A Time to Celebrate

Today’s message will actually be looking back a few days before the resurrection took place. This passage is usually thought of as a Palm Sunday section of Scripture. However, I’m going to share from it on Resurrection Sunday.

On Easter Sunday, we often spend a great deal of time looking at the actual resurrection. However, I want us to understand that before the resurrection took place, death had to occur. Jesus’ purpose in coming to this earth, was to live among us, and then die on the cross, taking our sin upon Him, shedding his blood for our redemption from sin. Resurrection Sunday is a celebration of the fact that all that Jesus did was exactly what the Father required. Proof of this is that Jesus was raised from the dead, victorious over sin, victorious over death and the grave, victorious over Satan. And He is able to save as a result. Therefore, we need to be a people who celebrate our new life in Jesus Christ!

Let’s get back to this passage. What a time of year it was! There was such a rush of festivities in the air. It seemed like such a carefree time to most of the people. There was the promise of spring in the hope which this season brings. There was a reminder of the difficult times from years past, as they reflected on their captivity and how God had rescued them. In fact, if you look closely, there’s always going to be a reminder of difficult times, even in the present. Yet, the risen Jesus has rescued us, setting us free from sin.

As we think about the joyous time that was taking place around Jerusalem, we are almost reminded of a fair, a circus, or even the end of the school year.

The people were gathering from all around to converge upon Jerusalem, to celebrate the Passover. We must remember the fact that the Jewish people were under tyrannical Roman rule. But it was this time of year, when they were supposed to remember that God had delivered them out of Egypt, in which they had begun this very important tradition of celebrating the Passover. That time in Egypt should have been forever etched in their memories, especially as they considered that the blood of a lamb, being spread over their door frames in obedience to God’s command, caused the angel of death to pass over their homes.

However, like many traditions, it had become routine, as the Israelites and the leaders forgot the promise of the true Passover lamb. This Passover Lamb was not an animal, but a person Who would be able to fully identify with humanity, yet without sin. He would shed his blood for the people, yet would not stay dead. He would be raised from the dead in fulfillment of God’s promises.

Here’s a question for us to consider: are we a people who can truly celebrate, or are we simply going through a routine? My desire is that: We want to be a people who are able to truly celebrate because we personally belong to the risen Savior.

Preparation for celebration

Luke 19.28-35

We observe Jesus going toward Jerusalem, leaving behind the small community of Jericho. He knows too well that the fulfillment of the ages is about to take place. The whole purpose of His incarnation, God coming in the flesh, is about to reach its culmination. The reason for His birth will soon be found in His death. I’m certain He is aware that He’ll be resurrected, but death and resurrection were not yet part of His actual experience.

We see some interesting information in the locations mentioned that is quite significant. Bethany is the hometown of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, some of Jesus’ closest friends and supporters. It is no surprise that on the way He would pass by those who were closest and dearest to Him before He lays His life down for them. In addition, according to Zachariah 14:4, the Mount of Olives is the place of the prophesied Messiah’s appearing.

Christ instruct his disciples to go to the next village, and bring a colt which no one had ridden. There were obviously no real physical needs which would cause Jesus to need a ride into Jerusalem. Yet, there was that symbolic reason for which He needed this colt, which had not been broken. Jewish royalty generally rode on donkeys. That was considered the royal means of transportation. The King of Kings was about to enter into the Holy City.

In addition, Jesus is reminding His disciples that He is Lord of creation, as well as the Lord of the future. He is able to ride a colt, a young donkey, never before ridden. He also knew exactly what conversations and situations were going to happen next with the disciples.

This section, I titled preparation for celebration. I am convinced by God’s Word that we cannot celebrate Christ’s resurrection until we have prepared ourselves to do so by accepting Him as our Lord and Savior. I also see something which amazes me about the owner of the colt; he was willing to give him to Jesus without asking any questions. He did not even ask what was in it for him. He couldn’t even be certain that they would return the colt. God had prompted him already to be willing to say yes, and he willingly gave what he had. What an example for you and me! The One Who made the world, Who speaks to nature and it always obeys Him, is the One Who made us, and provided salvation, for those who would truly believe, requiring our obedience. We’re not called upon to fully understand it. When we recognize these things and are willing to obey Him, then we are prepared to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Praise of celebration

Luke 19.36-40

After the disciples procured the young donkey, Jesus traveled on the road toward Jerusalem. Amazing things began to happen at this point. People spread their cloaks on the road. They were honoring Jesus! As He got closer, down toward the Mount of Olives, the crowd with Jesus began to get even more vocal. In fact, you probably would have been hearing others describing His followers, obnoxious or fanatical. The reality is that they were joyfully and loudly praising God. They were witnessing to all who would listen about the miracles which Jesus had done. They were attributing to Jesus all the attributes of deity: Blessed is the king, who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

If you have ever been in a stadium, filled with cheering people, you have experienced celebration that was loud. If you have been in an auditorium, listening to a concert and were part of a thunderous applause leading to a standing ovation, then you know what the decibel level can be of the grand celebration. Imagine the shouts and cheers of celebrations and praise to Jesus!

Whenever followers of Christ are lifting Jesus up, wherever you find people becoming open in their life and testimony for Christ, you will also find the enemy. Here, we find the enemy to be the religious leaders, the Pharisees. You can hear them as they are telling Jesus: “teacher, rebuke your disciples!“ Folks, you know we are supposed to worship God, which the religious leaders thought should only be in silence and somberness. The reality is the Pharisees did not know what they were talking about. The Pharisees felt that they were the only ones who knew how God wants worship. The Pharisees felt the people were completely mistaken, and that they’re getting carried away in their enthusiasm. In other words, they wanted Jesus to tell his followers to be quiet and be careful what they’re saying.

Don’t you just love the response which Jesus gives? “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” In other words, these people must praise God. These people had a relationship which the Pharisees did not have. In fact, the rocks which Jesus created simply by speaking, have more understanding of praise and worship than the Pharisees. That puts a whole new understanding to the phrase, dumber than a rock. They missed the point entirely. They were so concerned about details, rules, and regulations, that they had absolutely no relationship with the Lord at all.

There is nothing wrong with quiet and reflective times of worship to God. Friends, sometimes it might do us good to start shouting out praise and glory to Jesus Christ, because it belongs to Him anyway. The geese flying overhead in the spring are doing it. Little children sing songs of praise as a matter of habit, whether they are in grocery stores, in the car, or sometimes inconveniently at meal times. I want to be with the crowd, praising Jesus; not in the crowd of those scolding the people for their praise to Christ.

Prophecy of suffering

Luke 19.41-44

Now we have arrived at the point on this particular day of celebration, where we read about a hushed somberness. Jesus looks down over Jerusalem from where He is and He weeps over the city. Jesus was not weeping because of the buildings or the town itself. His anguish was not because this was David’s city. It was because the people who thought they were all right because of their location and their ancestry were really lost in their sin.

They felt that if they followed the rules and regulations, they would be acceptable in God’s sight. They believed that because they lived in the holy city, this sacred place was uniquely theirs, and they would never be lost. Thus, they refused to repent and turn to the One Who could bring them genuine peace. They had rationalized and justified their behavior and thinking, so that they were convinced their way was the right way. They had become hardened. In fact, as we recall at Mount Calvary, many were probably among those who had shouted for his crucifixion. The milky smooth speech and talk of the religious leaders had captivated them.

Little did they know, that the One Who was about to be killed, Who was actually willing to give His life, would not stay in the grave. He would rise from the grave, conquering sin and death.

Knowing all of this, makes it easier to understand why Jesus wept for the lost. Those who were lost out of ignorance, as well as those who blatantly rejected him. The lost included those who thought they were acceptable, but were not following Christ as the only way.

Jesus made it clear that if our trust and hope and faith is in anything other than Him, it will be dashed to pieces. Interestingly, in A.D. 70, enemies indeed destroyedJerusalem, nearly wiping out those who lived there. Why? Because they had refused to believe and recognize that God had come to them in the flesh in Jesus Christ. They had refused to acknowledge that Jesus was no longer dead, He was alive.

Conclusion

My friends, I trust and pray that each of us are among those who truly celebrate Jesus. My desire is that we would get excited about who Jesus is, as well as who we are in Christ.

That may require some recommitment on our part. Are we truly willing to put ourselves on the line for Jesus? Are we willing to step out in faith and be obedient when the Spirit moves us to serve? We do not want to be a people who simply blend in with the crowd. I understand it is easier and more comfortable to have everything laid out plainly so that we can evaluate it according to our standards. However, Christ wants us to trust Him and to respond in obedience immediately. Then we will be able to truly celebrate as we see the risen Lord working in our lives.

Do not get comfortable with your background, your status, or even feeling like you are going to heaven based upon your efforts. Please understand that Jesus is alive and has already done the work necessary to purchase our salvation.

We want to be a people who are able to truly celebrate because we personally belong to the risen Savior.