The Time of Visitation

Luke 19:29–44 NKJV

29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” 41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Palm Sunday

The Triumphant entry into Jerusalem

Expected for centuries

Prophesied about

multitudes had come to praise and to worship - and rightly so

yet these would be the same to later shout crucify Him

and the Pharisees who knew the prophecies the best had completely rejected Him and were angry

How could they have it so wrong?

Perhaps many who knew the prophecies had twisted them into their own ideas

many people do the same thing today

romanticizing the scriptures into whatever they like - or what makes them feel good

Jesus referred to this as teaching for doctrine the traditions of men

Yet, in the midst of all this error, and self serving, there was a great celebration

events that were prophesied for centuries were fulfilled to the letter

God was glorified and Christ was exalted -

The Palm branches, the people, the praise, the ceremony....

Let’s look at just a few of the details ...

The Donkey

even this simple donkey was a detail that had been prophesied of for centuries

there is not a single sparrow not known to God

This donkey symbolizes a number of things:

People had expected a war horse and conquering - yet the donkey represents peace, gentleness

A king would have His own donkey, not one ridden by others,

this donkey had never been ridden

Donkeys are also known for their stubbornness - rebellion

Yet when Jesus took charge - even this untrained animal fulfilled his purpose

God can fulfill His purpose in you and I also

even though we may find it hard to comply - to submit

Even if we have never been submitted to God before -

He is able to bring peace and tame your heart today -

The Praise

The crowd had come to praise Him

There were multitudes throwing their garments in the road and palm branches

It was time to celebrate - time to worship

we should also be careful not to miss our times of worship --

This was a prelude to a time to come

Revelation 5:11–14 NKJV

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

The Stones

There is an important message for all of us in these stones

The pharisees were angry at this worship and praise

they sought to stop it -

Not everyone will be happy when you get saved

not everyone will be happy when you fulfill your God called mission

Jesus said that if these should be silent God would cause the stones to cry out

this was a literal statement

God is able to make these stones into descendants of Abraham - -

He made all that is out of nothing -

He made us out of these stones —

And that is good new - becasue if He can make these stones into children of Abraham - how much easier can He make you into the children of the most High?

It also reveals that when God has a purpose - His purpose will be fulfilled - period

From the beginning of time not a word of His has failed

But you are not a robot - you can choose - you do have a free will

David was not God’s first choice for Israel -

God has a plan and a purpose for your life - and i is a good plan --

but if you will not — His purpose stands -

If every person in the universe, together with all angels and demons should rebel at once against the council of God - Not a word of all His council should fail -

He is able to raise up, even from stones new children, new angels, whatever - even ex-nehilio -

The Time

Finally. consider the time

one of the greatest errors people make is in believing they have more time

Nowhere in the bible are you promised tomorrow

Jesus wept over this city

As He cried He said - “If” you had know- in this your day...

even though it sorrowed the Lord enough to cry ---- yet they were lost- the damage done -

“You did not know the time of your visitation”

There is a time for God’s purpose - that time will not come again

You may have already missed many of God’s plans for your life -

I won’t stand here and lie to you by saying it didn’t matter. Or that you can get it all back

some things are gone, some opportunities lost - forever -

It is the very terror of the finality of that which should cause you to avoid missing any more

You have already lost many blessings, many opportunities

you may never know how many times a donkey had to speak in your place, or a rock had to be raised to do what you would not

Or how many wonders you could have been a part of - how many of your crowns are being worn by another -

So awful is that truth that it should compel you to decide here and now not to lose any more ---

But there is one wonderful truth I can assure you of today

there is one great purpose God has for your life which is not lost yet

Indeed, of all His purposes and plans for you, this is the greatest of all

that if you can hear this right now- you have not waited too late to be saved -

God’s plan for you is eternity with Him in heaven —

Today is your day - now is your time - and its not too late

Those whoa re saved, there is still wonderful glory ahead — its not too late - the best is yet to come!!!

So don’t miss the time He planned for you!