Welcome King Jesus!
Luke 19-28-44
There are many protocols for welcoming royalty / celebrities. At the Oscars there is the Red Carpet. When the President emerges, “Hail to the Chief”. Many parades have a celebrity float / Parade Marshall. What kind of welcome would be appropriate for King Jesus?
Jesus has been headed toward Jerusalem for this final week. The Disciples could not know what was ahead - too unbelievable / unpredictable / inhumane. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is one of the few moments where Jesus gets the adoration He deserves.
“Every schoolboy is supposed to know Julius Caesar’s famous words before he crossed the River Rubicon, ‘The die is cast.' It means that a point of no return has been reached. This was true now for Jesus. There was no turning back. Now his last days had arrived; the climactic activity of his life was about to begin.” ~ Sinclair Ferguson
Let’s look at this exciting moment in Jesus’ life from the perspective of the people who were there.
1. Jesus’ Disciples
An Unusual Request.
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” (Luke 19:28-34)
This demonstrates Jesus’ control and awareness. Jesus Sends them after a colt.
“Jesus rides no high horse, just a lowly colt. He chooses to enter a deadly situation without force or protection. He gives himself freely and without reservation. this is a prophetic act, a sign of God’s vulnerable love, which risks everything and promises to gain all.” William G. Carter
500 years earlier Zechariah had prophesied that the Messiah would come riding on the foal of a donkey (Zech. 9:9).
“There was a remarkable blending of Jesus’ dignity and poverty … He chose the donkey because it beautifully portrayed both his position as King and his character as servant.” - Hughes
An Unusual Response
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen... - Luke 19: 35-37.
Jesus seeking out the praises of the people!
John 12:16 “At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him…”
They flung their garments to the ground as a gesture of reverence and indicating their willingness for him to take everything they had. - Hughes
An Unusual Royal
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” - Luke 19:38
“From the west came Pilate draped in the gaudy glory of imperial power: horses, chariots, and gleaming armor. He moved in with the Roman army at the beginning of Passover week to make sure nothing got out of hand. Insurrection was in the air with the memory of God’s deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. From the east came another procession, a commoner’s procession: Jesus in ordinary robe riding on a young donkey. The careful preparations suggest that Jesus has planned a highly ritualized symbolic prophetic act.” - Shoemaker
2. Jesus’ Enemies (vs. 39-40)
Luke 12:39-40 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Why did the Pharisees call for stop praising Jesus?
Were they afraid the Romans would hear about the parade and squelch it with force?
Did the Pharisees think this was misplaced adulation for Jesus and was akin to blasphemy?
If Jesus was not stopped, His teachings would destroy their religious systems.
Jesus affirmed that he did not need the voices of men to receive praises!
John the baptist: “God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Luke 3:8)
3. Jesus: What did Jesus See?
Provision of His father (Colt, Crowds)
Praises of His Disciples
Objection of His Enemies
Rejection of His Sacrifices (41-44a)
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another ... Luke 29:41-44a
His tears were not in seclusion. His tears fell for their lack of peace. It’s hidden from their eyes. He can see Jerusalem as it really is - unfaithful, wandered away from God … never able to find peace without God. His tears fell for the judgment of God that would come upon them - judgment He came to alleviate.
“…As the little donkey bore Jesus down toward Jerusalem amidst the repeated cheers, no one knew that amidst the cheers would come tears - the King’s tears.” Hughes
“The Son of God in tearsThe wondering angels see.Be thou astonished, O my soul,He shed those tears for thee.” - G. Campbell Morgan
What everyone seemed to miss: (44:b “The time of God’s Coming to you…”)
Does Jesus sees this today when he looks at our world?
Does Jesus see this today when he looks at His Church?
Does Jesus see this today when he looks at me?
Do we welcome King Jesus in our lives today?. They welcomed him with: Cloaks, praises, peace.
How do you welcome Him today?
Do we uplift King Jesus in a world that rejects Him? Some people will praise you, some object to you, some reject you. Would you uplift Him anyway?
Will Jesus have a triumphal entry into your life today?
_____________________
Some sermon leftovers that didn't make it into the lesson!
The other gospel accounts add to Luke’s picture of joy. John 12:13 tells us, “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the King of Israel!’” The palm branches represented their nationalistic desire to be delivered, for the palm had been the symbol on the coin of the second Maccabean revolt. “Hosanna” was anticipatory cry that literally meant “save” or “Save us” … the people viewed Jesus as their deliverer. And indeed he was. But not in the way they thought. - Hughes
They cheered him in the same way they would a military leader. They saw him as someone who could remove the heavy Roman boot from the backs of their necks, they applauded him as someone who could lead a revolt against the Evil Empire, someone who would lead them to freedom. And Jesus disappointed them. he was not 6 feet plus, with abs of steel. He rode into town on a baby donkey, not a warhorse. He went to pray at the temple; not to protest at the palace. Jesus did not turn out to be their idea of a savior. And by Friday, the joyous shouts of “Hosanna, Hosanna,” had turned into derisive and blood thirsty cries of “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” - Lectionary Lab
_______________
Resources
Things Aren’t Always as They Appear … a sermon by Kevin Riggs
H. Stephen Shoemaker; William G. Carter - Feasting on the Word, Year C, Vol. 2
The Lectionary Lab Commentary, John Fairless and Delmer Chilton
R. Kent Hughes, Luke Vol. 2, Preach The Word series.
