63: The King Who Cries (Luke 19:28-44)

This week God gave me the privilege of talking with some precious people whom I disagree with - Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Catholics…and several Baptists (people of my own denomination). I continue to be amazed at how our view of Jesus can become diluted when we discount the truth of Scripture. Yet I am also AMAZED by how God transforms people who read the Scriptures in context!

Friday night Tonya & I sat across from a young pastor & his wife. He grew up in this church, but He didn’t know Jesus. I told him, “You know that ONE PERSON who you thought would NEVER follow Jesus…that’s the guy sitting across the table from me.” Now he is a brother who loves Jesus and the Scriptures and teaches them to others!

Today, before I teach from Luke 19, my friend from Gideon’s International will share a few more stories about how God’s Scripture is changing lives all over the world!

Welcome Dale Wells.

Dale with Gideons. (10 minutes)

As you read the New Testament it doesn’t take long to notice that everything revolves around WHO Jesus is and WHAT Jesus says. Those who trust Jesus will be forgiven & made new. BUT…as we will see today, the Scriptures make it CRYSTAL CLEAR that…

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

And so, as we pray. Would you pray for the people beside you, that God will move in their lives today? And would you ask God to help you listen, think, & respond to God’s Scripture as if eternal destinies in this room hang in the balance?

PRAY

A king’s inauguration demonstrates his power, dignity, wealth, & sovereignty over his people...but a king who cries - a King who MOURNS on the day He is crowned King? Today we discover what caused Jesus to approach Jerusalem with tears in His eyes.

Let’s pick up where TJ finished last week. Jesus had just told a parable about the king returning and expecting to find His servants investing in what He had given them. Jesus ended with these stunning words:

Luke 19:27–28 (ESV)

27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

I know that’s NOT popular, but it’s what Jesus taught.

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

As Jesus completes His journey to Jerusalem, people respond in 3 different ways. It is likely that at least 2 and possibly all 3 reactions exist in this room as well:

All-In. You are convinced in WHO Jesus is and you proclaim Him as King.

Intrigued. You have questions and you need answers. You want to see for yourself, if Jesus IS who others claim He is.

Opposed. You have decided that Jesus is a false teacher and His followers need to stop interfering with your culture.

Let’s take a look at

Luke 19:29–35 (ESV)

29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied [Matthew 21:2 says this is a colt of a donkey], on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

Why a donkey and not a HUGE HORSE?

First, while a donkey was not considered an animal that carried royalty in Jesus' day, it was a royal animal before & during King David's reign.

Second, the donkey was a servant, a burden-bearer carrying much weight for others - What a picture of the ONE who would carry our burdens!

Kent Hughes writes:

"He chose the donkey because it beautifully portrayed both his position as King and his character as servant."

Third, this is a fulfillment of Zech. 9:9 [written over 500 years before Jesus hops on this donkey.]

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Clarence Macartney so beautifully described it:

How strange a contrast to the triumphal entry of ancient warriors and conquerors into the cities which they had taken! This time no wall broken down for entry; this time no garlanded hero standing in his war chariot, driving down the lane of cheering subjects past smoking altars, and followed by captive kings and princes in chains. Instead of that, just a meek and lowly man riding upon the foal of a donkey.

Luke 19:36 (ESV) 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

Years earlier in 841 B.C., the Jewish people laid their garments under Jehu as he was pronounced king (2 Kgs. 9:13). This was an act of submission, indicating their deep desire to honor their king by sacrificing their belongings for his good. So too the people of Jesus day recognize Jesus as their king, the one who fulfills the prophecy from Zachariah 9:9.

Many times the people wanted to lift Jesus up as their king, but He wouldn’t allow it, but now Jesus sets the gears in motion. The journey to Jerusalem is about to be accomplished, and as Jesus rounds the corner to the place where He will be lifted up on a cross, Jerusalem and with its beautiful temple comes into view.

Luke 19:37 (ESV) 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,

Dr. Luke had mentioned how Jesus’ message was backed up by His miracles. He cast out demons, healed the lame, blind, deaf, & diseased. He even raised the dead! And now the growing number of disciples were ready to crown their King! So they chanted:

Luke 19:38–40 (ESV) 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

The crowd inserted 'blessed is the king' for 'blessed is he' Ps. 118:26. This was a phrase was used to address the king as he approached the temple. Now the people make it clear that they see Jesus as their king.

Some of these people are ALL IN!

Then you have the Pharisees, most of whom are OPPOSED to Jesus receiving this kind of praise. They Rejected Jesus as king, but the plan of God would not be detoured by their rebuke.

John’s Gospel gives us some more info and we see some showing up who are INTRIGUED with Jesus - interested in seeing Him for themselves.

John 12:12–13 (ESV)

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

Also, remember what Jesus had said the last left Jerusalem:

Luke 13:35 (ESV)

35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

TODAY is THAT DAY!

Luke 19:41 (ESV) 41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it

Kent Hughes writes: "With the panorama of Jerusalem before his eyes, the Savior began to weep—not with quiet tears…, but with loud and deep lamentation. There in the middle of the road, with the great city in full view, the stunned multitude heard the Savior of the world wail over Jerusalem! We must fix this picture in our eyes and hearts, for it will do us great good. This was a new kind of king.”

This is The King Who Cries. In fact, the word for ‘wept’’ is sometimes attached to joy, it is clearly used here as an emotional outpouring of grief - like grieving when someone dies - with an emphasis upon the noise Jesus made. Now imagine hearing Jesus’ words explode through the tears.

Luke 19:42-44 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Jesus doesn't see Jerusalem for what it IS - a beautiful city bustling with life. Instead, he sees what it will become. He speaks of an army that besieges the city, not letting people or supplies in nor out, people of all ages being killed inside it’s walls. Finally, the city will be leveled to the ground. One commentator succinctly says Jesus points to "a pile of rubble wet with blood”.

Indeed, this is exactly what later happened as Josephus, a Jewish historian writing on behalf of the Roman Emperor detailed what occurred.

"(1) Now, as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder…Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency…

(2) This wall [western] was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison; as were the towers also spared, in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valor had subdued;

(3) but for all the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited.

(4) This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind."

NOW, Why did God allow this to happen? Jesus answers that with this phrase: “because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” God in skin had come to Jerusalem and Jerusalem rejected Him. And…

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

2000 years later, it is STILL true that those who reject WHO Jesus is and WHAT Jesus says will ultimately face His judgment.

The reason He has not yet returned, so says Peter, is because He is patient - wanting all to come to repentance…there is STILL TIME!

Are you ALL IN….Intrigued…or Opposed to the message of Jesus?

FEET2FAITH Challenge

READ the Scriptures. - We are now 4 weeks out from Resurrection Sunday. Would you commit to reading the Gospel of John? That’s about 5 chapters a week and 6 in another - for a total of 21 chapters.

About a year ago I watched a video of a young Mormon missionary - Micah Wilder - who was challenged to read the New Testament and compare it to what he was being taught. After several months, he trusted Jesus of the Scriptures and challenged others to do the same. That included a good friend, his brother, his parents, and on and on it goes. All because…God’s Scripture still changes lives!

LIVE the Scriptures. Obey & Discuss what you read. We have opened a Gospel of John Discussion Group on Facebook. Join us there!

GIVE the Scriptures. - challenge someone to read daily and give them a Bible (Gideon resources). You might show them how to use the Bible App and touch base every few days to see questions they have.

What could God do if EVERY ONE of us began to READ, LIVE, & GIVE the Scriptures to others? We would know WHO Jesus is and WHAT He says. We could encourage one another and live with purpose! We could impact others for eternity!

45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 47 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

"From here to the end of chapter 21 the temple is Jesus’ pulpit."

Malachi 3:1–2 (NIV)

1 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENTBIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

BIG TRUTH: Rejecting Jesus results in JUDGMENT

Luke 19:37–44 (ESV)

42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

stand

This week God gave me opportunity to talk with Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Catholics…and several Baptists. I continue to be amazed at how quickly we tend to trust leaders from our background, but often discount the truth of Scripture. SO….in each case, it was my goal to get them into the Scriptures. Challenging

And that’s what I want to challenge YOU to do, as we head toward Resurrection Sunday.

Listen to powerful stories of how God’s Word changes lives.

2 nights ago Tonya & I sat across from a young pastor & his wife. He grew up in this church but I told him, “You know that ONE PERSON who you thought would NEVER follow Jesus…that’s the guy sitting across the table from me.” Now he is a brother who loves Jesus and the Scriptures!