To Know Jesus is to Know Peace Luke 19:28-44

OPENING: One jeep had pulled up way to far causing another jeep to have to make a wider turn. If that really upsets a person you might get screamed at (happened to me), but there must be a jeep pack because they gave the “peace” sign. I said to Nathan are you sure it wasn’t just one finger (happened to me)?

INTRO: Most people don’t prepare for Peace. Most of us get up, chaos ensues and we hope for some “peace”. Everybody’s working for the weekend, people wait for vacation to come all for some “Peace”. You have heard the parent who gets to the end of their day or rope and says I just want some “peace and Quiet.” Do you Know you can prepare to have “peace” in your life and you can experience “peace” in the most chaotic of times.

Know Jesus Know Peace

The word for peace used here in our text and often in the bible means “a state of well being”. And I want to suggest to all of us that this state of well being can be our in life if we make the right preparations.

Making Preparations Luke 19:28-34

A. As Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem He was approaching Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. (28)

B. Here possibly at Lazarus place or Simon Peter’s he sent the Disciples to get a colt. (29-31)

C. The Disciples went and it was just as He said. (32-34)

NOTE: They not only found the colt but when they said to the owners, “The Master has need of it”, the owners freely gave it just as Jesus had said. Jesus was literally asking His disciples to prepare an old testament prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) to declare that the King of the Universe, the Messiah has come and no He would soon be going.

No Jesus No Peace (Luke 19:35-44)

A. His disciples place Him on the colt and as He rides down the Mount of Olives, His disciples spread their coats on the road, They praise God for the miracles they have seen, and shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (v. 38)

ILLUST: At John’s birth, his father Zacheus prophesied John was going to declare that God was coming to give His people the knowledge of salavtion (Luke 1:77) and “To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79).

ILLUST: At Jesus Birth their were shepherds in the field and the Angel said “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:14

1. Their peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

a. The King and God of the Universe was being recognized with the praises of the people and the fulfilling of this ancient prophecy.

b. There was a state of well being in heaven because the King had entered into the chaos of earth and would soon suffer to make sacrifice for sin.

NOTE: In the midst of the people’s praise there was a world that wanted the King of the Universe dead.

*The Pharisees said stop this praise. Jesus’ response was that the earth had such a need for peace that if the people didn’t praise Him the rocks would cry out.”

ILLUST: The world is in need of and crying out for peace and as true today as it was on this day is that we do not recognize where authentic peace comes from.

2. The Things Which make for peace

a. v.41-42 Jesus weeps over the city and says “if you had KNOWN in this day even you, the things which make for PEACE, but now they have been hidden from you.”

The Nation Israel has not known true authentic peace from this time.

Jesus did not just bring peace, He is Peace and His final descent made way for the world to kill peace on the earth and peace would return to Heaven where He came from.

b. The things which make for peace are to recognize and know Jesus as King and Creator.

3. We have little peace because we do not Know Peace.

a. v.43-44 Your enemies will surroud you

b. They will level you and your children to the Ground

c. Not one stone will be left on another (70 AD)

NOTE: Why? You did not recognize the time of your visitation. They did not recognize that to KNOW JESUS is TO KNOW PEACE

CLOSE:I know all of you. Some I know more intimately that other and I hear either from you or someone who brings a prayer concern for you to me. I know a small portion of the issues we all carry and they are heavy. But if we are all honest, the lack of peace and the amount of chaos we carry from day to day is because we are running from sun up to sun down trying to make things work and fix things that are broken with very little dependence on the King and Creator of the Universe. We are not as diligent as we could be at developing a close and intimate relationship with Jesus I want to encourage us that if a relationship with Jesus is our first priority in life not only will we have a state that is well within us when the car is too far up at the stop but we will also rest and live in peace because we know Peace because PEACE, the PERSON JESUS IS LEADING OUR LIVES.