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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 5 - CHRIST'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM (Luke 19:28 - 21:38)
1. Christ's Approach to the Capital and His Reception with Rejoicing (Luke 19:28-44)
LUKE 19:28-40
28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He came 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 your enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose him and bring him 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 if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus was aware that his kingdom would appear in glory and triumph, not on his entry into Jerusalem, but at his second coming to earth. He knew that his entry into Jerusalem would bring contempt, sufferings and death. Nevertheless, he was so eager forward and willing to suffer and die for us that he led the company on his way to the place of his crucifixion.
The city of Jericho is built by the deep Jordan River. It is about 1000 meters lower than Jerusalem, which lies behind the Mount of Olives, the mountain which salutes with its towers and twinkling lights from afar pilgrims coming across the desert to visit the “City of Peace”.
When Jesus arrived at the eastern side of the Mount of Olives, the Holy Spirit prompted him to fulfill the prophecy (in Zechariah 9:9), which mentions that the King of Glory is coming to the city of God not on a horse or a camel or on foot; but riding on a donkey. Jesus was so poor that he had no donkey. So he trusted the Holy Spirit to provide a suitable donkey for him; and thus the prophecy had its accomplishment so that everyone should realize that Jesus is the promised, just, triumphant and meek Christ.
Christ by his spiritual insight saw the colt from afar. He sent two of his disciples and commanded them to loose the animal, providing them in advance with their answer to the owner that he might permit them to take it. In this prophetic statement Jesus revealed his truth, calling himself “the Lord”. He was not only Master, King and Christ; but also God himself. This name which was like an electric shock in the minds of the messengers, gave them courage so that they passed it on and confessed that the Lord himself had come to his people in Jesus of Nazareth, who is worthy of all acclamation and worship.
Jesus did not come as an arrogant Lord, but lowly and gentle. He summed up these meanings in saying, “the Lord has need.” Undoubtedly, the Lord has no need at all, for he had emptied himself, and became humble, when he became incarnate in our world in human likeness. In his love, he became so poor that he had no money, property, or animals. Thus he wanted to show us that the divine glory is not displayed in splendor, money, and luxurious buildings; but in love, holiness and spiritual authority.
In his exciting announcement, Christ confessed that he was not willing to enter his capital just as an ordinary man, but he required from his nation submission, obedience and worship, in spite of his poverty and lowliness.
The two disciples testified their complete submission to their Lord, for when they had come with the colt they took off their garments, and placed them before the colt on which Christ rode, as a token of their subjection to the Lord of Lords, showing their preparedness to spread the road with their own bodies for the glory of the power of God. Then the followers knew the critical hour. They also participated in this unique token of subjection, committing themselves entirely to Jesus the Lord. They came one after the other and laid down their clothes, that the procession of their Lord might walk on them, until they arrived at the summit of the Mount of Olives, where the holy city came into view with its golden towers, great wall, and wide court-yard where the Temple, God’s dwelling, was.
As they saw this full and magnificent view of the city, the multitudes began to praise and utter cries of joy for the entry of the King as they went down to the Kidron valley, which separates the Mount of Olives and the holy city. Pilgrims raced from all directions, joining Jesus’ procession, singing psalms and hymns, praising God for all the miracles Jesus had wrought, claiming these miracles in manifestation of the glory of him who comes, and thanking God for his blessing and his favor.
Dear brother, do you participate in the procession of joy and praise? How many biblical miracles and verses have you learnt by heart, and are able to mention before your friends and critics? How many miracles have you experienced personally in your life, when Jesus entered it, changed you, filled you with his blessings, and became the Lord of your life? Do you praise God for the coming of his Son, or is your heart still silent, your mouth closed, and your mind paralyzed, in spite of the entry of the love of God into this world of hatred and death?
Then the Holy Spirit guided those who sang and praised God to begin with the hymn of reception designated for the entry of the king into his capital. They knew that Jesus came not only in his own name, but also in his heavenly Father’s name, and that all the power, goodness and justice of the Holy Spirit dwelt in the Nazarene. The joy of heaven’s pleasure spread over the earth that was tired of wars, and the glory of God came back once more to Jerusalem.
Jesus did not reject or stop this acclamation, which was as clear as the sun. He did not refuse his royal title in their acclamation, but entered his capital as Master and Lord. But when some of the Pharisees who accompanied this joyful procession heard these holy titles given to Jesus, they became troubled, afraid and angry. They thought of the colonial power which was prepared to attack and crush every notion of proclaiming a king over the multitudes. Thus the Pharisees were angry with Jesus because he accepted this acclamation. They asked him severely to silence those who accompanied him, and reject these divine titles, but Christ answered them with the irrefutable proof that if those simple believers should not acclaim now, the stones would immediately cry out, for their Creator moved over them.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, You are our Lord, King, and Savior and are worthy of all worship. I commit my life to you now and forever. Accept and sanctify me, for I am a sinner. Keep me in your name that I may remain faithful to you, and not fall away at the terrible hour of temptation.
QUESTION 117: How did Jesus reveal that he is the Lord, and divine King?