By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly
Focal Passage: Luke 19:29-40
This is an amazing passage displaying such peace in God’s sovereignty ahead of such a painful week for our Lord. It displays such peace in the events of His entry. Jesus tells them exactly where to go and what they will see as a colt is tied up awaiting them.
This is an unbroken colt which has never been ridden yet it will gently and peaceably march the Savior into Jerusalem without an ounce of rebellion. The disciples go and they find everything exactly as Jesus told them.
Seeing what would seem like two men stealing the donkey, the owner likely asks what they are doing. They reply no more and no less exactly as they were told, “The Lord needs it.” The owner does not fight or shout but sends them on their way with the colt.
Jesus comes into Jerusalem on the back of this donkey, entering as a royal processional, as the larger group of disciples praise Him and cry out from the Messianic Psalm 118, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” They, unprompted, begin laying down palm leaves in front of Him as he rides into their praise.
Scott Brown
This was not only a symbol of great joy among the Israelites, but a common practice among the nations to celebrate the returning of a great king. Our equivalent is rolling out the red carpet. Jesus enters Jerusalem to these shouts of adoration knowing He will soon leave in a very different manner to the shouts of another crowd, “Crucify Him!”
Every aspect of this triumphal entry into Jerusalem stands in such a stark contrast to the events that will soon unfold. Jesus enters to the disciples’ worship. Soon crowds will turn against Him and cry out with similar zeal for His blood. He fulfills the prophecies perfectly of the Messiah and is adored as such.
Soon He will be mocked and condemned, rejected by His own people. This entry not only fulfills prophecy but He also hardens the hearts and forces the hands of the Pharisees, setting in motion His suffering and death on the cross later that week.
We can see this hardening of the Pharisees as they shout in the moment to have Jesus rebuke the worshipers. The Pharisees are so certain He is not the Messiah, in spite of all they’ve seen, that they would even rebuke Him for receiving such worship.
They refuse to see the clear truth of His messiahship but rebuke Him for the cries of those who do see Him clearly. Jesus quickly and beautifully affirms to the Pharisees, “If they keep silent, the rocks will cry out.” The rocks would cry out if they stopped. The King will be worshiped. May we gladly join in worshiping our great King.
This King who entered Jerusalem in peace would soon meet a violent end. This King died for me on that cruel cross, was buried, and rose again.
I care not what others may say, I will worship my King who is so worthy of worship.
I don’t know about you, but no rock is going to sing in my place. I will worship Jesus, Who is so worthy of our praise. B&R
