Thanksgiving 2021, The Triumphal Entry

• As we progress through the Gospel of Luke and look into the things that he initially shared with Theophilus and now has been shared with millions of believers and seekers of Jesus, I want to start today’s message with a reminder of WHY Luke put all this into a letter, a rather long letter.

• Flip back in the gospel to chapter 1, and let’s be reminded of the purpose of this letter and our purpose in studying it:

• Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

• Today’s passage in Luke 19 is a very familiar one to many of us, as perhaps is much of scripture, but in order that we may have certainty concerning the things we have been taught, we will study this again.

• Why? So that with that same certainty, we all can ALSO share a narrative of the things that God has accomplished among us 😊

Luke 19:28-40

The Triumphal Entry

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

• Usually, we read this passage on Palm Sunday, as we prepare for Holy Week; the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection.

• We did so earlier this year, through in a virtual way, as we were still cooped up in our homes, not gathering together due to pandemic regulations.

• Just as a reminder, here is some of what I shared on that day back in March:

• What a scene! Jesus finishes a powerful parable (which we studied last week in regard to the coming of the kingdom), two disciples borrow a colt from unknowing owners, Jesus being set upon the colt by His followers, and then the parade down the hillside towards the gates of Jerusalem, people are waving palm branches, shouting and singing HOSANNA! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!

• They lay their coats on the ground

• the Kidron Valley (which is only a few hundred feet across) is filled with the sound of the approaching procession as they make their way to the holy city.

• People are jubilant with the idea of Jesus setting up a new kingdom on earth in which He will sit on the throne; the tax-hungry Romans will be obliterated; the blessings of God will pour out on the faithful and the enemies of God will be crushed.

• It is a holy whoopla! A blessed ballyhoo! It’s a pandemonium of praise!

• JESUS IS HERE, Let the party begin!

• All of this was prophesied hundreds of years prior by Zechariah who received these words from the Lord:

• Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech. 9:9)