Sermon - Luke 19 - Triumphant Entry - Littleby Baptist Church - April 14, 2019

Is anyone else struggling with how fast this year is going? Rebecca graduates from High School in less than a month. Thomas heads to Mexico on a mission trip a couple of weeks after that. These things were supposed to be months away and they have snuck up on us. At this rate I am sure Christmas will be upon us before we know it.

When things are going this fast it is important for us to take time to stop and focus on our Lord and Savior. There is no better time to do just that than Easter Week. As a church we are celebrating Palm Sunday, Good Friday at Bethel, followed by Resurrection Sunday. All to celebrate what this week symbolizes.  

If we look through the Gospels we will see that during this week Jesus rode into the Jerusalem as a triumphant King, He chased money changers out of the temple, flipped over tables, He spent hours teaching, washed His disciples feet, enjoyed His Last Supper with His friends and followers, and cried out to God in prayer.

He was then betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, beat, and hung on a cross like a common criminal. As we head into this week, we should reflect on exactly what Jesus did for us.

Luke 19:28-40

“²⁸ When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ As he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples ³⁰ and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’” ³² So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them. ³³ As they were untying the young donkey, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the donkey?” ³⁴ “The Lord needs it,” they said. ³⁵ Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their clothes on the donkey, they helped Jesus get on it. ³⁶ As he was going along, they were spreading their clothes on the road. ³⁷ Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice 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 heaven! ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” ⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.””

The CSB states that Jesus rode in on a donkey, but it can also be translated as a colt.

In times of war the conqueror would ride back into town upon a prancing stallion celebrating his successes. In times of peace the king would ride a colt into town to symbolize that peace has prevailed. When Jesus climbed on the colt and rode into Jerusalem, He is declaring that He is a King and that has brought peace to the people.

To those of us who know a bit about Jesus we know that He is King and that He has brought us peace, but I wonder how the people there that day responded to Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt.

Some were probably laughing as they thought it was funny that a carpenter was declaring himself to be a King.

Some might have thought He was a crazy man living in a fantasy world if He truly thought He was a king.

Then there would be those that would be pretty ticked off at His arrogance and flat out blasphemy against God as He rode in as the triumphant King.

Some would see a potential earthly King who has come to other throw the Roman Empire and restore the throne of David. They would have been ready to place a crown upon His head as a warrior king if Jesus lead them in battle against the Romans.

As the crowds gathered around there would be people who had heard Jesus teach. They would remember His words while Jesus sat on a boat and taught all who listened. Some would have remembered hearing Him give what we call the sermon on the mount. If you looked around the crowd you could probably find a blind man that could now see, a cripple who was walking, a woman who was no longer bleeding, or a leper whose life was returned to him. Chances are there were many who had personally received a healing touch from Jesus. 

How about the thousands that were fed from a handful of loaves of bread and a few fish, there were probably more than a few of them there in Jerusalem. The people gathering would have heard Jesus speak and teach with authority in ways others have not, they would have witnessed demons being cast out, and miracles being performed.

It is safe to say that the crowds that were gathering would have been touched by Jesus in one form or another.

With the Jewish Passover about to be celebrated people were flocking to Jerusalem. As with any other rumor mill, they would already be telling people what Jesus did for Lazarus.

They would be telling people about how Lazarus had died and was buried in a tomb, but even that did not stop Jesus.

John 11:38-44

“³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹ “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. ⁴² I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” ⁴³ After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.””

Imagine how the story of Jesus weeping and then raising Lazarus from the dead would have spread like wildfire. When the little girl was ‘dead’ it had just happened so those who wanted could explain away the miracle. But Lazarus was DEAD. He had been prepped for burial and sealed in the tomb. There was no doubting the miracle of him walking out of the tomb.

All that Jesus had done coupled with the coming Passover resulted in massive crowds gathering for His return to Jerusalem. Many in the crowds were signing His praises, but some in the crowd were watching for Him to do something wrong.

Jesus being God, knew the hearts of all there. He heard their praise but knew that in the very near future the memory of this day would be drowned out by the shouts of ‘Crucify Him!’

Luke 19:41-44

“⁴¹ As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, ⁴² saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”

For the most part the Israelites completely missed the point of Jesus coming to them. They had eyes but did not see and ears but did not hear. They were looking for that warrior king to crush the Romans, but Jesus came to show them how to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecuted them. The Nation of Israel had the opportunity to show Rome and the World what true Love is, but they did not understand Jesus’ teaching. As Jesus approached Jerusalem He wept because His chosen people had missed their chance.

As He was riding on the colt Jesus saw into the hearts of those around Him and He sees into the hearts of those of us gathered here today.

As He looks into our hearts, He would know if we see Him as just a carpenter sitting on a colt or as the One True King who came to save us. He would know if our eyes our focused on Him and only Him, or if we are letting other things block our view of Him. As he looks at us, He sees that we are singing His praises today but also knows if we will continue praising Him tomorrow or if we will change our tune just like those who shouted Hosanna to the Highest one day and Crucify Him a few days later.

As we begin Easter week we need to remember that Jesus came first and foremost to show Love, which is why He told us that we need to be Loving God and Loving Others.

When Jesus looks into my heart, I want Him to see a man who Loves Him and is doing what a broken sinful man can to Love Others. I pray that for each one of us. I pray that as Jesus looks at our hearts, our lives, and Littleby Baptist He sees people who Love Him and Love Others.

As we move into Easter Week, I pray you take some time to focus on what Jesus did for you. He took every step knowing what was coming and He would do it again so that He could spend eternity with you.

I want to encourage you to take some extra time this week to focus on Jesus. Pick one of the Gospels and read it. Its only a couple of chapters, 10-15 minutes, per day.

Focus on Jesus this week as we prepare to celebrate His death and resurrection.

God Bless,

Robert