Tragic Triumph

 Two American Jewish men sent their sons to Jerusalem to learn about their culture. A year later, they talked. Said one, "I'm so disappointed. My son came back a Christian. He converted!" His friend replied, "Mine, too. It's a tragedy. Let's go see Rabbi." They told Rabbi their stories. He replied, "I sent my son to Jerusalem a few years ago. He too became Christian. Only God can help us. Let's pray. Please help us God. We sent our sons to Jerusalem to learn our culture. But they came back Christians!!!" After a pause, God replied, "2000 years ago I too sent my son to Jerusalem..." To them, conversion was a tragedy. In reality, it was a great triumph. God the Father's apparent tragedy is also a triumph. Even so, on that 1st Palm Sunday, what looked like triumph was also tragic. Let's turn to Luke 19:28-40; 23:13-24. Jesus has been zigzagging thru Galilee, Samaria, Perea, & Judea for ~9 months. Finally, it's time. 28Jesus headed up to Jerusalem. 29As he approached Bethphage & Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent 2 disciples ahead. Time to offer Himself as Messiah. 30a"Go to the village ahead. As you enter, you'll find a donkey colt tied there. No one has ever ridden it. Untie it & bring it here. Why? To fulfill Zech 9:9. It's a sign. Jesus is the Messiah. It'll also show them He comes in peace. Not a conquering hero. 31If anyone asks, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' " 32They found it just as he'd said. 33Its owners asked, "Why are you untying the colt?" Why are you taking my car? 34"The Lord needs it." Miracle! Its owners let strangers borrow it! 35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt & put Jesus on it. The king is coming. 36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. They get it! A red-carpet welcome for the King. But they miss that His donkey means peace. They think He's the conquering messiah-king they want. 37Soon he came near where the road goes down the Mount of Olives. The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully praising God in loud voices for all the miracles they'd seen. Countless healings. Raising Bethany's Lazarus from the dead. The crowd grows feverish with excitement. Those in front keep chanting, 38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" Those behind keep responding, "Peace in heaven & glory in the highest!" He came to make peace. Not just for Jews with Rome. Too small a job. He'll make peace with God for everyone. Jesus receives their praise. It's His due, not that they get it. 39Some Pharisees in the crowd said, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" To them, only God should be praised! 40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." This is Jesus' day. Finally, Jesus offers Himself as Israel's Messiah. Peace with God. But even in His momentary triumph, Jesus sees tragedy. In Lk 19:41-43 (very next verses), Jesus wept. Israel will reject Him. Their doom is certain. His parade is triumphant. But it's a tragic triumph. Jerusalem's leaders already plan to kill Him. Their plan? After Passover. And then Judas arranges to betray Him. During the Passover Eve seder meal, Judas leaves to do it. Hours later, Jesus is arrested at Gethsemane. They take him to the house of Caiaphas, high priest. He presides over a kangaroo court. The only question? On what pretext can Jesus be killed? By dawn, they decide on blasphemy. They pick members of the Sanhedrin to convene. They quickly find Him guilty. Since Jews can't crucify Jesus, they send Him to Pilate for sentencing. Pilate sees through them. Jesus is innocent. He passes Jesus off to Herod. Herod finds the same & sends Him back. That's where Lk 23:13- 24 picks up. 13Pilate called together the chief priests, rulers & the people. He wants to save Jesus. 14"You brought me this man for inciting people to rebellion. I've examined him & found no basis for your charges. 15Neither has Herod. He sent him back. He's done nothing to deserve death. 16Therefore, I'll punish & release him." Jewish leaders don't buy it. They want to prove Jesus isn't the Messiah. They base their logic on Dt 21:22-23. The Messiah can't be cursed. Anyone crucified is under God's curse. If Jesus is crucified, he can't be the Messiah.' So, He has to be crucified. 18With one voice they cry out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" 19(Barabbas was in prison for an insurrection, & for murder.) Choosing Barabbas is ironic. Bar Abbas means son of a father. They trade the Son of The Father for a son of a father. They free a murderer in order to murder God's Son. 20Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appeals again. His wife had a nightmare about Jesus. He's spooked. 21But they keep shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" 22For a 3rd time Pilate tries. "Why? What crime has this man committed? I've found no grounds for the death penalty. I'll have him punished & release him." He tries. 23aBut with loud shouts they insistently demand that Jesus be crucified. Jn 19:12 adds that they also keep shouting, "If you let this man go, you're no friend of Caesar." To Pilate, that's serious. By now, the crowd is shouting with their leaders. They now think Barabbas will fight Rome for them, but Jesus won't. 23bTheir shouts prevail. 24Pilate decides to grant their demand. The tragedy is nearly complete. Jesus will be crucified. Jewish leaders think they've won. So does Satan, who thinks killing Jesus will thwart the Father's plan. Yet the Father has arranged things perfectly. Even these plans for evil now accomplish His will. The Father's plan? Jesus must be crucified on the day lambs are slaughtered for Passover. Why did Jesus zigzag 9-months on the way to Jerusalem? So as not arrive too early. All along, He knew that leaders wanted to kill Him. Why was the Father's plan for Jesus to die that year? Dan 9:25's [7 + 62] * 7 = 483 years are up. From ages past, God planned for Jesus to die in order to redeem Creation. He planned it to happen on the day Passover lambs are slaughtered. In Jerusalem. That year. The reality? The Father's plan is on track. Jesus is the new Passover Lamb. His perfect sacrifice will never need to be repeated. All creation? Redeemed. Humanity's sin-debt? Paid. Jesus knew Isaiah 53:5-10. He knew He'd be tortured & killed before returning to glory. Why go to Jerusalem, anyway? Why offer Himself as Messiah? Why allow Himself to be tried & convicted? Why refuse even to offer a defense? Why go willingly to the cross? Jesus knew that by rejecting Him Jerusalem would be judged & destroyed. So, why did He allow the parade? Why celebrate? Only one power can force Jesus to do anything. Love. He loves His Father. He loves the people He created in His image. In loving obedience to His Father, Jesus enters Jerusalem. His public entry forced Jewish leaders to act on the Father's timetable. Not theirs. Loving His Father, Jesus fulfilled all prophecy. For 33 years, He lived the perfect life that we're unable to live. And, loving us, He offered Himself in our place. In doing so, He fulfilled the law & the prophets. Jesus died so we won't have to. He did so willingly. Loving His Father & loving us, He took our punishment. The only righteous man gave up His life for us, sinners, so that we can live with Him forever. He gave up His life for us! For you. For me. What greater love could there ever be? Jesus' parade into Jerusalem is a tragic triumph. But in the end, it's there's only triumph. Tragic Triumph - Luke 19:28-40; 23:13-24 Page 1 of 1