Luke 19:29-40 - Public Parade of Praise

This variety of ideas is neither local, nor new. Diverse ideas about Jesus have been around ever since Jesus walked on this planet. Disagreement about Jesus is so common that all 3 of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 16:15; Mark 8:29; and Luke 9:20) tell of a dialogue between Jesus and his disciples on this very subject. Who do you say that I am?

While the question was settled in the minds of the disciples, as Jesus entered Jerusalem, in what is called the Triumphal Entry, we see today that there are no less than 3 distinct ideas of who Jesus was and is.

Jesus called himself The LORD (v.31 & 40)

This narrative reveals several realities that sets Jesus apart from any ordinary, or even an extraordinary man.

Supernatural knowledge– by describing the events that were yet to take place, even down to the very confrontation with the colts’ owner, Jesus revealed in His deity to not be bound by human concept of time.

Supernatural authority– Jesus presumed authority to use a beast owned by another. After all, as creator He has a right of ownership that surpasses possession. Not only did he display mastery in the use, but the ability to break a colt that had never been riden displays that even the animal recognized His lordship.

Supernatural honor– we will see the Pharisees attempt to reign in all the Messiah talk, but the chapter ends with Jesus’ proclamation that even inanimate objects (that He created) would break out in praise if He was denied worship. How could rocks cry out? In the same way Psalm 19 tells us the Heavens declare and the sky proclaims.

The title Lord

1. You may know that our Old Testament was primarily written in Hebrew and our New Testament was written in Greek. These were the academic languages of these people groups at their times in history. But the street or market language of many in this region was Aramaic – if Shakepeare English was Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic was the English of redneck Americans. It was a common language, especially among the Jewish pilgrims who would be traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Aramaic was a bridge language rooted in Hebrew that would evolve into the Arabic of the Middle East and North Africa in the 7th Century after Christ. This makes a difference because Aramaic Lord was rooted in a Hebrew event recorded in Exodus 3:14

If you find yourself watching The Ten Commandments, which seems to be rerun every Easter weekend, you will recall an early scene with a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire.

As God speaks to Moses in that bush, God identifies himself as “I am” – literally a 4 letter name with no vowels – יהוה.

2. Over time this name was so holy to the Jewish people that they would not even attempt to pronounce it. As a matter of fact it came to be so revered that a scribe would have to stop writing, say a prayer, do a ceremonial washing and get a brand new quill EVERY time before writing this name. The bridge language of Aramaic that I mentioned had a word that would be spoken whenever this 4 letter name occurred in a text. That Aramaic word was Adonai, which means Lord. If you were reading along in a Hebrew Bible while Exodus is being read aloud in any Jewish place of worship you would see 4 letters YHWH but you would hear Adonai

3. By the time the New Testament was written down, Luke would have used the Greek κύριος to record the spoken word אֲדֹנִיwhich was a substitute for the holy name יהוה.

Application

By calling himself The Lord and the Disciples referring to Him as The Lord(notice it is not a lord), Jesus and those who know Him best referred to Him as the One who delivered the Israelites from Egypt, the One who was worshipped in the Temple, the One who would make all things right. The monotheistic God of the Bible!

Transition: The crowds gathered on that road near Jerusalem’s gate, many who had heard of miraculous feeding and healing were not interested in seeing the One who called himself God, they only wanted someone to make their earthly lives better.

Crowd called Jesus the King (v.38)

They got the THE correct, but where Adonai could have been elevated to refer to God, they lowered it to mean a mere earthly King.

Jewish People Living under Roman Rule

The last Jewish King over the Jewish people was named in 2 Kings 24:20, and was nobody to admire!

2. “Following Josiah, only four more kings ruled in Judah: Joahaz (609 b.c.), Jehoiakim (609–598 b.c.), Jehoiachin (598 b.c.), and Zedekiah (598–587 b.c.). the fall of Judah and Jerusalem was due to the fact that, like Manasseh, each of these last four kings of Judah followed the example of his ancestors and sinned against the Lord (2 Kgs 23:32, 37; 24:9, 19).”[i]

3. It has been 600 years since they had their own king. I’m sure the stories of the olden days were romanticized, but all they knew was that anything was better than what 600 years of captivity had brought.

4. They didn’t know what the King would bring, but they were willing to give Him a try.

What Can You do for us?

I am glad to live in a democracy that has secured personal liberty and religious freedom. But one weakness of democracy is that the people are always looking for something better. Consider the last 4 Presidential campaigns that were rooted in hope, again, and rebuild. No matter what we have, we are promised that the other team can make it better.

The crowds on the street of Jerusalem were looking for much of what our citizens yearn for: Less government interference, lower taxes for me, more freedom to do what I want. They were willing to take a risk on a new “King” if he could deliver on those expectations.

Application

It’s been over 60 years since a new President instructed Americans, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

1. Even this message seems bazaar to us. Why should I do for my country? Government exists for the people, not the other way around

2. Verse 41 begins Jesus’ inaugural address. I paraphrase Jesus’ words…

He weeps and basically tells them, you’re looking for the wrong deliverance. I, God, am about to offer you true peace, but you’re going to be so wrapped up in your own sense of political safety that you don’t even recognize that the Lordoffers more than a human king ever could.

Transition: Jesus offered them the Lord, they were willing to settle for an earthly king, but some wouldn’t even concede Jesus as a king.

Pharisees called him a Teacher (v.39)

While Jesus offered them more than they expected, the Pharisees are bent on Jesus lowering the expectations of the crowd.

1. to the Pharisees he was just one teacher amongst many

2. While the Pharisees did not represent normal 1st century Judaism because they were only 1 of 4 major sects, they were the only sect to survive and reorganize after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. They were the root of today’s modern expressions of both orthodox and reformed Judaism.

3. Some of the earliest writings we have of this Rabbinic Tradition refer to our Savior as “Jesus the Magician and Deceiver[ii]” They viewed Him as little more than a backwoods Snake oil salesman. These Pharisees had an agenda [power and manipulation through the Law] and Jesus did NOT compliment their goal.

4. Did you notice how quickly in the video that started this sermon, people were prompt to say what they did NOT believe about Jesus and that the human historicity and message were things that they could accept.

5. The random sampling wanted to hold Jesus at arms length, but those who drew near to him spoke of growing in their understanding of His authority over them.

Application

many today consider Jesus little more than a historical figure whose teaching are inconvenient at best, and outdated or hateful at worst. Those who are bent on “progress” despise the historic, traditional Truth that He both proclaimed AND demonstrated.

Transition: We’ve seen 3 very different ideas about Jesus. I return us to the very question that Jesus asked of Peter, but who do YOU say that I am?

conclusion:

What is your public view of Jesus?

Is He an outdated relic to be avoided?

Is He a Genie in a lamp or Political force to be leveraged for your benefit?

Is He the Creator who was, is, and evermore shall be who deserves your worship, submission, and obedience?

As Jesus rode an unbroken colt was He offering authority over the tyranny of government or Lordship over the true enemy, sin?

As we prepare to respond to this message in song, I ask you to contemplate on these ideas for 2 1/2 minutes and resolve in your heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TywlLxR7kQs

Song of Response #102.....There’s Something About that Name

[i] Slager, Donald. 2008. “Preface.” In A Handbook on 1 & 2 Kings, edited by Paul Clarke, Schuyler Brown, Louis Dorn, and Donald Slager, 1–2:1312. United Bible Societies’ Handbooks. New York: United Bible Societies.

[ii] Voorst, Robert E. Van. 2000. Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

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