Palm Sunday

Over this next week, we are going on a journey with Jesus into Jerusalem. The Triumphal Entry starts on what is known as Palm Sunday. I hope you dive into Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19: 29-44, and John 12:12-19. Take a moment and read each of these accounts. For today's lesson, we are looking at Luke 19: 29-44.

29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works 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!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem 41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 19:29–44.

Take a moment and just reflect what theses verses mean to you. What sticks out in your mind?

Verse 29: Bethphage was a village between Jericho and Jerusalem. Bethany would have been another village about 2 miles southeast of Jerusalem. Bethany is the home to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.  

Verse 30: Jesus has now instructed the two, unknown disciples to make their way into the village, probably Bethphage, for a colt, or some translations say donkey. A donkey would have been a sign of humility. The fact it has never been ridden is sacred. This verse fulfills this prophecy from Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Now, I do not know about you, but the fact prophecy from the Old Testament being fulfilled in the New Testament is amazing. Don't you love that!!!

Verse 31: The Lord-Jesus is claiming Himself as Israel's Lord.

Verse 33-34: One of the strongest arguments of the commentaries studied is the fact more than likely there was a pre-arrangement between Jesus and the owners of the donkey. Another thought is they are believers of Jesus being the Messiah, so they were acting in obedience of giving it to the Lord.

Verse 35: The cloaks served as a form of a saddle.

Verse 36: Putting cloaks or branches on the ground was an act of royal homage. (see 2 Kings 9:13)

Verse 37: The road is going down to the Mount of Olives. This would have indicated he remained outside of the city. The crowd of the disciples would have also included the twelve disciples, who were praising God for all the miracles He had performed. Praising with joyful hearts. Some examples of the miracles would have been raising of Lazarus and the healing of blind Bartimaeus.

Verse 38: While Luke uses the word "blessed", Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9, and John 12:13 adds "Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna expresses a meaning of "Please, Lord, save us."

Verse 39: Praising the Lords and calling out to Him to save them was too much of the Pharisees. There skin was probably crawling and the hair standing up on their necks. Their goal was to crucify Jesus. So, therefore, they asked Jesus, the King of Kings, to silence them. The opposition of Jesus was being made known.

Verse 40: This is an echo from Habakkuk 2:11 (NIV), "The stones of the wall will cry out..." Jesus quoting Habakkuk was a statement saying if the people are silent, than nature would praise His name. Praising Jesus leads to eternal rewards and responsibility.

Verse 41: As Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, He cried. Longing for repentance of His people, but judgment and devastation is coming.

Food for thought: Is He crying out today? Sitting on the right hand of the Father, crying for us and His world. Longing for people to turn from their ways and turn back to Him.

I pray each of you would repent and move closer to Him. Turning His tears of sorrow, to tears of JOY!

Verse 42: He wanted to bring peace to them and their hearts, but they refused to see Him as the Messiah. Now, the peace He brought was hidden from them.

Verse 43: The embankment Jesus discusses was fulfilled when the Romans took Jerusalem in 70 AD, using an embankment to besiege the city.

Verse 44: Judgment came because they did not recognize Jesus as their Savior. They rejected Him, bringing about God's judgment.

Oh, sweet friend, there is something about Jesus weeping that tenders my heart. He is coming back soon. Just like the Pharisees they did not realize He was the Messiah, and so many now do not accept Him. There is coming a day when the trumpet will sound the believers, the true followers of Christ, will be gone and His judgment will reign on the ones left. Now is the time to repent and give your life to Him. Don't wait!

May this week of teachings bring peace and joy.

Love,

V