Lenten Series
Beginning of Holy Week | Sunday, March 24th
Luke 19:28-40
28 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.”
35 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:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
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.”
35 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:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Jesus knew it was time. He knew His hour had come. He resolutely set his face to go to Jerusalem, determined to fulfill His mission, determined to give his life as a ransom for all, to be the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God.
He knew full well how difficult this would be. He tried to prepare his disciples for what lay ahead. “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.”” Luke 18:31-33
All the Gospels tell us about Palm Sunday. The crowd Jesus met that Sunday morning in Jerusalem was adoring and receptive. Throngs of people gathered to pour out their adoration and praise to Him. They laid out their cloaks and cut branches from the trees to spread them on the road, their version of rolling out the red carpet for Jesus. They cried out a Messianic psalm, “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The popularity of Jesus was at its peak that Sunday morning. The crowd honored Him with adoring praise. I wonder if that praise was a test for Jesus. He knew this same crowd would turn against Him the next few days. His arrest, mocking and scourging would deeply disappoint them. Some would be disgusted with His humiliation. In a few short days their adoration will turn to contempt. They will go from adoring shouts of praise to demanding, “Crucify him!”
They turned against Him because He would not give them what they wanted. He wouldn’t throw off the heavy hand of Rome who ruled over them with unbridled force. He wouldn’t politically restore Israel to its former glory. Instead of giving them what they wanted He would give them what they needed. They needed someone to rescue them from the penalty of sin which is death. They needed spiritual peace with God.
Even by His mode of entering the city that Sunday Jesus did not meet their expectations. He didn’t show up on a great horse the symbol of power and might. His entry into Jerusalem was on the lowly foal of a donkey, a symbol of humility and peace. In His first coming Jesus came as the suffering servant to deal with our most pressing need, our sins. He will come in glory at His second coming as the conquering king to deal with the enemies of His people.
Even though He did not meet their expectations on Palm Sunday, Jesus received and deserved praise that day. The Pharisees were furious he didn’t stop the adoration of the crowd. Jesus knew it was perfectly appropriate, “If they are silent, the very rocks will cry out!” Their praise was not blasphemy, it was totally deserved.
Choosing to walk in humility although he was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus knew his mission and its timing. He would be betrayed, rejected and crucified. He must suffer before He would be glorified. The cross comes before the crown. If we are going to follow Jesus He will call each of us to die to self and release our disappointments, desires and agendas to Him. The test of Palm Sunday is a test for all of us. Will we value the approval of man or will we follow the Lamb of God?
He knew full well how difficult this would be. He tried to prepare his disciples for what lay ahead. “Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.”” Luke 18:31-33
All the Gospels tell us about Palm Sunday. The crowd Jesus met that Sunday morning in Jerusalem was adoring and receptive. Throngs of people gathered to pour out their adoration and praise to Him. They laid out their cloaks and cut branches from the trees to spread them on the road, their version of rolling out the red carpet for Jesus. They cried out a Messianic psalm, “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The popularity of Jesus was at its peak that Sunday morning. The crowd honored Him with adoring praise. I wonder if that praise was a test for Jesus. He knew this same crowd would turn against Him the next few days. His arrest, mocking and scourging would deeply disappoint them. Some would be disgusted with His humiliation. In a few short days their adoration will turn to contempt. They will go from adoring shouts of praise to demanding, “Crucify him!”
They turned against Him because He would not give them what they wanted. He wouldn’t throw off the heavy hand of Rome who ruled over them with unbridled force. He wouldn’t politically restore Israel to its former glory. Instead of giving them what they wanted He would give them what they needed. They needed someone to rescue them from the penalty of sin which is death. They needed spiritual peace with God.
Even by His mode of entering the city that Sunday Jesus did not meet their expectations. He didn’t show up on a great horse the symbol of power and might. His entry into Jerusalem was on the lowly foal of a donkey, a symbol of humility and peace. In His first coming Jesus came as the suffering servant to deal with our most pressing need, our sins. He will come in glory at His second coming as the conquering king to deal with the enemies of His people.
Even though He did not meet their expectations on Palm Sunday, Jesus received and deserved praise that day. The Pharisees were furious he didn’t stop the adoration of the crowd. Jesus knew it was perfectly appropriate, “If they are silent, the very rocks will cry out!” Their praise was not blasphemy, it was totally deserved.
Choosing to walk in humility although he was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus knew his mission and its timing. He would be betrayed, rejected and crucified. He must suffer before He would be glorified. The cross comes before the crown. If we are going to follow Jesus He will call each of us to die to self and release our disappointments, desires and agendas to Him. The test of Palm Sunday is a test for all of us. Will we value the approval of man or will we follow the Lamb of God?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Just like those people on Palm Sunday, we want Jesus to do our will and fulfill our wishes. Thank You that He was not swayed by the approval and adoration of man. Thank You He was determined to follow Your will even though it meant humiliation and death. Give us the strength and courage to release our desires and plans to You this day and to simply trust and follow You. Give us a measure of the same humility and determination that Jesus modeled for us. May we place your will above all else.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Just like those people on Palm Sunday, we want Jesus to do our will and fulfill our wishes. Thank You that He was not swayed by the approval and adoration of man. Thank You He was determined to follow Your will even though it meant humiliation and death. Give us the strength and courage to release our desires and plans to You this day and to simply trust and follow You. Give us a measure of the same humility and determination that Jesus modeled for us. May we place your will above all else.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen