Luke 19:28-44 (Calvary Roads 7)

The highway to Jerusalem from Jericho passed along the north end of the Mount of Olives.  But on the backside of the Mount Jesus took the Bethany exit, and then crested the hill and dropped down into the Kidron Valley and up to the entrance to the temple mount.  (See photo taken from unknown web page.)

The decision to enter this way was critical. 

·     *   The Messiah was to enter at the Eastern Gate according to Ezekiel (44:1-3).

·      *  This entry was to involve the Messiah lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zech. 9:9).

This was Jesus’ purpose: to present Himself to Israel as their Messiah.  And the account in today’s passage tells us that the people understood this, all of them. 

·       *  The children understood as they quoted Psalm 118:26.

·    *     The Pharisees understood as they wanted to quiet the children.

·     *    Jesus understood, saying that if the children kept silent the stones would immediately cry out.  Furthermore, in His lament over Jerusalem (v41-44) Jesus speaks of this as your day.  This is a significant day for Jerusalem.

The Old Testament writers prophesied of this day.

·     *    If you return to Psalm 118 you will see this in the context of the verse from which the jubilant children sang.  In 118:24 we see the familiar words: this is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  What day is the Psalmist talking about?  It is the day when the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone (118:22), an event so important it is referenced numerous times in the NT (Matt. 21:42; Mk. 12:10,11; Lk. 20:17; Ac. 4:11; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pt. 2:7,8).  The crowds around Jesus on the way to Jerusalem knew something significant was about to happen and assumed the earthly kingdom of God was about to appear.  They failed to understand Jesus’ words that first He must be rejected.  But this is not a failed Messianic offer; Ps. 118:23 says This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

·   *       Dan. 9:24-27 spoke of this day.  Daniel was told, after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.  The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.  The Messiah offers Himself but is rejected, cut off; and the conclusion of that is that the Roman prince destroys the city.  That event occurred in 70AD and was exactly as Jesus described in 19:43-44.  Jesus knew His Bible.  To receive Jesus as Messiah, in the way He required (with repentance), would have brought peace to Jerusalem and Israel (v42).

The roads from Ephraim to Jericho to Bethany to Jerusalem have brought the Messiah.  He has offered Himself; as He predicted, He will be rejected.  The same people who shouted “Hosanna” will in a few days shout “Crucify Him!”  The rejection will come to be seen as the marvelous work of God.  Only in this way could Jesus enter Jerusalem bringing salvation to the world.  

Today He is offered through the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of sins forgiven through His sacrificial death and eternal life through His powerful resurrection.  This is your day, the day to extend the empty hand of faith and call upon the Lord to be saved!  To reject Him is to choose eternal destruction from the presence of your Creator and God.  The choice is as clear as it was for Jerusalem!