lord of lords.
This was another message to the people who were there that day. Yes, Jesus was coming to be King of the Jews, but not in the way that they desired. He was coming to save them from so much more than the Romans. He came for something greater. He came to free each man, woman, boy, and girl from themselves, the slavery of sin, and an eternity separated from God. Not a salvation from the Romans in the present but a freedom from sin and judgment for all eternity. He came truly as a compassionate King.
Jesus rode this donkey into Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jewish people where God Himself dwelt. This was the holiest of cities and He came as its King. This was the same Jerusalem where the leaders were already seeking to kill Him. He was making one of His final claims to the truth that He was the promised Messiah, King, and Savior of Israel. Many in the crow spread their cloaks or outer robes on the road in front of the donkey that Jesus was riding. This too was another way that kings were treated.
In response to all of these signs of proclaiming Himself to be the promised Messiah and King of the Jews the people began to praise Jesus quoting the Old Testament with clear references to the coming Messiah that had been written centuries before. “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
The donkey, the location, the cloaks on the road and the praises of the people all declared Jesus as the promised Messiah and compassionate King. It was a dangerous statement to be making at that time in history since the Romans were in power, but that is who Jesus was and why he had come.
In the midst of the cheers there were Pharisees who were watching the event take place. They rejected the claims of Christ’s being the Messiah and called for him to rebuke the praises of the people. They told Jesus to rebuke his disciples but He responded with these words, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Jesus was stating the truth that the praises of God in Jesus Christ cannot be silenced. The disciples were giving glory to Jesus because He was the Promised One from God and the Pharisees refused to recognize who Christ was. If we choose not to give God glory, “even the stones will cry out!” He is of infinite worth. There is no other name that will ring throughout the halls of heaven for eternity except the name of Jesus Christ. The names that our world exalts will be forgotten and fade into the past but the name of Jesus will resound forever.
The praises to God cannot be silenced by governments, by sword, by threats, or by fear. The people of God proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ will continue, unstoppable, until Christ returns. . . and that will only be the beginning. In heaven all other glories will be silenced and Jesus Christ will be exalted.
Jesus our exalted King then showed us His heart of compassion. As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city John 19:41 tells us that Jesus wept. He then went on to prophesy the destruction of Jerusalem that was to come. He then ends His lament giving the reason for this suffering, “Because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” If they had only had ears to hear.
Today we each need to be encouraged by the Compassionate King. Regardless of where we are in the midst of our struggles we serve Jesus Christ, our Savior. He came down from heaven so that He might live among us and transform our lives to be like Him. He is not a Messiah who has come to serve man’s agenda. He is a Messiah who comes on His own terms and calls us to repent of our sin and believe in Him. He stoops down and meets us in the midst of our rebellion. His grace then drives us to repentance.
Today will you bow your heart once again to Jesus Christ our Messiah King. Be bold as you come before His throne in your time of need. There you will find a compassionate King who is ready to grant the grace and mercy that you need.
