Luke 19:28-48: The King You Need

Introduction

https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2019/november/dying-neighbor-buys-christmas-gifts-for-next-14-years.html

A great gift giver - in his death giving. Jesus an even greater gift giver - His gift to you was His life.

Think about the gifts you’d like this Christmas - the gift of time off. The gift of not having to worry about if there’s going to be enough money at the end of the month. The gift of friends that understand you and support you. We can all think of “gifts” that would make our lives better.

However, God has already given you the greatest gift you could ever receive - the gift of His Son. Jesus really is the reason for the season.

Pivotal moment in Jesus life - the triumphal entry. Jesus entering in Jerusalem on the back of a donkey marks the beginning of the last week of Jesus’ life (passion week) - a week that would end at the cross where Jesus would give His life for us.

Three reasons why you need the gift of Jesus this Christmas.

You need the gift of Jesus’ sovereign control.

The whole scene is dramatic. Zaccheus telling his story. The blind man telling his story. Crowds excited. The disciples convinced that when Jesus enters Jerusalem he’s going to take the throne and restore Israel to greatness. Pharisees want Jesus dead. The crowd wants the One who has the power to resurrect to be their king.

It’s time to enter Jerusalem and for God’s plan of redemption to fully unfold at Calvary.

It’s time for people to know that Jesus is King - not the King they wanted but the King they needed.

Jesus makes His way from Mt. of Olives to the Golden Gate to enter Jerusalem for the last week of His life. We call it the triumphal entry, but it’s actually a death march that will lead to Jesus’ crucifixion and ultimately the resurrection. The course of human history is about to change, and the crowd doesn’t even know it.

Sends two disciples into a village to get a young donkey that has never been ridden. An awkward request - Like you going to Mt. P, knocking on someone’s door and asking if you can borrow the Mercedes for a while.

Imagine the conversation: “Can we borrow your donkey?” “Why?” “The Lord needs it…” “The Lord, what are you talking about?”

The disciples go, find a young donkey, ask the owner, and the owner releases the donkey. According to Num. 19:2 and Deut. 21:3, an unbroken beast of burden could be used for sacred purposes - a suitable animal for the Messiah to ride. A reminder of the unbroken cows that pulled the ark of the Covenant when it returned to Jerusalem in 1 Sam. 6:7.

Jesus will enter Jerusalem unlike any other pilgrim. He will enter as the sacred, Son of God, as Messiah.

Notice how much detail Luke gives to the donkey being retrieved. Just as many verses dedicated to the retrieval of the donkey as the triumphal entry itself. Why? Jesus is in control of every minute detail - even the donkey He rides into Jerusalem and where it is found. Jesus is Lord over His creation - in control of His creation. He is even in control of the donkey that He created.

Luke showing us that Jesus is the King in authority - He planned out every single detail of His last days on earth. Everything is purposeful. Jesus chooses the time (Passover) and the animal and the way He will enter Jerusalem. It’s all a part of His plan (John 10:17-18).

This is the kind of King we need. We need a King who is in absolute control of everything because when you know you have a King who is in absolute control of everything:

You are free from worrying about things you cannot control. How much time do you waste worrying about things beyond your control? (How your children are going to turn out, if you’re going to get in the school you want to get into, politics, health insurance, etc.) Jesus is in control of every detail of your life, and He loves you. He is always going to do what’s ultimately best for you and His Kingdom. He knows - who is going to be in office in 4 years, how He’s going to provide for your family, how He’s going to bring you through trials, etc.

You don’t know but Jesus does… makes sense to put eyes on Him.

You are free to focus on what matters. Because Jesus is in control of all things, I can focus on doing what I know He wants me to do. I can focus on growing in Him, serving Him, loving others, being on mission, etc.

Because you have taken control of lots of things in your life instead of trusting in Jesus’ sovereign control, you’ve probably made a lot of bad decisions. Luke 12:31 - There’s a better way to live.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/russian-man-flies-europe-lax-without-passport-visa-ticket-reports - God never asks how… We do…

You need the gift of Jesus’ real peace.

Not the scene you would expect: a roaming rabbi riding a baby donkey into Jerusalem being followed by a massive crowd. A king riding a donkey? The Messiah should be riding a warhorse, with a sword at his side, ready to defeat Rome.

BUT… kings riding donkeys in ancient days symbolized times of peace; not war. (Solomon rode donkey when he recognized as new king of Israel - 1 Kings 1:33). Jesus is the Messiah who came to bring peace (Luke 2:14).

In Matthew’s Gospel, Matthew makes connection (Matthew 21:5). Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a colt was fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). On that day in Jerusalem, likely the crowd made the connection to Zechariah 9:9. The promised King is here!

Jesus is a humble King who did not come to make war but peace (John 3:17). However, there will come a day when Jesus rides a white horse - a stallion of victory - as He claims ultimate victory over evil. Then, everyone who has rejected Jesus will be judged (Revelation 19:11-16).

The crowd of disciples cannot contain their worship. Clothes spread on the ground - red carpet treatment. Luke 19:38 - quote from Ps. 118:26 - Hosanna, Son of David - Matthew 21:9 - Hosanna = Save us! From Hallel Psalms - recited at Passover - Crowd making the connection. The one riding on the donkey will save them. The people erupt in elaborate worship.

Pharisees want the disciples to quiet down, but all creation will cry out that Jesus is Lord (Romans 8:18-25).

Peace is what you need - the Jews knew it - but they thought they needed peace from Rome. What they really needed was eternal peace. “If I could just have peace at home, peace at work, etc.” That’s not your greatest need. You need a King that gives you more than a peaceful night at home. You need a King who gives you eternal peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Peace with God will always lead to the peace of God. Your greatest need is peace with God. You deserved punishment, but Jesus has come to make peace with you by offering His own life as a sacrifice. You were an enemy of God, but in Christ, you are reconciled (Romans 5:1, 10). Knowing you have peace with God leads to peace of God (Philippians 4:7). What’s the worst that can happen to you? It is well with my soul because I am well with God.

Peace with God encourages peace with others. (2 Corinthians 5:18) It is not possible to have peace with God and NOT desire peace with others. We crave right relationships - so we sacrifice our desires, we work through conflict, we forgive, etc. We are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).

Peace with God encourages peace with yourself. Romans 8:1 - Stop beating yourself up! You are forgiven and accepted. Nothing you can do to make God love you more or less...

Are you pursuing peace? It’s your choice… Or, are you constantly warring against the One who came for you?

You need the gift of Jesus’ bold passion.

Luke 19:41 - Humanity of Jesus on display - He wept over Jerusalem. The people of the city of peace could have known the ONE who brings real peace. They could have embraced Jesus as the Price of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Truth is hidden from the Jews because of their rejection of Jesus. They can’t see the truth - what awaits then is judgment. vs. 43-44 is a prediction of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Rome will be used as God’s instrument of Jerusalem because the Jewish people in the days of Jesus did not recognize that God visited them (vs. 44).

The love of Jesus on display in these verses. He desires people to turn to Him by faith. But, not everyone will embrace the invitation. The fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD a picture of judgment to come for all people who reject Jesus. God is just. He will judge those who reject Him with righteous judgment.

Luke 19:45-48. You can see why God would bring judgment on Jerusalem. The Jewish people had desecrated the temple of God! A place of worship and prayer had become a den of thieves!

The past sins of Israel continue to be repeated - no regard for God’s holy place (Jeremiah 7, Ezekiel 8, Malachi 1).

The temple a place of prayer and worship (Isaiah 56:7) instead a place of commerce - a den of thieves (Jeremiah 7:11). Money being changed in the temple to temple currency - charging exuberant interest. Selling of sacrificial animals at exuberant prices for those who didn’t want to bring their sacrifices from a great distance.

In righteous anger Jesus cleanses the temple - likely symbolic of the destruction that would come on the temple.

Jesus continues to teach in the temple day after day during the final week of His life, and the religious leaders want Him dead. The ONE who rides into Jerusalem on a donkey to bring peace NOT war would find a war - a war against His own kinsmen who were blinded to the truth.

BUT, PASSION WEEK - in bold passion Jesus would go to a cross and die for the sins of those who were persecuting Him. The opposition did not change His passion for the glory of God and His passion for the mission of God.

A bold passion we need to imitate.

When you are passionate about the worship of God you will be passionate about the mission of God. Jesus erupts in anger because of His passion for the worship of God.

How passionate are you for the glory of God? For His worship? How badly do you want to see God magnified in your life and in the lives of others? AND… not talking about passionately singing a worship song but passionately laying your life down in sacrificial worship for the One who laid down His life for you.

When you’re passionate about the worship of God you[ll be passionate about His mission. You’ll be brokenhearted over the brokenness you see around you. (In pot shop - left heartbroken seeing people so passionate about getting high off a plant.)

What keeps you from imitating the bold passion of Jesus?

You lack passion for Jesus - You’ve forgotten how powerful the Gospel is in your own life - that you’ve been justified, made right with God, reconciled to Him. You’ve forgotten that the Spirit of God resides in you.

You are way too passionate about the stuff of life - What do you talk about most? What gets your time and attention? What gets your best energy? What drives you? The King?

This morning, repent of misplaced passion and ask Jesus to renew your passion for His Kingdom.

Or, if you are not a follower of Jesus, see the King’s passion for you. He has come to make peace with you. Today, find peace in a relationship with Jesus by placing your faith in the ONE who was so passionate about you that He was willing to die in your place and rise again for you. Repent and believe today.