Luke 19:28-48
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power 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 heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44 They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
45 Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; 46 and he said, “It is written,
‘My house shall be a house of prayer’;
but you have made it a den of robbers.”
47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.
What Does the Passage say?
V. 28-34 Jesus sends his two disciples to enter Jerusalem to bring a colt for his entrance. The two disciples follow Jesus’s command and bring the colt back for him to enter Jerusalem, and fulfill the prophecy.
V. 35-40 The crowd greets Jesus, thinking that he is to come as the Messiah. They cry out “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (v. 38 NIV). The Pharisees urges Jesus to quiet the crowd, but Jesus says, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (v. 41 NIV).
V. 41-44 Jesus weeps for the city of Jerusalem. It is a prophecy of what will happen to the city, but also a cry of compassion to God’s people who forgot their purpose.
V. 45-48 The first event that happens upon Jesus’ arrival is the cleansing of the temple. For a city/ people who lost their purpose, restoring worship was essential.
What Does it Mean to Me/ Us?
In a world, that follows my will, instead of our Lord’s will, this story of the two disciples bringing back the colt is amazing.
Jesus sends them to bring back the colt that was tied in the city. Putting ourselves in the shoes of the disciples, we can see how difficult this command was to follow. ‘Go into the city and bring back a colt? When the owner approaches you, say the Lord needs it?’ ‘Is that all you have to say?’ I believe when we hear these commands, there will be worries and concerns that emerge in our thoughts. We can be capsulated by the worries to a point that it might prevent us to be obedient.
However, the disciples followed his command. They saw the colt and tried to bring it back. Surprisingly, the owner approaches them. And surprisingly, the owner lets them take his colt with an absurd answer saying, ‘the Lord needs it.’
All this happened, not only because it was God’s will, but also because of the peop[le who were obedient to follow God’s will.
Do we really value God’s will in our life?
Can we follow God’s will, even though it doesn’t make any sense?
Prayer
Lord, I want to follow you, with all that I have. Help me to see your will, and follow your will with all that I have. In the world that urges us to follow our wills, instead of yours, help us to follow you with confidence. In Christ name we pray, AMEN.
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