The Just And Justifier

Luke 19:28-40

Today is Palm Sunday......the beginning of what some call Holy week and others call Passion week.

Putting titles to something is good, but it loses something in the name.

We celebrate this day as a remembrance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the final week before His crucifixion.

The entrance of Jerusalem was celebrated in the right manner but for the wrong reasons....It is the first time in Jesus’ earthly ministry that He allows public worship of Himself.

Luke 19:28-40........You can find this event in all 4 Gospel accounts (Matt. 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-10, John 12:12-19).......In all of these accounts and in the events leading to Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, you will see that Jesus is in complete control of His circumstances.......The wickedness of man, His rejection was used by God to fulfill the Law of God through Jesus Christ. Never was there ever a moment when He wasn’t in control.

Such as we read here, as He tells the disciples that there is a colt (young donkey) tied up at the entrance.

As Jesus prepared to enter into Jerusalem, He is using a young colt, that has never been ridden before...........

That the colt had never been ridden before is to a Jewish person meant for holy persons.

All was prepared and ready for His, what is called, triumphant entry.

Indeed, it was a triumphant entry.....

The crowd started praising.....Luke does not tell us about the palm branches being cut a laid before Jesus as He rode in.

Matthew and Mark give us that info Matthew 21:8 “And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.”

The coats being laid before was a sign of homage (respect/honor) toward Jesus and the branches symbolizes Joy and Salvation......

John 12:13 “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

The expression of the word Hosanna is “Save Now”.....That is the reason for the palm branches!

Be propitious to us....which means treat us favorably!

It was downhill approach to the city and coming from the area where Jesus had not long before raised Lazarus from the dead........

That and all the miracles that Jesus had done before that had gotten to the crowd and that is what seemed to cause this praise and worship.

It was actually worship of the Right One, but with a wrong understanding.

Why else would the crowd just a few days later cry out “Crucify Him”

Jesus was the Messiah.....this whole event was prophesied about, to detail Who the Messiah would be........

Matthew 21:4–5 “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon a donkey, and a colt the foal of a donkey”

Quoting Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon a donkey, And upon a colt the foal of a donkey.”

No doubt in Who the Messiah was! If they believed Scripture!

Their belief was that Jesus was going to save them from their present troubles, taxes, tyranny, etc.

Jesus knew that and that is why I am reading from Luke’s acct., because he records Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.

Jesus weeps over Jerusalem on 2 other occasions.

The timing of His weeping seems not in harmony with the triumphant entry but coming from One that knows what is in the heart, it is a true statement about the superficiality of the people’s heart.

Jesus’ mood was anything but giddy as He rode into the city.

The weeping was in the superficiality of the hearts of the people and He knew what was coming for them

In divine judgement Jerusalem would fall tragically and horrifically in AD 70.

The Romans utterly destroyed the city, temple, residences, and the people.

Many believe, and I do as well that this was Divine judgement, God allowed the evil Roman empire to do this because of the Jews rejection of Jesus, their failure to recognize and embrace the true Messiah when He came.

The problem with the Jews, is the same problem with humanity......it is what Paul was trying to combat in 1 Corinthians.

Earthly wisdom! On Wed. nights we are studying this letter to the church at Corinth, where division was within the church and one of the culprits was human wisdom/earthly wisdom.

One of the verses seems to point out what is happening in the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

It seems foolish that a TRUE KING would come riding into a city on a young donkey, but that would be foolish only to someone thinking earthly!

They were expecting an earthly king to come riding on a powerful animal and take their rightful place on a throne of some sort. Maybe they were expecting some action right away, I don’t know how they thought it would be done, but they only saw through their human wisdom, they didn’t get it.

I think Michelle posted something about the contrast of how Pilate would come into Jerusalem verses how Jesus come in and I believe the Jews were expecting their Savior to come but for a different reason!

Paul tells the church at Corinth that human wisdom has no part to play in spiritual wisdom, if it did the princes of this world would not of crucified the Lord of Glory!

One of the most telling things about this entry.......it is no matter how Jesus entered, He is still the Lord of Glory!!!!! He has always been and will always be! Psalm 24:7–10 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”

Suppose it was told to you that a mighty man would be coming and he was going to take care of all your troubles........taxes would be eliminated, he would stop all wars, he would take care of all the crime, and he would bring peace and prosperity to our country, states, cities, and communities! WOULD YOU CELEBRATE HIS ENTRANCE?

Now suppose I tell you that there is One coming that is mighty and strong, the King of Glory, and when He comes He is going to make things right, by dying for your sin, being raised from the dead 3 days later!

The raising from the dead part we are all board with, but the dying for our sin part seems to hinder us!

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).”

This is why He came, this is why Jesus was entering Jerusalem

Once they saw it all going down, they saw weakness in their earthly minds and hearts and quickly changed their cry to “Crucify Him”

That is how earthly wisdom celebrates the True Savior!

John 4:23–24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

What did Jesus say right at the outset of His earthly ministry.....Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repentance has no place in human or earthly wisdom.

Romans 3:21-26........briefly I just want to point out something about why Jesus came in these few verses.....

All people without distinction has failed miserably to live up to God’s standard of righteousness,except for Jesus Christ and it is through our belief in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ that we are delivered from that failure!

We all have sinned, meaning that we fall short of the Glory of God! That is the issue....not taxes, not war, not crime......matter of fact sinful hearts are the reason for all those things! It is the real issue and that is what Jesu came for!

He justifies us in His righteousness and by His death on the cross.........a propitiation.....which means the turning away of anger by the offering of a gift! That gift is Jesus! Forgiveness through the Work of Jesus Christ!

His blood spilt for our sins, God’s wrath placed upon Jesus for our sins....2 Cor. 5:21.....Who knew no sin!

Making God both the Just....meaning that the penalty was paid.....God’s wisdom allowed Him to maintain His righteousness by punishing Jesus for our sins, thereby justifying those that are guilty of sin through our faith in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ!

Lastly, I have been trying to work this in for months now, but let us close now with our understanding of the true power and glory of God and His Son Jesus Christ.........let us close with worship.......1 Timothy 1:15-17.........A reason to celebrate, a reason to praise, a reason to worship.......

Paul writes to Timothy, a young pastor, speaking of the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has been entrusted to Paul by Jesus.......

Paul sees the amount of Grace that it was to allow someone who persecuted Christians to even speak of the Gospel.

God’s loving forgiveness, which is abundant!

Then Paul tells us of the most faithful saying and it is worthy to be believed and declared over and over again!

Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.......that is why Jesus came......never let us forget that!!!

Paul says that he is the chief of all sinners, the greatest sinner of all....

Listen to me now, only the chief sinner would understand that abundant grace of God through Jesus Christ!

Paul was right that he was the chief sinner, but he is tied with all humanity!

Paul said that he was saved to show the world that ANYONE can saved because of how abundant the graciousness of God is, even to the most wretched sinner!

Paul was that example to the world........

After Paul declares that he burst out in praise, he was “true worshipper”!

Now....because of all that reality in Paul’s life

Now, to the King.........King of Glory......

Now to the King Eternal....forever and ever, He has no rival, He is King of all the ages!!!

Now to the King Eternal, Immortal......“Glory and honor are not for the Roman emperor or the local politician, who has a limited period of rule, but for the King of all ages.”

Now to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible.....Exodus 33:20 “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”

John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Now to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the Only Wise God........Isaiah 45:21–22 “............... and there is no God else beside me; A just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.”

Now to the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the Only Wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever, AMEN!!!!!