now just before we turn back to look chapter 19 let's pray once again
lord david could pray with that desire that he would be satisfied in seeing your face
being in your presence and enjoying your glory and lord we pray that the same would be true for
each one of us today that you know that we've come here from different stories backgrounds
circumstances and situations and for some our hearts are joyful for some our hearts are troubled
for many our hearts even now are distracted but lord we pray that you would give us that desire
to seek your face and that you would show us more of jesus in your word we pray amen
so as we continue on the journey towards easter as we follow the journey of jesus in the gospel of
luke we come to what's sometimes known as the triumphal entry jesus approaching and entering
jerusalem and our question today is a very personal what is your response to king jesus
what is my response to king jesus and especially as we see him come as the king of peace as it
happened peace was the theme of our hope explored course this past monday and so we thought about
that deep longing that we have as people for peace now whether that's peace out there and we can think
about war we can think about hatred we can think about racism and we long to see an end to that
and whether the longing for peace right now is is in here in our own hearts perhaps we're full of
anxiety and stress and uncertainty or maybe for us when we think of our longing for peace we're thinking
about peace between us and we're conscious perhaps of relationships that are strained or broken
peace in our time peace in our time is something we are all going to be looking for perhaps we remember
in our history at school at the time when neville chamberlain arrived back home to a hero's welcome
announcing a peace in our time a great thanksgiving thanksgiving in churches because chamberlain believed he had
secured peace a promise of peace a promise of peace from hitler of course that turned out to be
a false promise and a false peace and perhaps even that reminds us that as much as we long for peace we also
recognize peace is something that's easily lost sometimes all it takes is a careless word sometimes it's the
word that's left unsaid sometimes it's words spoken in anger or we go to the attitudes and emotions
in our heart perhaps because of pride perhaps because of pride or because of selfishness or an
unwillingness to make the first move towards reconciliation we can live with broken peace
peace is a fragile thing fragile is a spider's web and all too often it's we that break the thread
so we long for it but we recognize how easily it can be lost well today there is good news for us as we
consider the journey of jesus because he comes announcing himself as the lord of peace here he is in this bold
public triumphant entry into jerusalem coming as the king of peace riding on a donkey and he comes to bring
the deepest peace a lasting peace a spiritual peace peace between us and god and he will make peace by way of
his blood by way of the cross
and as he is on this journey as he comes towards jerusalem we see that there are different responses
to jesus and that invites us to make our response to king jesus too
how will people respond how did people respond then how do you and i respond today
so let's notice and what happens when the king of peace arrives verse 28 to verse 35 we have it there
it maybe you've been around and seen the excitement and the crowds that gather when a member of the royal
family arrives in a city or a town or maybe a president or a prime minister comes but even if not we've
definitely seen it on the television we know that there are crowds and colors and flags and cheering and
gifts and honor is shown and we see some of that here don't we this is jerusalem at passover time
a great time of national celebration as well as one of those national times of worship and there's
always great enthusiasm and hope and expectation at this time wondering will this be the year when god's
king will come will this be the year when deliverance comes will we have peace in our time peace as rome
is removed most people were looking for a political peace one of the reasons why people missed the
significance of jesus but but look with me a few things first of all think about the plan
of jesus let's read again verse 30 and 31 these are jesus words to his disciples go to the village
ahead of you and as you enter it you'll find a colt tied there which no one has ever ridden it
has ever ridden untie and bring it here if anyone asks why are you untying it say the lord needs it
so jerusalem's on the horizon and jesus issues these instructions he's setting his royal timetable
his plan is put into effect now what do we make of that scene for some people they hear this and
think well jesus has planned this in advance so that the lord needs it becomes a kind of password
so jesus already pre-arranged it and for others and we hear the lord needs it and perhaps that reminds
us here is jesus who is the lord the lord of creation he owns it all he has rights over it all
and so the folks that own the donkey recognize the authority of jesus the lord
others look at it and say well here is jesus showing that he knows the future
he knows what's going to happen when his disciples go into the town he knows the conversation that's going
to take place and in a sense we're not invited to know which of these are true and in fact all of
them can be true at the same time but what we do know as we put those together is that here is the lord
jesus deliberately directing events so that he will make this journey to the cross now that's the ultimate
plan that's going on here and as we think about that we need to stop and think about who is this jesus
who is directing things towards the cross luke's gospel has been building a profile for us we've
jumped in towards the end of his gospel but we can think just for a couple of minutes for example back to
when jesus um birth it is being announced to mary his mother by the angels and what's mary told
that your son will be the son of the most high will be the son of god and he will sit on the throne of
david forever and we can think about jesus baptism and we see the significance of king jesus there is
the spirit comes down upon him and as the father announces this is my son i love him i'm well pleased
with him when you think about the ministry of jesus and what do people recognize in the ministry of jesus
they see don't they his power and authority as he teaches his power and authority in his miracles
here is one who has power over sickness and storms over disease and over death itself
so that people were frequently asking who is this
and then we can think about the mission of jesus last week we heard him say at the house of zacchaeus
that he'd come to seek and to save the lost he announces in the gospel multiple times he has come
to suffer and be rejected and to die and to rise in order to bring forgiveness and eternal life
and so here we have this powerful king this one with all authority this one who is god in the flesh
who deliberately chooses to ride on a donkey towards his own day
and so we think about all that we're told about jesus in the gospel we need to ask ourselves why
why that journey why the donkey
and that takes us to a really important prophecy
jesus is a very conscious that he has come by the plan of god according to the promise of god's word
and he's come to fulfill scripture so think about it even today and whenever a royal is moving around
or a prime minister or a president their transport is making a statement
it's always expensive grand there's always a grand entrance
just make it a statement in jesus day when a triumphant king was riding into a city you expect a war horse
and you expect this great procession you don't expect a donkey
and remember jesus is lord jesus is lord over all creation if he wanted a horse he could have had a horse
he chose a donkey so why is he making this statement and that's where we need to turn to the old testament
and we need to turn to zechariah chapter 9
verses 9 to 11 to help us to see this so we have the words of zechariah 9 9 to 11 up there so i'm going
to read them for us where we read rejoice greatly daughter zion shout daughter jerusalem and that's the
picture we have at the triumphal entry 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 will proclaim peace to the nations
his rule will extend from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth
as for you because of the blood of my covenant with you i will free your prisoners from the waterless pit
why does jesus choose the donkey he chooses the donkey to announce i am this promised king
the promised king we have here in zechariah the one who comes righteous jesus is the only truly
righteous person ever to have lived never sinned always lived for the glory of god lived in full
obedience to his father's will here is jesus the king who is victorious he is coming to wage war on those
great enemies of satan and sin and death those enemies that we are powerless against but he will win
a victory through the cross and the resurrection he is all powerful and yet he is humble and gentle and
lowly and he comes riding on a donkey and he is the king of peace and he proclaims his message is a
message of peace and not just peace for some but peace to all nations his rule and authority extends to
all nations so he is the hope for all people he's the hope for you and for me today so in choosing the
donkey jesus is announcing that those hopes of deep peace that you and i have in our hearts those longings
that we have they are met in jesus in jesus we can be reconciled to god our relationship with god
broken by our sin can be restored through faith in him why is it good news that jesus comes riding on
the donkey well it's good news if we see for ourselves the problem of sin and the lack of peace we have with
god because of our sin when the bible speaks of sin it speaks of us breaking god's good laws
god is our creator and our maker and he has designed how life is to work at its best and we break those
laws sometimes accidentally but often deliberately
sin is rejecting god's good rule the bible declares that god is our king and we owe him our
loyalty and our worship but sin is when we turn our back on god when we'd rather live our own way
now we'd rather not follow him sin is when we replace our one good god with an idol where we choose to
make something within creation whether that be a person or our work or our hobby or whatever it might be
more important to us than the living god we find our our security and our sense of identity and purpose
in a created thing and not our god the bible says that's idolatry and that's sin
sin is when we resist god's good and loving will
sin is when we choose darkness over light and the bible is clear and actually jesus is clear
that the consequence of turning away from the light and choosing darkness is to face eternal darkness
is to be cut off from god and all that is good and all that is loving forever it's the reality of hell as
jesus speaks about it in the bible and so when we understand the problem of sin
and the problem that it brings with our hearts and we can have no peace with god by ourselves
then it's good news that jesus comes as this king bringing peace and if we're ready to listen we can
receive the solution we even find it here anticipated in zechariah 9
so he will proclaim verse 10 he'll proclaim peace to the nations and then in verse 11
we're told about the blood of my covenant with you
here's the reason for jesus journey to the cross
last week in church we celebrated the lord's supper and every time we celebrate the lord's supper it's a
picture of the work of jesus we take bread and it represents jesus said his body which is broken
for his people we take a cup of wine which represents his blood shed for us and and jesus said this cup
is the new covenant in my blood
so jesus has come to bring us back into restored relationship with our god he has come to make peace
but he can only do that through his blood
and that explains why jesus rides on a donkey it explains why he journeys to the cross
so that he might out of sheer love and mercy and grace cover our sin
that he might be the sacrifice that absorbs the wrath of god that we deserve to face instead it will fall
on jesus his is the blood that pays the redemption price so that we can know freedom and not slavery
and not live with fear
jesus experiences rejection jesus tastes death so that we might have peace that we might have peace in here
in our hearts knowing forgiveness from god knowing there's no condemnation for us knowing that guilt has
been removed and that we can enjoy through faith in jesus a peace that passes all understanding
a peace to guard our hearts and our minds come what may
but it's not just peace in here the cross actually provides peace between us between us and god
there's a wonderful little section in colossians chapter 1 verses 19 and 20 it says for god was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him
jesus is fully god and through him to reconcile to himself all things
whether things on earth or things in heaven by making peace through his blood shed on the cross
reconciliation peace through the blood of jesus
and when we by faith trust in jesus the war is over between us and god
peace breaks out and joy breaks out perhaps we
remember
perhaps when the the berlin wall fell and the celebrations that happened perhaps we've seen scenes of
street parties at the end of world war ii well by faith in jesus as
our peace is restored there's a greater joy
for the people of god
but it's not just peace in here it's not just peace between us that jesus came to secure it's also peace
out there peace in the world by trusting in jesus as jesus comes to bring in his kingdom
we can look forward with hope as the people of god
to jesus future kingdom
of perfect
lasting peace
a place of wholeness and completeness of security and tranquility
when he comes to establish the new creation
when he comes to deal with sin once and for all
and when we get to live with peace hope and joy
and perfect love
so the king of peace arrives
but the question still remains
what will the response of the people be
and more importantly for us what will our response be
to this king
who brings peace
two responses we recognize
the first is that of rejoicing
there is a group who are rejoicing over the king of peace
here is jesus again he's boldly publicly
entering into jerusalem and these actions are calling for a decision and there's one group
who bring out the royal carpet
verse 35 and 36
they brought the colt to jesus through their cloaks on the colt and put jesus on it
as he went along
people spread their cloaks on the road
now this is the way for people in those days to show honor
to give a glad welcome
to give the smoothest ride possible
perhaps for us the closest we get is towards the red carpet treatment
but the way jesus is welcome to jerusalem
is the same
you can go to the old testament second kings nine
and you'll discover
that's how jehu
is welcomed and honored
so there are some who rejoice because god's king
has come
and then they join this royal chorus
in verse 38
blessed is the king who comes in the name of the lord
peace in heaven
and glory in the highest
so that first
part of the verse
from psalm 118
verse 26
so there are some
who are singing those psalms of ascent
festival psalms
and they recognize
here is jesus the royal king
who arrives to jerusalem with honor
think about those verses that we sang
jesus is the king who saves
jesus is the king who demonstrates
the love and goodness of god
jesus is the lord's king
and so there are some people
as they're singing that psalm
they recognize this is true of jesus
and so they are rejoicing
but then they also find themselves shouting
peace in heaven
and glory in the highest
and that
is very reminiscent of
the song of the angels
as jesus is born
and as the angels appear
to shepherds
looking after their sheep
that first christmas
and we find in chapter 2 verse 14
glory to god
in the highest heaven
and on earth
peace
to those
on whom
his favor
rests
peace
and glory
in earth
and in heaven
why
because god
is reconciled
to the human race
through jesus
who is totally god
and totally man
there is joy
for those who recognize
that the events of easter
are the only path
to true peace
that jesus has come
as promised
to bring
lasting peace
the crowds
as they rejoice
they do so
for two reasons
in verse 37
they praise god
in loud voices
for all the miracles
they've seen
so they've either
been there
or they've heard
by reputation
the wonderful
powerful things
that jesus has done
and they conclude
well this
isn't any
ordinary person
this is none
other than god's
promised messiah king
and so they rejoice
they also sing
because they recognize
here is one
who fulfills
all those
old testament promises
and they're reading
or they're hearing
the scriptures read
and they're recognizing
this is fulfilled
jesus
and so they have joy
because they see
jesus
as the answer
to their longing
for peace
much deeper
than just a
political peace
peace in their
hearts
peace in
the world
peace between
them and
god
because jesus
has come
and so they sing
for joy
just as we began
with that
great hymn
of praise
praise my soul
the king of heaven
to his feet
thy tribute
bring
why
because we've been
ransomed
healed and restored
and forgiven
who like we
his praise
should sing
the people of god
rejoice
over the king
of peace
but that's not the only
response
and we also need to
consider the second
response
because we see
there are those
who reject
the king
of peace
for those of us
who like football
i wonder if you've
ever been the away
fan
in the home
end
when a match
is being played
if so you've
probably had the
uncomfortable
experience of
of not joining
in the same
songs that everyone
else is singing
you don't celebrate
the same goals
as they are scored
you stick out
different emotions
different responses
well here
there is a crowd
joyfully praising
and then there are
the pharisees
you can almost
picture them
can't you
with their arms
folded
and they're scowling
and they're ready
to rebuke
jesus
teacher
they say
in verse 39
rebuke
your
disciples
here is a group
of religious leaders
so they've read
their bibles
they study
their bibles
that's their
life
but they refuse
to recognize
jesus as worthy
they reject
his claims
and they would
actually rebuke
jesus the son
of god
and jesus responds
verse 40
i tell you
if they keep
quiet
the stones
will cry
out
those stones
i have
better
judgment
than the pharisees
jesus saying
those stones
if they had
voice
they would
worship
their creator
but the pharisees
stand there
scowling
they've been
blinded
by pride
they don't
like
that people
are listening
to jesus
and he speaks
with a greater
authority
than them
they've been
blinded
by prejudice
he comes
from an
unimportant
time
from an
unimportant
family
and so
they do
not want
this king
who brings
peace
that brings
us to the
city of
jerusalem
this city
whose name
means city
of peace
we see
that they
too
will by
and large
reject
the king
of peace
and in
verse 41
to 44
jesus does
two things
first
the first thing
we'll consider
is that he
announces
future judgment
verse 43
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
not leave
one stone
on another
future judgment
destruction
of the city
which happens
in ad
70
just like
in the
old testament
god's
people
they were
in covenant
relationship
with him
and they
were told
if you live
in obedience
to me
if you
honor me
and worship
me
then you'll
enjoy
blessing
but if
not
you will
experience
curse
for turning
their back
on god
and what
we got
here
jesus
knows
here
he is
emmanuel
he is
god
with us
he is
god
actually
with
them
he's
come
down
to love
them
to save
them
to restore
them
but
verse 42
if you
even you
had only
known on
this day
what would
bring you
peace
but now
it's hidden
from your
eyes
they didn't
see
jesus
as the
one
who came
to bring
peace
verse 44
why does
the judgment
come
it comes
because you
did not
recognize
the time
of god's
coming to
you
god came
in the flesh
in the person
of jesus
but the door
was locked
no red
carpet was
laid out
rejection
of the
king
and so
he announces
future
judgment
but he
also
weeps
for them
verse 41
as he
approached
jerusalem
and saw
the city
he wept
over it
and in
this moment
jesus shows
us the
heart of
god
declared
i do
not take
delight
in the
death
of the
wicked
here we
find jesus
longing
for them
distressed
that they
would turn
their back
on their
creator
and their
savior
he doesn't
gloat over
his enemies
who will
gladly conspire
to judge
him falsely
and to put
him to
death
rather
he is the
savior who
weeps
and it
reminds us
of the
tragedy
of their
response to
jesus
the scandal
of their
response to
jesus
as god's
king and
god's
savior is
rejected
so the
journey of
king jesus
because it's
so public
is deliberately
calling for
response and
so today
this journey
of jesus is
calling for
our response
jesus rides
on a donkey
and that donkey
helps us to
appreciate more
of the gospel
story here is
jesus coming as
god's humble
king a
servant king
a king who
would bring
peace and
how would
he do
it
by journeying
to jerusalem
by journeying
to the cross
to pay for
sin
to face
our judgment
before rising
again for our
justification and
to give us
eternal life
what does he
invite us to do
he invites us to
put our faith
in him
to trust in him
that we might
have peace
with god
and in that
journey as we've
considered it
he's calling
each one of us
to decide
which side
am i on
in this story
in this response
to jesus
am i rejoicing
over jesus
today
or am i
rejecting his
rule and
authority today
in part invites
us to decide
on his identity
do i today
think that jesus
is god's son
and god's king
who brings peace
and salvation
or do i not
and how we
respond to that
will then
probably determine
how we respond
to following him
or not
his identity
and his mission
matters
life and death
matters
as luke records
this for us
in his gospel
he's inviting us
to heed the
warnings that we
find here
i think we see
at least three
warnings
one
a reminder
and a warning
it's not enough
to just be
around jesus
it's not enough
just to be
around his
church
we need to
personally respond
in repentance
and faith
and we can say
this because
these many in
this crowd
who are so
joyfully it
seems welcoming
jesus will
in the next
week be crying
crucify him
caught up in a
moment but their
hearts were unchanged
it's not enough
to just be
comfy
to be in church
and to be around
god's people
and to enjoy
singing songs
and to find
friendship
we need to
find friendship
with jesus
it's also a
warning to
beware
that same
pride and
prejudice in
the pharisee's
heart can rest
in our hearts
too
perhaps when we
think that
we're fundamentally
good and so
we're okay with
god regardless
of whether we
trust in jesus
perhaps it's in
failing to see
peace with god
as our greatest
needs we have
other things on
our agenda
rather than
getting right
with god
perhaps it's
failing to see
sin as our
deepest and
most serious
problem
perhaps it's
simply failing to
take jesus
seriously
to write him
off as not
being worthy
of consideration
i think the
third and in
many ways the
most solemn
warning that we
find in luke's
gospel from
jesus is a
pointer to the
reality of
future judgment
what happens to
jerusalem is a
foreshadowing of
future judgment
which is real
which is inevitable
which is painful
and which is
tragic for all
who would choose
to reject
jesus as king
jesus the most
loving man who
ever lived spoke
about the
judgment of god
and the reality
of hell more
than anyone else
in the bible
it's so important
for us to find
peace with god
through jesus and
to do that
today
so there are
warnings for us
to respond to
but we're also
invited to rest
and to rejoice
peace in god's
promises
in god's
peace
and it's
wonderful you
think about
the contrast
with perhaps
the fragile
peace that we
feel in our
own relationships
or in our own
hearts so often
in contrast to
the struggle
and the failures
to find lasting
peace in the
political realm
we need to
recognize that
jesus has
secured
for his
people
peace with
god
through his
blood
that is a
finished work
our faith
rests in
past
completed
actions of
the lord
jesus
and they mean
peace with
us
peace for
us
for now
and for
eternity
but it's
not just
about the
past
think about
what difference
the work of
jesus makes
to our
present
we're gonna
have peace
in our
hearts
today
and think
about the
transforming
power of
that as we
receive grace
and mercy
day by day
as the people
of god
as we know
we have been
forgiven by
god's grace
doesn't that
give us the
capacity
to bring
healing in
our own
relationships
to pursue
reconciliation
and to live
with hope
and perhaps
that's the
last great
promise
is the
hope of
future
peace
so here
luke invites
us into
this royal
procession
which in
some ways
is a very
humble
procession
as jesus
rides on
a donkey
but we
have the
promise
that when
jesus
returns
things are
going to
be very
different
there'll be
an infinitely
more glorious
royal procession
to come
jesus will
return
as king
of kings
and he
will lead
his people
those who
put their
faith in him
he'll lead
his people
into the
new jerusalem
the new
creation
a place of
perfect
eternal
lasting
peace
that's our
hope
the king of
peace is our
hope in life
and in death
so as we
finish what's
our response
today
will we
reject
jesus
or will
we receive
him
and rejoice
in him
let's pray
together
lord god
we ask
that in
your mercy
and by
your spirit
you would
give to
each one
of us
a clear
vision
of who
jesus is
to see him
as your son
to see him
as your
promised king
to see him
as the one
who came to
seek and to
save the lost
who came to
lay down his
life for
sin and for
sinners
so that by
faith in jesus
by trusting
in him
by turning
away from
our sin
and turning
to jesus
we might
have peace
with you
we might be
reconciled to
you
indeed we
might be
adopted
into your
family
help us to
see the
significance of
who jesus
is
and to
understand
what jesus
did
that in
dying on
the cross
in giving
his blood
as the
new covenant
he made
a way
for sinful
people like
us to be
restored
to fellowship
to relationship
with you
a holy
god
help us
not to
take that
for granted
help us
not to
become
complacent
about that
for those
of us
who are
christians
may that
always be
the foundation
of our
hope
and lord
for those
who are
not christians
may you
give them
eyes to
see the
beauty
of the
salvation
that is
found in
jesus
lord we
pray today
for our
family and
friends
who won't
be in
church today
who won't
be worshipping
you today
whose hearts
are far
from you
lord we
pray for
our city
and our
nation
and the
nations of
the world
lord as
jesus came
as the
king of
peace
extending
his
rule
to all
nations
authority
over all
peoples
may there
be many
even
today
who would
turn
to trust
in jesus
to recognize
the wonderful
free gift
of salvation
found in
him
lord may you
renew
and revive
may you
awaken
spiritual
interest
and lord
help us
who are
your people
to be good
witnesses
for you
to be
faithful in
the way
that we
live
and the way
that we
speak
so that we
might point
others to
the hope
that we
have come
to find
for ourselves
lord as
we're invited
to pray
for one
another
we remember
different
churches
across the
country
we remember
this week
galspy
up in the
north
we thank
you for
preserving
them over
the last
couple of
years
and we
ask that
as we
look ahead
to the
end of
restrictions
for churches
that you
would give
them wisdom
and vision
to know
how to
communicate
the good
news of
the lord
jesus
to their
village
and the
villages
around
lord we
also remember
the church
of bon accord
we pray
for its
witness in
the city
center
we pray
for their
hope
explored
course
soon
to begin
lord asking
that you
would draw
many
who are
hungry
for truth
to be
gathered
there
lord we
also remember
the work
of dumasani
the theological
institute
in south
africa
and we
pray that
this would
be a
term of
good
learning
of people
growing in
their faith
growing in
their understanding
growing in
their ability
to communicate
the truth
of the bible
to a
needy
world
and to
the church
that the
church
might be
built up
and lord we
also pray
for the
church in
japan
and we
remember
the nakahashi
family
and we
remember
ken who
was in
our own
congregation
and others
lord recognizing
that the
church in
japan is
small and
declining in
numbers and
increasing in
age
lord we
pray that
you would do
a new
thing
that you
would cause
men and
women and
boys and
girls to
want to
know jesus as
lord and
savior may
you equip and
encourage the
small churches to
be faithful in
sharing good
news lord again
we remember
places with war
again we
remember ukraine and
we cry to you for
mercy we cry for an
end to war for the
beginnings of real
peace lord we
pray for the
ongoing refugee
crisis for
those whose
needs at the
moment are
immediately
physical lord we
pray for those
whose needs are
emotional and
we pray for
people's spiritual
needs as well
lord as there
are millions
pouring to
different countries
we pray for
your mercy we
pray for your
people among
them that you
would comfort
them and
sustain them
lord thank you
that in your
providence this
month is a month
where the the
bible society is
going to be
delivering bibles
to ukrainian
soldiers how
much they need
to hear that
message
lord thank you
for the good
news that in
your providence
there were many
ukrainian children
that were able to
receive
jesus storybook
bibles over the
last year
lord we pray
that those
words of truth
and love
would speak
hope and
peace
that you
the prince of
peace lord
jesus that you
would rule and
reign in hearts
and lives
we pray in
jesus name
amen