Introduction
Text – Luke 19:28-44
Palm Sunday, referred to in our text, brings us to the final week in the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a day of joy and sorrow. As Jesus proceeded to Jerusalem, He instructed two of His disciples to untie a colt on which no man had ever sat and bring it to him (vv. 30-31). They did exactly this, threw their cloaks on it’s back and Jesus rode on it. As He journeyed to Jerusalem, people spread their cloaks on the road (v. 36). Others took palm branches and greeted Him, shouting: “Hosanna . . .” (John 12:13). This is why we call the day Palm Sunday. On approaching the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God loudly and joyfully for all the miracles they had seen (Luke 19:37). Some of the Pharisees said to Jesus: “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” Jesus replied: “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (vv. 39-40). However, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, the scene changed. He began to weep because of impending destruction on the city (vv. 41-44). It is noteworthy that this was a day of joy, but it was also a day of sorrow.
A Day of Joy
When Jesus entered Jerusalem to die for our sins, there was a parade. This took place during the Passover season when the population of Jerusalem rose from approximately 30,000 people to approximately 200,000. Jesus was here both fulfilling and previewing prophecy at the same time.
He entered Jerusalem as a humble King. When a conquering king entered a city, he normally rode on a horse; but whenever he was coming in peace, he entered on a donkey. Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy God had given through the Prophet Zechariah five hundred years earlier (Zechariah 9:9).
The Jewish people were hoping that Jesus was a military Messiah, who would lead them in the battle to overthrow the Romans. Jesus, however, intentionally rode a donkey to let them know that His mission was peace. He was no revolutionary; He was a Redeemer, willing to die for others. In the future, Jesus will enter Jerusalem as a conquering King over the whole earth (Revelation 19:11-16; Zechariah 14:4, 9; Ezekiel 44:1-3), but this was not the time.
The fact that Jesus used a colt says that He can use us, even if we feel insignificant. Jesus sent His disciples to a specific place to secure a specific donkey. No one had ever sat on this colt before. It was stubborn, wild, and young. For Jesus to ride an unbroken colt was a miracle in itself.
Unlike a horse, a donkey is a plain, unattractive animal. It has large, floppy ears, uncombed hair, and makes an unpleasant braying sound. You may think that God does not need you because you are unimportant, but if Christ can choose a donkey, He can choose you. “He chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong-so that no one could boast before Him” (1 Corinthians 1:27). What made this donkey so special was the Lord needed it (Luke 19:31). He also needs you. He created this colt for a purpose and He has a purpose for your life.
We read:
. . . the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice . . .
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest (vv. 37-38).
In verses 39-40, when the Pharisees asked the Lord to stop them, Jesus told them that even if He did, the whole of creation would praise Him.
Are you living a life of praise? Or are you allowing others to silence you?” A life of praise is a daily attitude. Do you possess an attitude of praise? This is what God wants of us–an attitude of praise. We can change our altitude by changing our attitude. You are the only person in control of your attitude.
A Day of Sorrow
Palm Sunday was also a day of deep sorrow. As the parade of Jesus approached the city, amidst the shouts of praise there was the loud agonizing wail of a broken heart. Jesus was weeping in His own parade.
He wept because of the superficial belief of the people. He realized that many, who were caught up in the excitement, did not recognize Him as the Messiah. Before the end of the week, some of the people who should “Crown Him” would shout: “Crucify Him.” Instead of saying: “Hail Him,” they would be shouting: “Nail Him.” Jesus saw their superficial belief and it broke His heart. The people were looking for a liberator, but found instead, one who invaded their religious comfort zones and disturbed their behavior. In fact, in verses 19:45-46, Jesus scattered the tables of the crooked money changers.
Today, our Lord weeps when He sees the shallowness of people’s commitment to Him. So many sing on Sunday: “Crown Him with many crowns” and then crucify Him with their lifestyle on Monday. They sing: “I Exalt Thee” on Sunday morning and by Tuesday they sing: “I Forgot Thee.”
Jesus wept because of the spiritual blindness of the people. His heart was broken because the Jews did not recognize Him as their Messiah. He said: “. . . if you had only known what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes” (v. 42). Jesus looked at Jerusalem and visualized the Holy City surrounded by enemies and burnt to the ground. He saw thousands of people killed. This was exactly what happened in AD 70, when the Roman General, Titus, laid siege to the city and severely persecuted the Jewish people. It all happened because the people missed God’s time of coming to them. This is one reason that Jesus wept that day.
Remember, though, whatever happens, God will always have the last Word. When Jesus returns the second time, it will be very different. At the next “Triumphal Entry,” which will be the Second Coming of Christ, the Jews will see the nail-prints in the hands of Jesus, they will recognize Him as their Messiah and they will weep (Zechariah 12:10; 13:6). Then, it will be a time of grace and healing as they acknowledge Him as their true King. God rules in His universe and Jesus will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Other Lessons from Palm Sunday
There are also other important lessons for us from this Palm Sunday parade. First, we will never know peace until we truly know Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The Jews thought that liberation from the Romans would give them peace, but they were wrong. He said: “. . . if only you had known what would give you peace” (v.42). He was talking about Himself. Only He could give them peace. Thousands of people all over the world are protesting against war, and rightly so, but Jesus said until the end of time there would be wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6). Remember, too, peace is not just the absence of war. Peace will only be realized when you surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Peace is not the absence of trouble; it is strength and security in the midst of trouble. Jesus did say: “. . . Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division” (Luke 12:51). However, He did promise inner peace to His followers: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Second, we learn that rejection of Jesus leads to terrible judgment. The destruction of Jerusalem was the direct consequence of Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. In the same way, if we do not receive Christ into our hearts as our only hope for salvation, we will experience the same kind of judgment. We will be eternally separated from God: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). God loves you and offers you the opportunity to be saved. Will you trust Him today?
Third, we too should weep for the things that Jesus weeps. Jesus looked at the spiritual blindness and superficial belief of the people of Jerusalem and He wept. We too should weep for the sad spiritual condition of the world. We cannot have an eternal impact on our city until we weep for the people who are outside of Christ and are eternally lost without Him. When everything else fails, tears will prevail. There is power in tears.
Conclusion
The saddest words in this episode are found in verse 44: “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.” The people of Israel did not recognize the time of God’s coming. Jesus is God and King, but they did not recognize Him and so they did not receive Him. This is the same today. God is calling us to Himself, but many do not recognize Him. How tragic!
Jesus is here now, and He wants to come into your heart. If you have not opened up and received Him as yet, I urge you to do so. This is quite simple. Acknowledge you are a sinner (Romans 3:23). Believe in Him Only as your Saviour and Lord (Romans 10:9). Confess Him before others (Romans 10:10). Do it now (2 Corinthians 6:2). Tomorrow may be too late.
