From past experience, do all the adjustments of the podium before you start.
So I'm just going to move slightly over.
I feel there's too much of a bias towards this side.
People over here need here too.
Just tilt this.
Actually, I should have said while we were beginning,
if you could turn, please, in your Bibles to Luke chapter 19.
Luke chapter 19.
As Jonathan intimated, we've been going through the gospel of Luke over an extended period.
So we've done about 14 in our series on surprising salvation.
And we've taken a break for a little while, but are coming back to it now.
So beginning again this series into Luke.
And so Luke chapter 19.
And it is a familiar story for many.
But let's read together.
We're going to read from verse 28 down to verse 44 of Luke chapter 19.
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem.
As he approached Bethpage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives,
he sent two of his disciples, saying to him,
Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there,
which no one has ever ridden.
Untie it and bring it here.
If anyone asks you, why are you untying it?
Say, the Lord needs it.
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them,
Why are you untying the colt?
They replied, the Lord needs it.
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and put Jesus on it.
As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,
the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God
in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen.
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus,
Teacher, rebuke your disciples.
I tell you, he replied, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.
But as he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said,
If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace,
but now is hidden from your eyes.
The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you
and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.
They will not leave one stone on another because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.
Let's pray.
Our Father, we thank you that as we read these words,
yes, they're the words of Luke,
but supremely they are the words of God himself through the Holy Spirit.
And we thank you that as we open the Bible,
it's not us that sits in judgment over it,
but it really sifts us
and helps us to know who we are
and who God is
and how we should respond.
So, Father, I ask that your Spirit will help us this morning
to understand what it is that you would say to us
and that we would rightly respond in Jesus' name.
Amen.
This morning as we resume our series in the Gospel of Luke,
we're walking alongside Jesus
as he finally reaches Jerusalem.
And we're going to walk beside him through Judean villages
and we're going to walk among the crowds
as he reaches the end of his ministry.
After three years,
Jesus is moving forwards,
forwards towards his own death.
It's always a good time to ask this question,
but it's especially good now.
Who is Jesus?
Is he a good man?
Is he more than that?
Is he a social revolutionary
establishing his way of life?
Or is he truly God's king
bringing about God's kingdom?
Jesus is certainly a man who is on the move.
The road to Jerusalem began ten chapters ago
in Luke chapter 9
where Jesus sets his face towards Jerusalem
and he's resolute.
That's where he's going to.
And as he's moving from Galilee,
which is kind of in the north of the country,
and he's making his way down to Jerusalem
over ten chapters,
he's going from place to place.
And if you flick through the chapters,
you see that Jesus is teaching,
often in parables,
on the nature of the kingdom of God.
The kingdom that he is bringing about.
And he is giving his disciples
and his followers and the people
a vision of what the kingdom looks like
and what membership of the kingdom is,
what it means to belong to God's kingdom.
And he's talking about kingdom ethics.
What do we mean by ethics?
Well, we mean simply this.
What is right and what is wrong?
What is good and what is bad
within God's kingdom?
And he's talking about kingdom priorities.
What is it that you should be doing
in God's kingdom?
What is it that matters?
What is most important?
And Jesus is saying through all of this,
and these are the familiar stories,
that it's the repentant tax collector
who stands at the back
and beats his chest humbly
and says,
woe is me a sinner
that is justified by God,
not the arrogant Pharisee.
It's about the return of lost things.
It's like finding the lost coin
or finding your lost sheep.
Or ultimately,
it's about finding lost sons
and daughters
and heaven rejoicing
that people are coming into God's kingdom.
It's stories like the Samaritan
who comes across the beaten up Jew
and yet reaches somehow across that divide,
that racial and ethnic and cultural divide.
And he's the one
that's the good neighbor
towards that poor Jewish man
that's been beaten up.
That's what being a good neighbor
in the kingdom of God looks like.
And it's not easy.
It's not easy to be a member.
It's not easy to be a disciple.
And Jesus knows this
and he spells it out for people
that come to him.
And people want to follow Jesus.
And he says,
come follow me.
But the foxes,
they have holes
and the birds that are flying in the sky,
they have nests.
But the Son of Man
has nowhere
to lay his head.
You want to follow me?
Well, you have to hate your family.
And Jesus used those words.
You have to hate your family.
You have to hate your own life.
You have to lose yourself
to be my disciple.
In fact,
you have to pick up your cross
to follow me.
Jesus knows about his kingdom.
And he knows that it's a kingdom
of repentant sinners and outcasts.
And the kingdom at this point is,
it's no bigger
than a mustard seed.
The upside down nature of the kingdom,
it continues
as he leads his followers
towards Jerusalem
to witness his death.
And it's easy for us
because we know the whole story.
But for those disciples
to be following Jesus as king
to his death
was an impossibility
that they just could not grasp.
Many times during his journey,
Jesus tells them of his death.
The most recent one is
chapter 18 and verse 31.
If you want to look back
at those verses,
chapter 18, page 105.2.
Jesus takes the 12 aside
and he tells them,
we are going up to Jerusalem
and everything that is written
by the prophets
about the Son of Man
will be fulfilled.
He will be handed over
to the Gentiles.
They will mock him.
This is very specific.
They will mock him,
insult him,
and spit on him.
They will flog him
and kill him.
On the third day,
he will rise again.
And the disciples
who are following Jesus,
their king,
did not understand
any of this.
Its meaning was hidden from them
and they did not know
what he was talking about.
You see,
in the disciples' world,
messianic kings
go to Jerusalem
to receive a crown,
not to be nailed
to a cross.
We join Jesus
for the last few miles
of his journey
in chapter 19.
Jerusalem,
the city of kings,
has come into view.
Verse 28.
And we're approaching Jerusalem.
So we've come down
through Galilee.
We've come down
kind of the eastern side
of the Jordan River
and we've crossed over.
We've come through Jericho
just a little bit beforehand
where we met Zacchaeus,
again,
an unlikely convert
to Jesus' kingdom,
this hated tax collector.
And as we're approaching
from the east,
we're just a few miles
from Jerusalem.
And we've the town
of Bethany.
And that's the hometown
of Mary
and Martha and Lazarus,
the town we're maybe
familiar with.
But it's flooded
because we're joining up
with thousands
upon thousands
of pilgrims
that are also heading
towards the city
for the biggest
festival of the year,
the big event,
the time when lambs
in their tens
and even hundreds
of thousands,
by some estimates
200,000 lambs
are sacrificed
during Passover
as a reminder
of God's deliverance
from judgment
during the Exodus.
We have men,
we have women,
we have children,
we have babies,
we've married,
we've single,
we've animals.
Everyone is simply
on the move
heading to Jerusalem.
And some will have been
planning this all year
and others are the ones
being dragged along.
Come on,
it's the family tradition,
don't disgrace me,
you have to come
to Jerusalem.
But everyone is on the move.
And so we come
to verse 29.
Jesus approaches
Bethpage and Bethany
at the hill
called the Mount of Olives.
And he sends
two of his disciples
saying to them,
go to the village
ahead of you
and as you enter it
you will find
a coal tie there
which no one
has ever ridden.
Untie it and bring it here.
If anyone asks you
why are you untying it,
say the Lord needs it.
Those who were sent ahead
went and found it
just as he had told them.
As they were untying
the colt,
its owners asked them,
why are you untying
the colt?
They replied,
the Lord needs it.
They brought it to Jesus,
threw their cloaks
on the colt
and put Jesus on it.
And as he went along
people spread
their cloaks
on the road.
By one person's estimate
Jesus travels
at least 3,000 miles
during his three year ministry.
So about, you know,
it's a fair distance.
Over that whole time
not once do we read
in any of the gospels
a mention of a donkey
or a colt
or a horse
or any other kind of animal
or any other kind of transport
for Jesus.
Not once.
Maybe you're not curious
but I'm curious.
Why coming to the end
of his ministry
and his life
with Jerusalem in sight
we're only talking
now a matter of miles.
Why is Jesus
looking for a colt?
Why is he looking
for an animal?
Why this newfound
insistence by Jesus
on requisitioning things
for his use?
Well I think in some way
Jesus is revealing
his kingly authority.
You too.
Go fetch me
an animal
for my use.
If anyone asks you
it's for the Lord.
That's all you need to say.
It's for the Lord.
You shouldn't have
any problems.
Well see these are
the actions
and the commands
of someone
who's in authority
isn't it?
Someone who can make
demands.
It's a king.
It's someone who's in charge.
Who then is this Jesus?
The question we started with.
Well a king
that give orders.
A king who can tell
people what to do.
I know that you don't
like to be told
what to do.
Because I don't like
to be told what to do.
And that's quite common
for people
everywhere.
All the time.
But it should be
our comfort
to know
that Jesus
gives
orders.
Jesus says
children
obey your parents
in the Lord
for this is right.
That's a comfort.
It's a comforting command
as any parent
here will assure you
that it's a comforting
command to know
that this is what
Jesus asks of children.
Especially at
well today
it would have been
at about
quarter past
four
but usually
quarter to eleven
when your child
is flailing around
on the ground
crying
demanding
expecting
wanting to be
the attention
because child number
two
across the room
looked at them
the wrong way.
it's a comfort
then isn't it
to know
that Jesus
says
children
obey
your parents
in the Lord
for this
is right.
It's a comfort
to know
that Jesus
gives good
commands
in his kingdom
so that we
can live
well.
But there are
uncomfortable
commands.
And yet
even from
the uncomfortable
commands
we too
should take
comfort.
Jesus
says
that everyone
who looks
at a woman
or indeed
a man
with lustful
intent
has already
committed
adultery
with them
in their heart.
Jesus
the king
says stop
searching for
porn
on your computer.
Jesus
the king
expects us
to tell
others
to do
likewise.
it's
sometimes
an
uncomfortable
comfort
to know
that Jesus
the king
can give
orders.
Now
if Jesus
were just
the king
who gives
orders
from his
throne
we might
begin to
feel
at least
defensive
if not
resentful
even if
those orders
were for
our good
and for
our protection
and we
instinctively
know
don't we
that each
command
that Jesus
gives
is that
isn't it
it's for
our good
and protection
we know
that
it's
something
we kick
against
but we
know it
and we
may simply
feel like
a ruled
and suppressed
people
if it was
just the
king from
the throne
giving those
orders.
So we
need this
afternoon to
know another
truth.
It's not
just a
king that
gives
orders.
We need to
know that
Jesus is a
king that
chooses to
ride a
donkey.
Now why
is that
significant?
Well it's
quite an
irony really
isn't it?
Jesus three
years no
mode of
transport apart
from walking
as far as
we know.
He begins
to exercise
some of his
kingly authority
as he's
coming to
Jerusalem.
Back straight
chest out
tummy in
calling for
provisions
and yet the
most he can
stretch to
is to ask
for a donkey
for the last
few miles
of a three
year journey.
Even the
fact that the
colt is
dutifully found
it's untied
it's fetched
it's brought
all exactly
how Jesus
said it
would be.
I think
we're still
wondering if
these are
truly the
actions of
a king
who is
all powerful
and a
king that's
in control
because let's
be honest
a colt
isn't the
most kingly
form of
transportation.
Low to
the ground
not a huge
amount of
power or
speed.
In fact it's
an animal you
might get at a
fairground that
you'd put a
child on and
take him around
a few times
isn't it?
But this
king, King
Jesus is not
following the
world script for
how kings behave
and how kingdoms
are formed.
Where the world
would come riding
on a war horse
Jesus turns to
the script of
the Old
Testament and he
follows the words
of his father and
Jonathan read the
verses for us
before but I think
it's worth turning
to again.
Zechariah chapter
nine.
It's on page
955.
Zechariah
looking forward
to Jesus
coming says
the following
Rejoice
greatly
daughter
Zion
daughter of
Zion
and Zion
is a hill
within Jerusalem
rejoice
greatly
daughter
Zion
shout
daughter
Jerusalem
see your
king comes
to you
righteous
and victorious
lowly
and riding
on a donkey
on a colt
the foal
of a donkey
I will take
away the
chariots from
Ephraim
and the
war horses
from Jerusalem
and the
battle bow
will be
broken
he
this king
will proclaim
peace
to the
nations
his rule
will extend
from sea
to sea
and from the
river
to the
ends
of the
earth
the arrival
of God's
kingdom
on earth
is the
most monumental
event
in all
of our
history
all of
human
history
we can
conceive
or think
back of
the greatest
coronations
of the
greatest
kings
we can
think of
the greatest
military
victories
and the
parades
that happened
after those
military
victories
that this
world
has offered
and none
of them
are more
momentous
and impacting
than the
coming
of Jesus
and the
establishment
of his
kingdom
on earth
it is
simply the
greatest
coming
the greatest
event
the greatest
coronation
the greatest
victory
in all
of history
yet
this kingdom
that's going
to ultimately
crush all
other kingdoms
it came
quietly
in the
backwater
town
of Bethlehem
and was
welcomed by
lowly
shepherds
on that
starry night
as they went
to a manger
it's a
kingdom
that 30
years later
is marching
to the
slow
plod
of a
colt
over a
dusty
few
miles
you see
we need
this king
a king
who perfectly
follows the
script
of his
heavenly
father
not a
king
that's
coming
to establish
a kingdom
for himself
or on his
own basis
or for his
own
glory
we need
a ruler
yes
who by his
own authority
can call out
each of the
stars to come
out and to
fill the heavens
he can call
them by name
he has that
authority
and power
but we need
that same
person
who coming up
to his
crucifixion
in submission
says
father
not my
will
but yours
be done
and
Zechariah
saw
the king
that we
need
all those
years
beforehand
by the
spirit
and he
wrote with
the prophetic
eye
that we
we need
a king
yes
one that
will bring
peace
but one
who is
humble
and mounted
on a donkey
most expectant
jews
couldn't
understand
this idea
of a
humble
king
coming
like this
and if
we were
there
we wouldn't
understand
this
we have
hindsight
but
let's
be honest
we wouldn't
have understood
this or
expected
this
if we look
back earlier
in Luke
chapter 19
and verse
11
while we were
listening to
this
this is
Jesus
bringing
Zacchaeus
to faith
Jesus
went on
to tell
them a
parable
and we're
not going
to go
into the
parable
it's
very
instructive
by the
way
but
this
is
the
key
thing
because
he was
near
Jerusalem
and the
people
thought
the
kingdom
of
God
was
going
to
come
or to
appear
all
at
once
so
Jesus
is
working
to a
time
scale
that
sees
the
kingdom
coming
in
seed
form
that's
the
time
scale
and the
priorities
of
Jesus
that
the
kingdom
is
coming
now
in
seed
form
and
it's
only
going to
be
revealed
in
stages
you
see
I don't
know if
you've
thought
about
this
if
Jesus
and
his
kingdom
was
revealed
all
at
once
and
Jesus
came
conquering
his
enemies
like
the
disciples
expected
him
to
do
then
none
of
us
or
none
of
them
would
have
had
any
hope
we
would
just
be
the
conquered
ones
we
would
be
swept
aside
by
Jesus
righteous
judgment
and
he
would
come
and
Jesus
would
sit
on
his
throne
and
he
would
issue
the
orders
and
it
would
be
our
dutiful
obedience
to
obey
but
it
would
be
from
a
hardened
sinful
heart
you
see
Jesus
the
king
that's
revealed
in
the
pages
of
scripture
as
he's
prophesied
in
the
old
testament
as
those
promises
are
fulfilled
in
the
new
testament
he
is
far
greater
than
the
Jesus
that
we
think
we
want
and
he's
far
greater
than
the
Jesus
that
we
often
hear
presented
by
people
some
say
that
Jesus
is
simply
the
king
to
be
obeyed
he's
full
of
majesty
justice
and
judgment
he
demands
and
deserves
your
obedience
and
sometimes
others
might
speak
of
Jesus
that
is
full
of
meekness
and
grace
and
humility
and
patience
coming
in
peace
and
service
the
truth
is
we
need
all
of
those
things
to
be
true
about
Jesus
all
of
the
time
we
can't
divide
Jesus
we
can't
pick
and
choose
and
say
this
is
who
Jesus
is
and
this
is
who
Jesus
is
and
keep
them
apart
he
is
the
king
who
gives
orders
but
the
order
is
to
go
and
fetch
a
donkey
you
see
it's
perfect
power
and
perfect
humility
brought
together
he
is
lord
and
servant
he's
the
one
who
offers
his
kingship
in
service
to
others
the
king
who
lays
down
his
life
for
his
followers
is
the
king
that
you
and
I
as
sinners
desperately
need
and
then
he
is
also
the
king
that
we
can
follow
out
of
heartfelt
joy
not
a
dutiful
fear
his
band
of
followers
thankfully
in
Luke
19
aren't
put
off
by
the
less
than
kingly
transport
that
a
cult
makes
as
the
crowd
begin
going
up
to
the
festival
and
it's
surging
through
those
narrow
village
streets
in
Judea
the
crowd
is
surging
through
Bethany
through
Bethpage
coming
up
to
the
Mount
of
Olives
which
as
you
start
to
come
down
the
Mount
of
Olives
Jerusalem
comes
into
view
right
across
the
valley
Kidron
valley
and
there
you
have
the
temple
on
the
eastern
side
of
the
city
so
as
you're
coming
down
the
Mount
of
Olives
Jerusalem
and
the
temple
come
into
view
and
his
followers
are
laying
their
cloaks
on
the
road
to
form
a
royal
welcome
carpet
look
back
from
verse
36
as
he
went
along
people
spread
their
cloaks
on
the
road
and
when
he
came
near
the
place
where
the
road
goes
down
the
Mount
of
Olives
the
whole
crowd
of
disciples
began
joyfully
to
praise
God
in
loud
voices
for
all
the
miracles
they
had
seen
blessed
is
the
king
who
comes
in
the
he
is
to
be
blessed
the
king
verse
38
who
comes
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
and
at
this
point
we
unknowingly
I think
pick up
the words
that were
sung
30
years
ago
by
the
angels
words
of
peace
and
glory
to
announce
Jesus
his
birth
to
the
lowly
shepherds
and
now
near
the
time
of
his
death
it's
almost
like
things
are
coming
full
circle
and
those
same
words
are
heard
again
peace
in
heaven
and
glory
in
the
highest
for
the
disciples
the
kingdom
of
heaven
is
almost
decisively
breaking
through
and
they
don't
need
to
contain
it
anymore
they
can
see
Jesus
riding
to
Jerusalem
they
are
putting
their
cloaks
out
for
him
other
passages
and
descriptions
talk
about
palm
branches
being
waved
and
jubilation
and
calling
Jesus
the
new
David
Hosanna
peace
is
upon
us
glory
will
extend
to
the
highest
levels
this
is
the
king
we
want
the
king
we
need
the
king
worthy
of
praise
the
king
of
mighty
works
verse
37
and
we're
there
and
we
can
almost
taste
the
culmination
of
three
years
of
faithful
following
the
disciples
are
coming
with
their
king
to
Jerusalem
to
crown
God's
anointed
one
and
usher
in
the
never
ending
kingdom
of
God
just
to
say
Jesus
is
indeed
praise
worthy
as
we
read
these
verses
we're
not
to
be
cynical
about
them
or
to
take
away
from
what's
happening
here
Jesus
is
praise
worthy
everything
about
the
disciples
words
and
desires
and
their
praise
and
everything
they
say
is
good
and
proper
and
true
yes
we
wonder
if
they
are
praising
him
for
the
kind
of
king
they
want
Jesus
to
be
or
are
they
praising
him
for
the
kind
of
king
that
they
need
Jesus
to
be
do
you
know
what
I
mean
is
it
is
it
king
Jesus
the
powerful
miracle
worker
alone
or
is
it
king
Jesus
the
miracle
worker
who
is
also
the
greatest
and
final
Passover
lamb
is
it
the
Jesus
they
want
or
the
Jesus
they
need
and
with
the
disciples
who
they
want
Jesus
to
be
and
who
they
need
Jesus
to
be
we
know
there's
often
a
struggle
there
we
know
the
story
soon
Jesus
will
be
dead
and
all
of
the
pent
up
expectations
from
the
three
years
of
following
Jesus
it's
going
to
all
come
out
isn't
it
they
saw
Jesus
as
the
messianic
king
who
was
coming
to
Jerusalem
to
be
crowned
to
restore
the
nation
to
restore
Israel
to
make
it
great
again
to
do
that
by
removing
the
Romans
preferably
with a bit
of humiliation
for
this
great
empire
and
when
he
appears
to
do
neither
in
their
eyes
one
of
them
is
going
to
betray
Jesus
with
a
kiss
all
of
them
are
going
to
flee
and
run
away
his
closest
and
most
loyal
follower
is
going
to
deny
having
ever
known
him
what
are
your
pent
up
expectations
for
following
Jesus
we've
talked
about
the
disciples
do
we think
we're
better
do
we think
we're
different
what
are
your
expectations
maybe
you've
put
in
more
than
three
years
of
following
Jesus
and
you
have
a
set
of
expectations
about
how
King
Jesus
is
to
rule
maybe
it's
a
struggle
in
your
job
it's
cutting
you
down
each
day
you
go
in
it's
just
cutting
a
little
bit
of
your
soul
away
from
you
each
and
every
day
Jesus
is
king
I
am
his
royal
daughter
or
his
son
surely
Jesus
from
his
throne
sees
my
good
works
and
I
pray
that
he
is
a
faithful
lord
and
I
pray
believing
that
he
will
grant
me
the
desires
of
my
heart
and
my
situation
will
change
and
that
Jesus
will
give
me
and
grant
me
a
new
job
that
he
struggled
with
the
idea
of
being
single
and
would
really
love
to
be
married
and
have
a
faithful
and
godly
partner
surely
God
has
plans
for
me
that
include
the
best
possible
husband
or
the
best
possible
wife
then
like
the
disciples
I
can
be
there
praising
him
for
his
miracles
in
my
life
Jesus
will
give
me
a
spouse
Timothy
Keller
pastor
and
author
writes
the
following
which
I
think
is
helpful
if
your
agenda
is
the
end
Jesus
is
just
the
means
you're
using
him
thus
if
Jesus
is
the
king
you
cannot
make
him
a
means
to
your
end
you
can't
come
to
a
king
negotiating
we
need
to
remember
Jesus
is
the
king
we
need
not
always
the
king
we
want
a
new
job
or
a
spouse
or
a
faithful
husband
or
a
faithful
wife
in
our
marriages
those
things
are
not
ultimate
Jesus
is
the
king
not
them
however
this
is
truly
good
news
he
is
the
king
that
goes
to
the
cross
in
your
place
he
is
the
humble
king
who
is
riding
into
Jerusalem
on a
donkey
for
your
sake
you
are
not
submitting
to
Jesus
out
of
fear
beneath
his
throne
alone
you
are
submitting
to
him
also
out
of
love
beneath
his
cross
you
see
we
can
trust
and
we
can
worship
someone
who
gives
themselves
utterly
and
completely
for
us
how
could
you
not
trust
someone
like
Jesus
when
they
give
everything
for
you
see
our
ultimate
needs
are not
about
jobs
they're
not
it's
not
ultimately
about
marriage
or
recognition
from
others
our
ultimate
need
is to
have
our
sins
forgiven
and
when
we
die
to
be
welcomed
into
God's
presence
and
rescued
from
eternal
punishment
that's
our
need
our
true
need
met
by
our
true
king
and
then
it
frees
us
it
frees
us
to
serve
others
it
frees
us
to
follow
him
it
frees
us
to
trust
him
and
to
enjoy
his
good
gifts
which
come
in
his
time
briefly
and
finally
one
last
portrait
of
king
jesus
from
verse
39
some
of
the
pharisees
in
the
crowd
said
to
jesus
teacher
rebuke
your
disciples
i
tell
you
he
replied
if
they
keep
quiet
the
stones
will
cry
out
as
he
approached
jerusalem
and saw
the
city
he
wept
over
it
and
said
if
you
even
you
had
only
known
on
this
day
what
would
bring
you
peace
but
now
it
is
hidden
from
your
eyes
the
days
will
come
upon
you
when
you
and
the
children
within
your
walls
they
will
not
leave
one
stone
on
another
because
you
did
not
recognize
the
time
of
god's
coming
to
you
verse
39
the
pharisees
i think
they echo
the words
of the
skeptic
or the
words
of the
unbeliever
the
disbeliever
they
see
this
noise
and
this
commotion
all
centered
around
jesus
and
they
want
to
contain
the
noise
and
they
want
to
keep
themselves
and
others
from
having
to
deal
with
the
idea
of
jesus
as
king
they
kind
of
lost
control
at
this
point
and
they
know
they
can't
do
it
so
they
ask
jesus
to
do
it
and
we
may
find
ourselves
wanting
to
keep
jesus
at
arm's
length
this
afternoon
you
see
private
and
moderate
worship
is
fine
keep
it
to
yourself
but
say
that
jesus
is
the
king
that
the
praise
of
jesus
won't
be
silenced
jesus
says
if it's
not
the
disciples
then
the
stones
are
going
to
have
to
cry
out
the
rocks
and
the
ground
will
have
to
sing
you
see
as
believers
we've
been
changed
by
what
we've
seen
it's
more
beauty
than
the
world
has
known
and
we
cannot
and
should
not
be
silenced
or
silent
in
our
praise
of
him
as
Christians
as
followers
of
jesus
have
we
seen
that
beauty
is
he
not
praise
worthy
and
as
he
rides
those
final
few
meters
towards
jerusalem
so he's
coming down
the mount
of olives
and the
city
comes
into
view
jesus
heart
breaks
and we
can say
that
because
this
is
the
strongest
possible
word
in the
greek
language
for
crying
this
isn't
crocodile
tears
this
isn't
just
a
oh
this
is
sad
this
is
weeping
bitter
weeping
as jesus
sees
jerusalem
because jesus
longed to
gather the
people
as a
mother hen
gathers
her chicks
and he
knows
as a
prophet
as jesus
as god's
son
that in
less than
40
years
the romans
will besiege
the city
80 69
80 70
they will
ransack it
they will
build
embankments
they will
encircle it
they will
come in
and ransack
it
and destroy
jerusalem
the temple
will be
utterly
annihilated
and it
hasn't been
rebuilt
since
with the
loss
i think
this thing
we forget
with the
loss
of over
one
million
lives
over
one
million
lives
are going
to be
lost
in this
city
within
a
generation
the
jews
would
greet
each
other
and still
do
today
with
the
words
shalom
peace
and jesus
comes
now
offering
peace
but knows
that peace
will not
be found
a day
of salvation
verse 32
has come
but is
somehow
hidden
from the
majority
in that
city
so if you
feel a
stirring
in your
heart
this morning
as you
see the
people of
god
praising
jesus
and you
see jesus
being lifted
up as the
one who
can save
you from
your sin
listen to
that stirring
listen to
that call
and turn
in repentance
to him
today
repent
of your
sins
turn
from your
sins
and trust
in
jesus
the good
news of
jesus is
on offer
today
but if you
leave today
then very
soon
you will be
shouting out
quiet
keep it
down
i don't
want to
hear anymore
about jesus
the king
your heart
will harden
and the
truth
will become
impossible
to see
do not
harden
do not
call out
for quiet
do not
turn your
eyes away
rather today
is the day
to turn
to jesus
the king
on a donkey
we can
choose
like the
pharisees
to try
and silence
the worship
of jesus
we can
seek to
deny all
kinds of
truths about
him
all the
claims he
made about
being the
son of
god
we can
attack
the
authority
of the
bible
and say
it's
all
made up
we can
dismiss
all the
claims
rationally
but these
verses warn
us that
peace will
leave us
and destruction
will come
his first
arrival in
jerusalem
was by
donkey
and that's
for a good
reason
but revelation
the final book
of the bible
tells us
that his
second and
final rival
is going to
be on a
war horse
a white
war horse
we have
the story
in our
hands
from beginning
to end
we have
it
complete
we know
how it's
going to
end
will you
this day
take up
the offer
of rescue
from the
king on
the donkey
who is
going to
the cross
god
takes no
pleasure in
the death
of anyone
jesus
weeps
his plea
to you
is through
these deep
tears
to come
to him
just one
final
application
or thought
for those
that already
follow jesus
if you
follow jesus
if you are
there with
the crowds
praising him
do you
sense with
jesus the
urgency
of saying
that today
is the
day of
peace
our tears
are often
reserved
for our
own
situations
our own
expectations
of king
jesus are
the things
we cry
over
we carry
our pent
up demands
for jesus
the king
after years
of following
him
but jesus
has no
tears
for his
own
cross
he only
has tears
for the
sinners
who are
facing
destruction
pray
and weep
and continue
to hold out
the offer
of peace
to your
friends
and your
family
who apart
from jesus
are facing
destruction
we need
a great
king
we have
and worship
a great
king
let us
serve
a great
king
amen
and
because
when
you
can
stop
all
may
and
wouldn't
you
just
like
and
Wisconsin
to
trib Vas