The Messiah-King Arrives in Jerusalem (Luke 19:20-40)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
5 April 2020
Jesus made a huge impact on Israel. They wanted to immediately enthrone him (19:11).
Consider his arrival in Jerusalem in particular its preparation, reception and rejection.
In his preparation for arrival (remember, Jesus knew he would die in Jerusalem) Jesus showed great aplomb. He was a wanted man yet came to Jerusalem quite self-possessed. I wonder how we will be when we approach death. Will we be shaken or have a calmness—like Jesus?
Jesus also showed great authority. He commanded his disciples to go ahead to fetch a donkey. He ordered the owners of the donkey to surrender it to him for his use. He had authority over the donkey. All authority was given to Jesus. He still has all authority.
Note the response of the disciples to Jesus’ instruction. They obediently went into the village to fetch the donkey not knowing what would happen but trusting in the word of Jesus. They could have been accused of stealing, but they nevertheless went forth trusting in the authority of Jesus.
That Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey shows he came in peace and not war. Kings would ride on horses if their intent was war but on donkeys if they came peaceably. Jesus arrived not to condemn or punish but to offer compassion and peace. He is the same today. He did not come to condemn us but to save us.
Secondly, consider the response to Jesus' arrival.
A crowd gathered behind him as he walked toward Jerusalem. As they drew near the descent of the Mount of Olives he and the crowd turned and there before them lay their destination—Jerusalem! This brought forth the ecstatic cries of the people. With Jerusalem in sight and Jesus with them the crowd could not hold back its emotion.
Note that the emotion of the people was linked to their understanding. Their joy was founded on their comprehension of the Scriptures showing thereby that emotions were not divorced from the intellect.
The exultant people in expressing their joy were not wrong but they were only half-right. They were not wrong in citing the prophet Zechariah and the Psalms. But they were only half-right. They quote Zechariah but did not quote Isaiah 53. They saw the power of Jesus but not his pain.
Some people say good things about Jesus e.g. he was a good teacher, a holy person or even a great prophet. These appellations are not wrong, but they are only half-right. Such people need to take one small step and like Thomas acknowledge Jesus to be Lord and God, or like Paul fall before Jesus and say Lord what would you have me to do?
Thirdly we note the rejection of the crowd's exaltation of Jesus. The Pharisees from among the crowd called out " Teacher, rebuke your disciples." They could not quash the loud enthusiasm of the people. The Pharisees could not accept what the multitude was doing. They could not perceive things as the people could. This is seen by the fact that they addressed Jesus merely as teacher whereas the crowd addressed him as King.
Jesus countered their objections by saying if the people were silent even the stones would cry out. By this he shows the irrepressible nature of genuine religious feeling. When a soul understands who Jesus is, there is an irrepressible surge of emotion. The crowd had an inexpressible joy which Peter speaks of as unspeakable in his epistle (1 Peter 1:8). If in this life it is possible to have inexpressible joy imagine our joy in heaven.
Jesus was resolute as he journeyed to Jerusalem. To be like this Jesus had to overcome two critical moments in his life. First, the temptation in the wilderness when Satan offered him an immediate enthronement the very thing being asked of him now by the multitude. Secondly, there was that moment in the Garden of Gethsemane when he was weighed down with anguish. He sought from the heavenly Father whether there was some other way apart from his death that God's people might be saved. Jesus had to overcome these two moments in order to be resolute as he approached his death.
In conclusion let us thank God that the Messiah-- King has arrived. His arrival was more than a triumphal entry it was the arrival at the appointed place and time for his offering up of himself for the sins of his people.
Hosanna! The Messiah—King is here. Receive him with joy.