Welcometo Pastor's Chat. I prerecorded the chat for today in my office in NorthCarolina, but today I’m actually in Kingsland, Georgia, celebrating mygranddaughter Kaitlyn’s high school graduation. Both this chat and Sunday’s wasdone there, but I still wanted to share this wonderful passage from Lukechapter 19.
InLuke 19, Jesus sent the disciples to find a colt to ride into Jerusalem. Wecall this Palm Sunday, marking the last week of Jesus’ ministry before Hiscrucifixion on Friday and resurrection the following Sunday. We will be goingthrough this week in the final chapters of Luke. Jesus is preparing to enterJerusalem and needs a colt. This is the only place in the New Testament whereJesus allows a celebration of Himself as the Messiah. There are several reasonsfor this.
First,He’s fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah 9, riding in on adonkey. To us, a donkey might not seem exciting, but in those days, it was abeast used for royalty, for a king to ride into town triumphantly as the crowdcelebrated. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the crowds celebrate Him as the Messiah,shouting, “Hosanna in the highest!” In verse 35, it says, “And as he went, manyspread their clothes on the road.” Then, in verse 37, as He was drawing nearthe descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began torejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they hadseen.
Imagine,for three and a half years, Jesus has been healing the sick, raising the dead,giving sight to the blind, feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, preachingthe kingdom, and casting out demons. The word has spread, and people arelooking for a deliverer, a king to free them from Roman rule. They’re hopingfor someone like Moses to lift the Roman oppression. So they praise God,saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heavenand glory in the highest!”
It’sinteresting—the Gospel of Luke begins with the angel proclaiming, “Peace onearth and goodwill toward men.” Now the people are saying, “Peace in heaven andglory in the highest,” celebrating not only peace on earth but also peace inheaven with the King of glory. Because the King was rejected, there could be nopeace on earth. Instead, there would be constant bitter conflict between thekingdom of God and the kingdom of evil (Luke 12:49-53). There would be no peaceon earth but, thanks to Christ's work on the cross, there is "peace withGod" in heaven (Rom. 5:1; Col. 1:20). The appeal today is, "Be yereconciled to God!" (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
SomePharisees in the crowd told Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” But Hereplied, “I tell you, if these should keep silent, the stones would immediatelycry out.” As He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it—a moment we’llexplore tomorrow. For now, Jesus allows this great celebration as the peopleproclaim the King has come.
Thesecond reason for this celebration is that Jesus knew it would provoke theJewish leaders to a point where they could no longer tolerate Him. In verse 47,it says that as He was teaching daily in the temple, the chief priests,scribes, and leaders of the people sought to destroy Him. They had alreadytried to stone Him or throw Him off a cliff, but it wasn’t time yet. Now,during Passover week, Jesus, the Passover Lamb, fulfills the Old Testamentprophecies. This is why He allows this demonstration, letting the crowdproclaim Him as the Messiah, the King who has come.
God’stiming is always perfect and every prophecy concerning Jesus was fulfilled! Todaywith faith and great confidence we can believe that Jesus is indeed the Son ofGod and by believing we have life through His name!
