March 24, 2024
Morning Service

Last week we began a journey with Jesus as He is heading into Jerusalem for His final time.  He knows what lies ahead for Him in the coming week.  Last week we saw Him warn the disciples for the third time that He would be betrayed, condemned to death, and delivered to the Romans where He will be mocked, scourged and crucified.  This is a burden Jesus has lived with His entire life knowing this week was coming.  He also knows (and is motivated by) that after His death and when all seems lost He will rise from the grave and change everything.  That ultimate prize, however, only will happen by His fulfilling every single prophecy written about Him including becoming the suffering servant of Isiah 53.  This action and emotion packed week is what we often refer to as the “Passion Week.”  This is the moment of truth where Jesus must complete His journey through the most difficult path He has taken yet.  Think for a moment what is going through His mind.  Have you ever dreaded a week where you had to endure something that was extremely difficult?  Imagine how this is magnified for Jesus as He KNOWS all that is about to happen to Him and these men He is leading.  Do you ever wonder what is motivating Him to do this?  Why is He so determined to finish His journey in this fashion?  It is His love for you that drives Him.  He spoke of this love to Nicodemus in the gospel of John in a very familiar but revealing verse.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

            As we walk with Jesus and watch all that He endures this week, know that His motivation is His love for you.  He is willing to suffer beyond what we can even imagine to create the pathway for our reconciliation with our Creator that sin has broken.  He fixes what man has broken. He is the only One who can do this and His journey that began in a manger in Bethlehem is completed next Sunday when He rises from the grave and defeats death and sin.  His does this for you and for me.  Remember that as we walk with Him through this week.

            The emotions of this week begin today with a joyful celebration as Jesus enters the city to praise that He does not suppress for the first time.  Up to now, He has asked those whom He has touched to remain quiet about what they have seen and heard, but not today!

 

Luke 19:28-34 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.  (29)  And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethpage 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."

            This is the entrance the Lord of lords and King of kings chooses to make into Jerusalem.  He is not riding a white horse in a show of power, but rides a colt of a donkey in humility as prophesied by Zechariah (9:9).  Everything He does has a purpose and fulfills His perfect will.  We learn from this that we too are not to be proud but humble as we follow Jesus imitating Him.  One day He will return on a white horse in power for all to and “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord!” (Rom. 14:11)

 

Luke 19:35-40Then 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."

 

            For the first time Jesus allows those around Him to cry out the praises He so richly deserves.  They clearly see Him as the long-awaited Messiah and their excitement is mistakenly centered around Him now setting up His kingdom and overthrowing the Roman rule over them.  Jesus’ purpose is far greater than overthrowing a nation, He has come to defeat sin and death once and for all time.  In this moment Jesus allows the praise and the Pharisees take offence to this asking Him to quiet them down.  They feel what the people are proclaiming is blasphemy (as God has blinded their eyes to the truth).  Jesus responds being present in the moment knowing this is the time for His praise to be openly proclaimed; “if they would be silent, the stones would immediately cry out!”  Has there been a time when you should have proclaimed the Name of the Lord and have been silent?  Don’t let the stones speak for you, sing out His praises every opportunity you have in song or in testimony of what He has done for you!

            Again Jesus knows what a change will occur in just a few days.  Many of the same ones who cry out His praises will be calling out for His crucifixion on Friday.  Imagine Him looking into the eyes of these who are so excited to praise Him today and Him knowing they will turn on Him before the week’s end.  He had to be enjoying the moment, but the dark cloud continues to follow Him even in this moment.  This is evident as Luke now shares with us Jesus’ thoughts during this wonderful time of celebration.

 

 Luke 19:41-44 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."

            In the moment of praise and celebration, Jesus looks on these people and weeps over them. Our second emotion is sadness. He weeps for what great privileges they have abused being His chosen people.  He weeps for the possibilities that were rejected by them.  He weeps for the great punishment that lies ahead for them that He mentions here.  Remember as Peter told us that God’s is “not willing that any perish but that all men come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9) Jesus weeps for those who do not believe in Him in this moment where He comes to offer Himself up as a sacrifice for “whosoever will believe in Him.”  He brings with Him a free gift of forgiveness of sins, restoration of the broken relationship with your Creator, a promise to walk with you along this journey of life, and a hope to be with Him forever in the future.  He offers to all of a chance to “make all things new.”  It is up to us now to choose.  He gives us a free will to make our own choices but He longs for you to choose Him and allow Him to empower you with the gift of the Holy Spirit who will guide you along life’s journey.

            What does He see when He looks you in the eyes this morning?

 Does He rejoice because you have accepted Him as Lord and Savior?  Does He rejoice in knowing you and you knowing Him?   Does He rejoice in seeing you love Him by keeping His commands and seeking to follow Him closely putting Him first in your life?  If so, know you have chosen well and I encourage you to stand firm in your faith.

            OR does Jesus look into your eyes and weep because you have not chosen Him yet?  Does He look into your eyes and weep for how you, like these people, ignore His blessings, reject His calling, and too will face a great day of punishment in your future?  Does He weep for He has stood knocking at the door of your heart and you have refused to open it to Him?  He weeps for you for His will is for you to accept His gift of salvation and you have not.  He loves you enough to die for you and He simply asks you to live for Him?

            OR does Jesus look in your eyes this morning and see His child struggling along this journey?  You belong to Him, but right now things are so difficult and complicated that you struggle to be all that He has called you to be.  He knows.  He cares.  He can deliver you. Trust Him and draw closer.

            This morning Jesus stands here and calls you to “cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you?”  Will you do that this morning?  Will you answer His call?  He waits for you to make the next move.

 

Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of You this morning for all that You have done for us.  Thank You for this perfect plan of salvation and for the work of Jesus upon the cross.  Thank You for loving us that much even when we don’t deserve it.