Recently, the Oscar’s were in the news for reasons that I’m sure no one expected nor would have preferred. After some three hours of awards, performances, jokes, and speeches, everyone sat on the edge of their seats in anticipation for the most coveted honor of the night—best picture. Though I didn’t watch this unfold myself, this award was really the only one I cared about as my favorite movie of the year, La La Land, was predicted to win in a landslide. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway came out dressed to the nines, said a few words, introduced the nominees, and then opened the envelope. After a few moments of hesitation, the wait was over, “La La Land” was uttered and the entire theatre erupted in applause. The cast, production staff, and other affiliated with the acclaimed film eagerly walked up to the stage grinning ear to ear and began taking turns thanking the academy. However, little did they know that all of their joy and excitement was for not. In a few short moments, reality trumped the mirage and it was discovered that the wrong envelope had been given to Beatty. La La Land had not won after all, much to their and the Oscar production staff’s embarrassment.
Imagine being the only one or the first one who knew who really won in that moment. Everyone is celebrating and all the while you are uneasy, just waiting for all to be exposed. This must have been what Jesus felt upon his entrance into Jerusalem—the next leg of our long night’s journey into day. In Luke 19:37-44, two responses are given during Jesus’ triumphant entry that betray the reality behind the mirage and the unfortunate truth behind the merriment. Ultimately, we will learn that praise and adoration must not be mistaken for saving faith.
I.
RESPONSE #1: THE CROWD'S RESPONSE TO JESUS-19:37-40
As we enter into this story Jesus’
disciples have already made the final preparations for His entrance into the
city. This passage describes the ascent to Jerusalem from the town of Bethany.
The responses described here took place once the city of Jerusalem was in sight
as they descended down from the mount of olives, “…as soon as He was approaching,
near the descent of the Mount of Olives,…”(19:37). This small range of
mountains stands 2660ft above sea level and lies directly across from the
Temple. Luke, in his own style, includes this detail in order to add to the
drama that is about to unfold. The more frequent use of geographical notes
heightens the drama and suggests that the anticipated key events in Jesus’ life
are drawing close just as Jesus drew close to the city.
It is almost as though the pace of the
story goes into slow motion so that we don’t miss any details (much like I’m
sure it felt for those anticipating the announcement of the winner of best
picture)
It is important to realize that the
“disciples” mentioned in verse 37 included the “whole crowd” that had followed
Jesus for some time now on the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The two Greek
superlatives used to describe the immensity of the group are literally
translated “the whole of the multitude of the disciples.”
Think about the red carpet event
before the Oscars begin. Not only do you have the celebrities there, but
thousands of screaming fans and media reporters are also present to catch a
glimpse of who came with who and who is wearing what! All kinds of people
comprise these masses, and so it was with Jesus.
This enormous crowd
comes complete with loud cheering and joyous praise—something that Luke alone
mentions (19:37d). It is clear, as Luke reveals, that their cheers found their
source in God’s miraculous works. Jesus’ ministry had been characterized by a
continuous demonstration of God’s power: The deaf speak, the blind see, the
lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the gospel is preached! Their praise was in
response to these wonders they had beheld in these last three years of
ministry. It was obvious that the crowd understood that Jesus was
extraordinary.
Luke then gives us the content of the
crowd’s response, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace
in heaven and glory in the highest!” (19:38). The use of Psalm 118:26 here
depicts the king leading pilgrims to the temple and receiving a greeting of
welcome from the priests at the temple, probably on the occasion of some major
victory. The key difference between these two passages is the addition of “the
King.” While Luke has already made mention of Jesus’ Davidic connection in his
gospel, here he explicitly calls Jesus “King.” Truly, the implication was that
Jesus, the King of the Jews, was coming to reign and for the time being, these
Jews believed that.
The phrase, “peace in Heaven and glory
in the highest!” acknowledges God’s work in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus’ message is
a message of hope for the future and peace between man and God in the present,
which, in its entirety brings glory in the highest! As Jesus enters the city He
presents Himself as the king who brings the nation the hope of peace for which
they had so desperately longed.
While the crowd sang its praise, a few
can be seen standing in a shadowy corner in no hurry to jump on this bandwagon.
Some of the Pharisees quickly tell Jesus to silence the chorus that is growing
louder with every stanza, “teacher, rebuke your disciples” (19:39). This
presumptuous command given by the Pharisees suggests that they are offended by
this confession the crowd is lifting up. They regarded this praise as
inappropriate because they could not swallow the fact that Jesus is the Messiah
who has been prophesized. This is why they were quick to call on Jesus Himself
to put an end to this hellacious carnival outside Jerusalem’s walls.
Jesus reacts to this desperate command
with deep irony. In an ardent refusal to stop this messianic confession of his
followers, Jesus claims that if they ceased in their praise, creation itself
would cry out in testimony to Him (19:40). Creation itself is aware of Jesus!
Inanimate, base, lifeless creation, is in tune with Jesus’ authority and yet
the leadership of the nation of Israel was not! In this reply, Jesus ultimately
says that which is lifeless knows life when it sees it, even though that which
believes it is living does not. (Luke is the only one of the gospels to portray
the Pharisee’s rejection as a tragic stinging indictment of their lack of
judgment).
A triumphant entry to
say the least! Jesus is greeted by those already in Jerusalem with a king’s
reception, songs of praise, and all of the honor due His name. Not even the
Pharisees can ruin this moment! However, there is something insidious lurking
under the surface of this joyful spectacle—something that Jesus can see when He
looks out into the crowd. A dark truth that will soon overshadow the gleeful
mirage.
II.
RESPONSE #2: JESUS’ RESPONSE TO JERUSALEM-19:41-44
Undeterred by the Pharisees,
Jesus continues down main Street Jerusalem on the red carpet rolled out for Him.
Once again the word, for drawing near appears in order to suggest that Jesus is
inching closer to His destination (both physically and ministerially). However,
as soon as Jesus sees the city, He does something unexpected—He weeps, “When he
approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it.”(19:41). But why with
all the pomp and circumstance would this be his response?
Jesus, like that
accounting firm, knows the truth about the people who are cheering, believing
that they have arrived.
But what does know that
upsets Him? Jesus mourns because
Jerusalem as a whole has missed the nature of the times. Although this day held
potential for God’s restoring peace, their failure, the same failure that Jesus
had warned them about, cut the celebration short. The note of sadness is
introduced by this contrary to fact condition, “if you had known in this day,
even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from
your eyes…”. This reference to peace is a reference to the gospel message,
which, much to Jesus’ dismay would be ignored, or refused by the same people
waving their branches just days later. The Gospel was hidden from the city’s
eyes. Blindness was a result of their failure to know Jesus. Instead of one day
enjoying the peace that comes from salvation, they would be destroyed. These
are the tears of one who knows that the people have already turned their backs
on God’s message. Regardless of appearances, they haven’t won anything, let
alone God’s affection.
Jesus continues this
inner monologue by saying “For the days will come upon you when your enemies
will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you an every
side…”. Here, like an Old Testament
prophet, Jesus suggests that important events are about to take place. This
would be the payment for Jerusalem’s rejection. Just as the nation had been
taken into exile after God’s judgment in the OT, Jesus predicts judgment for
the generation He is staring at along the sidewalks. What was supposed to be a
visitation for salvation, would become a visitation of judgment.
To convey this message,
Jesus uses war terminology, primarily of a siege, in which barricades are raised
and an impenetrable perimeter is established. The historical event foreshadowed
here is clearly the attack of Rome that led to the collapse of Jerusalem in
A.D. 70.
Jesus follows the three
descriptions of verse 43 with two more portrayals of the nation’s demise.
First, the nation and its children will die—“ and they will level you to the
ground and your children within you.” The image invoked here of “level to the
ground” is a scene of corpses filling the streets (19:44a). Secondly, the
description of one stone not being on another pictures the city being
completely leveled—“ and they will not leave in you one stone upon another…”.
The defeat is total. Nothing is left standing. While the stones might have
cried out in praise, they are now spoken of being completely obliterated.
This is the antithesis
of what God desired for his people, (peace, protection, salvation). But the
choice would be theirs and Jesus knew that they would soon chose rejection.
The reason for this
horrific prophecy and ultimate fulfillment in A.D. 70 is that the nation missed
the opportunity to respond to the moment of Christ’s visitation for all it
meant. Jesus would not prove to be what they wanted Him to be, (a political
figure). Although they should have welcomed Jesus as the Savior of their souls,
their blindness proved fatal and less than a week later, this same crowd full
of praise and love, would be cheering not for salvation, but for the death of
the man who triumphantly entered on a donkey days before on the red carpet.
So What?
Having looked at these two
responses, it is clear that praising Jesus is not enough for salvation.
Acknowledging Christ for His miracles won’t bring peace to your life. Joining
the bandwagon of worship will not satisfy God’s wrath. Faith, must be in the
person of Christ Himself after having learned exactly who He is! He is God,
King, Savior, Deliverer, Messiah, and Lord. And some of you in here today may
be living in Palm Sunday, blinded by the lights and the celebrity of this
world. Life has dealt you a good hand, things are going well, and praising
Jesus fits your personality and schedule, just like it did for these Jews for
the time being. But if you really examined your life, you would discover that
you do not know Him intimately. Jesus looks into the envelope which is the Lamb’s
book of Life and does not see your name printed there. As a result, he weeps
because He knows that it is just a matter of time before life changes or some
event rocks your world causing you to turn on Him and curse His name! For many,
Jesus won’t be what they want Him to be, do what they want Him to do etc. and
because of this, they will turn on Him. We are not called to have Palm Sunday
faith (fickle faith that does not save). Do not let the spectacle of Palm
Sunday fool you. For the most part, those who lined red carpet would also line
the path to Calvary. We are called to
resurrection Sunday faith (faith that remains when the miracles cease, when God
can’t be heard, and when all hope seems lost). That is the glorious day to follow
the long night that we are traversing in this series. However, before we get
there, things become even more bleak.
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