The Week That Changed the World
Luke 19:28-44
Today is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday marked the beginning of the week that changed the world.
Luke 19:28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Whenever you go to Jerusalem, you always go up to Jerusalem (2500 feet above sea level).
Luke 19:29-30 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, (Mount of Olives) that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.”
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.
In His first coming, Jesus came lowly, riding a donkey – just and having salvation. Jesus came as a man of peace. At His second coming, Jesus is coming in Glory and riding on a white horse (Revelation 19). Jesus is coming as a man of war.
This event taking place on the Mount of Olives is significant because when Jesus returns at his second coming He is going to return to the Mount of Olives.
Zechariah 14:4, 9 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. 9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.
Luke 19:31 And if anyone asks you, “Why are you loosing it?” thus you shall say to him, “Because the Lord has need of it.”
Luke 19:32-36 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.
Other gospels say branches of trees and palm branches were spread before Him.
Luke 19:37-38 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Matthew 21:9 Hosanna (save now) to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!
Psalm 118:24-26 This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
The people are quoting Psalm 118 and fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.
Luke 19:39-40 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.“
Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.
Wept – to wail or to sob out loud.
Why is Jesus weeping?
John 1:11-12 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Luke 19:41-42 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”
This was the day that the Lord had made. It should have been a day of gladness and rejoicing greatly. It should have been a day of salvation. A day of peace! A day of recognizing Jesus as their King!
This day was prophesied in the Old Testament in Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 118, and also in Daniel 9:25, which is one of the greatest prophecies in the Bible. (Accurate to the exact day!)
Luke 19:42-44 If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.
Before 40 years would pass, in 70 A.D. the Romans would besiege Jerusalem for 143 days, a siege in which over one million Jews would be slaughtered. Tragically, Israel missed the day that the Lord had for them. This is such a warning! They failed to enter into the peace He came to bring them!
What about you? Are you at PEACE with God? If not, Jesus is weeping over YOU!
Jesus came just and having salvation. Are you saved?
Jesus the Messiah came and was cut off, but not for Himself! He was cut off for YOU! Have you received Him?
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
Our story is interesting because Jesus expected the Jewish people to understand the TIMES that they were living in. Prophecy was being fulfilled!
Luke 19:42 If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
In a similar way, Jesus expects us to recognize the TIMES that we are living in.
Matthew 24:4-7
- Many will be deceived
- Wars and rumors of wars
- Nation will rise against nation
- Kingdom will rise against Kingdom
- Famines
- PESTILENCES
- Earthquakes in various places
Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Our current circumstances should be renewing and sharpening our:
- Priorities
- Purity
- Urgency
Today is Palm Sunday. Today we’re remembering what took place on this Sunday.
This Wednesday is passover on the Jewish calendar – set a 7 pm reminder on your phone. Don’t miss celebrating Jesus our passover lamb on Wednesday!
This Friday is Good Friday! Set 9 am and 3 pm reminders on your phone.
We will stream a Good Friday Service at 7:30 pm. Gather together with the bread and cup so we can take communion together.
Next Sunday is Easter.
Take a few minutes to write a short testimony on social media this week with the hashtags #Jesuschangedmylife and #calvarycorvallis. Churches around the country are using #Jesuschangedmylife so anyone that clicks through from your testimony can potentially see thousands of others! Similarly, #calvarycorvallis allows our church body to share our testimonies with each other.