A busy Day

Following the script...

Luke 19:29–31 NLT

As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

Luke 19:28 NLT

After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples.

I want to make one thing clear. As we enter into Holy week. Everything that happens in this week was all part of a plan to fix the relationship between God and man. It wasn’t thrown together. When Jesus sends the disciples ahead and tells them with such precision what is going to happen we realize just how important fixing the relationship we broke was to God.

Accepting His Due...

Luke 19:32–37 NLT

So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

In the Truimpant Jesus is taking a different approach. In the past he has done amazing things and then told the people to be quiet about it. NOw things are different now they have changed. People are putting their coats on the ground for the donkey to walk on, they are cutting palms and waving them in the air saying Hosanah. They are not being quiet, they are not sneaking around, they are worshiping the one that calms the storm and walks on the waves, that heals people, that feeds people, that brings people back from death. We find Jesus not only accepting the praise but making a rather bold statement when the pharisees told him to make everyone stop.

Luke 19:40 NLT

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

His Hearts Desire...

Luke 19:41–42 NLT

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.

Jesus loved the city and the people, he knew them, new what was coming, knew what they were going to do, and knew that there was a long way to go before they would have true lasing peace…not the peace that came from the bargins made with the Roman Government, or that comes from following all the rules…

One Final Act...

Luke 19:45–46 NLT

Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

This more than anything else would have insensed the priests and religious leaders. In declaring the Temple his house, he is being very clear about who he is. We know that the leaders wanted...

Luke 19:47–48 NLT

After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.

Expound...