Palm Sunday 2022

Catchy Title

Luke 19:28–44 NRSV

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that 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 heaven!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” 41 As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

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The Gospel of Luke The Entry of the King (Luke 19:28–40)

The prophets had a regular custom of which they made use again and again. When words were of no effect, when people refused to take in and understand the spoken message, they resorted to some dramatic action which put their message into a picture which none could fail to see. We get examples of such dramatic actions in 1 Kings 11:29–31; Jeremiah 13:1–11, 27:1–11; Ezekiel 4:1–3, 5:1–4. It was just such a dramatic action which Jesus planned now.

—> It was carefully planned. It was not sudden or impulsive. Jesus did not leave things until the last moment. Things were pre-arranged.

—> It was an act of glorious defiance and of superlative courage. There was a price on Jesus’ head. An outlaw didn’t sneak in through the back gate but instead road in the front gate.

—> It was a deliberate claim to be king.

Zechariah 9:9 NRSV

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The Gospel of Luke The Entry of the King (Luke 19:28–40)

The donkey in Palestine was not the lowly beast that it is in this country. It was noble. Only in war did kings ride upon a horse; when they came in peace they came upon a donkey. So Jesus by this action came as a king of love and peace, and not as the conquering military hero whom the tumultuous crowds expected and awaited.

—> It was one last appeal. In this action Jesus came, as it were, with pleading hands outstretched, saying, ‘Even now, will you not take me as your king?’ Before human hatred engulfed him, once again he confronted people with love’s invitation.

—> 40. If these should hold their peace, the stones, which lie before you, would cry out—That is, God would raise up some still more unlikely instruments to declare his praise. For the power of God will not return empty.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, Fourth American Edition. (New York: J. Soule and T. Mason, 1818), 199.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts 1. Triumph (19:29–40)

Their fear is understandable, but it was due to their rejection of Jesus as Messiah.

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts 1. Triumph (19:29–40)

Christ’s reply was that if the people should remain silent, the very stones would cry out. It is sad when human beings, the crown of God’s creation and made in His image, refuse to praise Him. Too often it is the children and new converts who lead the way in this paean of praise.