The triumphant entry of the Messiah (Luke, Part 9)
Luke 19:29-44
Introduction / Recap
- The study of Luke is an interesting one for believers to explore
-- We see Luke’s interest in humanity (it’s genuine, rem: career as a physician)
-- We also get to experience how Jesus interacts with society; He goes to them!
- Last week, we saw examined the story of Lazarus, and the Rich Man
- Key to remember, this was not a parable, but a retelling of an event
-- What Jesus did is show us the difference in eternity of two men
-- One who lived for himself, and received what He had earned in life
-- The other, a man who knew God and we saw God’s reward for his faithfulness
- Our lesson & challenge from this was …
• Lesson: Where will you go when your life is over?
• Challenge: Do you care where those around you will go?
• Are you burdened those around you and what they are dealing with?
- Today we take a turn back to Jerusalem, and Jesus’ arrival into the city
-- It is the final time He will go to this city before His arrest and execution
- Read Luke 19-29-44 / Pray
- Set up: Jesus is moving towards His ultimate purpose
-- See this: He arrives in the epicenter of “God’s people - Jerusalem”
-- It’s critical to realize this is for God’s glory – for Him to do this publicly
Point 1 – Jesus rides into Jerusalem
- KEY: To suffer and die for mankind, for our sins that we’ve committed
-- And we must see He was compelled, driven by God, to succeed
- Consider: He knows what is before Him: His purpose, and His mission
-- One might even ask why anyone would do this, willingly, for humanity?
- It is probably best to describe Jesus’ determination in the words of Isaiah
-- Isaiah 50:7, “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.”
- APP: His arrival sets in motion the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan
-- Re: This is God’s redemption, for God’s creation, of which we messed up!
- And in this, He executes a dramatic entrance to accomplish four things (v29-36)
1. The whole scene would center around how He arrives
-- Don’t miss this: It is a complete fulfillment of God’s prophecy
-- An event that would have been studied, prayed for, and anxiously waited on
-- Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey - riding on a donkey’s colt.”
2. He used the title “the Lord” (GR: o kurios) to show His ownership
-- Ultimately, Jesus is over everything on this entire Earth (He is God)
-- All authority is given to Him, which makes Him supreme to everything we have
-- Even this colt, of which it would be a crime to steal it – is owned by Him
-- APP: It’s a great reminder of not being so worried about our “stuff”
3. His instructions were followed closely
-- Note the disciples did not waver from what Jesus told them to do
-- They didn’t improvise, change, or divert from the mission
-- What they did was exactly what we should do – not steal a colt – follow/obey
-- APP: They were faithful in the little things which Jesus called them to obey
4. He demonstrated that the disciples fully trusted Him
-- As they obeyed His instructions, they found favor in God’s results
-- They used their own garments as saddle, and they put Him on that colt
- KEY: Jesus accepted their homage as He claimed the role of Messiah
-- This is particularly important as they are demonstrating their full support
-- Yet, we know that only a few were at the cross when He died (pause)
- TR:
Point 2 – The people’s response to Jesus’ arrival
- Three things to note as the people proclaimed Jesus as Messiah (v38)
1. The people praised God for His mighty works
2. They proclaimed Jesus to be the “King who comes in the name of the Lord”
3. Yet, even in this, they failed to see several things:
a. He is riding on the back of a colt, coming as prince of peace
-- Is role is being solidified, and note He is not coming as a conquering warrior
-- Romans 14:17, “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
-- Jesus is demonstrating the approach of meekness … and they missed it
b. He is riding an animal of burdens - coming to bear men’s burdens
-- In order for Jesus to take on our sins, He becomes a visual representation of sin
-- Donkey is a beast of burden helps to carry heavy loads which are burdensome
-- Hebrews 2:17-18, “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers, and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.”
-- Jesus is visually representing the load He bears for us … and they missed it
c. Failed to see Him riding animal that symbolized gentleness
-- Donkeys are not violent, they do not represent war (horses do)
-- Matthew 11:28-29, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
-- His approach is one of great visual representation … great encouragement
-- Jesus is the burden, carried for us and our forgiveness … and they missed it
- But notice the religious, who should’ve known the signs (re: teachers of the Law)
-- They ask for crowds to be silenced … and Jesus’ response is brilliant (read v40)
- Must see this: In the face of ridicule, His actions / response are very courageous
-- Gives weight to the importance of His coming in the first place, which is:
-- Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
- Jesus declares if they do not praise, the rocks and the stones will cry out
-- Don’t miss: It is not unthinkable that the rocks and trees will cry out
-- Re: When Jesus dies on the cross, nature shook, and the Earth moved
- More importantly … nature is already commanded to shout with praise!
-- Psalm 69:34, “Praise him, O heaven & earth, the seas & all that move in them.”
- FACT: I decided long ago not to allow ricks/trees to cry out in my place
-- Our calling to worship Him is long-settled, we must simply respond to Him
- TR:
Point 3 – Jesus issues a warning to all who would listen
- This last point is unique to only the Gospel of Luke (v41-44)
-- It is full of prophecy and compassion, which often get overlooked by entrance
-- FACT: It is the telling of what is to come for this city of God’s people
- Need to see the motivation of His emotions:
1. The city was greatly loved by Jesus
2. His weeping is for the rejection of God’s forgiveness (the Messiah)
3. Fact is that the people totally miss the deliverer of God’s peace
a. They refused to see so God hid it from them
b. Essentially, God counted Jerusalem as having lost its opportunity
-- Matthew 13:15, “For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.”
- Must know … factual - this city will one day meet with destruction! (v43)
1. An invading army would build a rampart (ramps over walls) to invade
a. Even with the protective walls and trenches, they’d be overrun
2. The city would be completely destroyed, not one stone left standing
3. The people (RE: God’s people) would be personally judged
a. Note the word “you” is used 4 times
b. APP: This is a very personal warning Jesus issues
c. And still … they miss the words
- History: During the attack by Titus in 70AD Jerusalem was … decimated
-- This war began in 66AD, and the city was difficult to take (took years)
-- And during this time, the city was isolated from the outside – meaning …
-- The people within were cut off: neighbor vs. neighbor; famine, pestilence, etc.
- APP: Jerusalem is a prime examine of any nation that turns its back on God
-- It is why Jesus’ teaching are so relevant to us today – consider:
-- John 3:36, “And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”
- In this case, this holy city turned its back on God and God’s offer of salvation
-- God visited, and they didn’t welcome Him in (v44)
-- Much like we saw last week … Abraham answered rich man with facts
-- People have the word, they had the prophets, they still they didn’t listen
- Here we see the very same thing spoken against Jerusalem
-- Curious: It had been 300-400 years (Malachi) since God spoke via a prophet
-- And here, God’s prophecy is being revealed, the Messiah … and they ignored
- As we close, want us to quickly see the obvious before us today …
Big Idea
- These people (could also we be replaced with “we”) rejected who Jesus is
-- They missed the signs and wonders and miracles of His incredible arrival
- Even today we have the whole story … but how do we react to Him?
1. How do we respond to His calling?
2. How do we live for Him in everything we do?
3. How are we fulfilling the Great Commission to bring others to Him?
- This is Jerusalem’s warning; it is Prattville’s warning as well …
-- Same mission – same God – same Messiah … but do we respond in worship?
- Pray
