When you think of the last days before His crucifixion, we have to go back a bit. In fact ten chapters in the book of Luke. Jesus began His journey to Jerusalem in Luke 9.51. These last twenty miles is a four thousand foot climb in elevation. Jerusalem sits on top of a high plateau. At the Eastern edge lays Bethany, where He is now in verses 28-29 of chapter 19. Here at the Mount of Olives, or Mount Olivet, most of our precious discourses and prayers occur. It’s adjacent to the Temple with the Kidron Valley between. It’s passover week, a high passover at that, so it’s crowded and bustling in Jerusalem.
Jesus is at the mountain top, in more ways than one. Now He descends from the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem. The crowds lay their clothes and palm tree branches on the ground to welcome him as he “triumphantly” enters Jerusalem. Christians celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as Palm Sunday, a week before Easter Sunday, each year now as a tradition. But the first one was an extravaganza. Our full text is Luke 19.28-40.
Continuing to verses 30-35, we find Jesus demonstrating His omniscience. He knows there is a donkey; He knows the owner; He knows the disposition of the owner as well. And wouldn’t you know it, it happens exactly as Jesus said it would, and now He has transportation. In verses 36-38 we are reminded of 2 things: 1) That everywhere Jesus has been, He’s been on foot, now a beast; 2) Everywhere He has been there has been nominal emotional response. Both have now changed. He’s not riding just any beast, but a donkey. He didn’t ride-in on a white horse, but a pack animal, a beast of burden. The donkey was specific, because it was part of a prophecy from Zechariah 9.9. This would ‘fire-up’ the Jews, expecting a conquering Messiah. That is exactly what they got, but not the way they planned.
The Pharisees were argumentative of the statements from the people in verse 38. Look with me for just a moment at the comparison of Gospel texts of this occasion: Luke 19.38— “Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”; Matthew 21.9— “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”; Mark 11.9-10— “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”
Here is the rub: We have people claiming this man to be The Messiah Himself. That is a huge problem for those who do not believe He actually is the Messiah! “Hosanna” means ‘save now’ from Psalm 118.25. It is a declaration of Jesus being the Savior… but what kind? They were still under the impression that He was going to save them physically, right then, from Rome. “Son of David” is also a Messianic title they used. This is bordering on blasphemy, according to the Pharisees. Jesus will give them exactly what they want in a matter of 2 days, then their charges can stick. They should do some dating of their own prophet’s prophecies. You see this is exactly 483 years after the decree of Artaxerxes in Daniel 9.24-26. This IS the Messiah. Even the math adds up. Much less the donkey is being rode, and He is triumphantly entering in under the banner of Hosanna.
No matter how many proofs and facts are demonstrated, no matter how much Jesus is who He says He is to you… there is always someone trying to stop true praise and adoration. Ridiculous, but still happening today. There is always going to be the legalists, who attempt to box everything in. In Luke 19.39 we read— “And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.” John Phillips said— “As some sang, others sneered.” Does this happen today still? True all-in adoration tends to make the heads-up (not holistic) worshippers, uncomfortable when someone else gives God the glory the way He deserves. The problem wasn’t just the content of the praise, but the abandonment of self, in the praise. They didn’t hold back, there was little restraint; it was a Holy Spirit thing. This did not fit into the Pharisees neat and tidy religious box. These Pharisees were, in Jesus’ own estimation, more hard and immovable than inanimate stones. He even said— “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (40).
Surely you know that Jesus can have even nature itself cry-out loud praise to Him. True praise is inevitable…even rocks will cry out. Scripture often speaks of nature praising: Psalm 96.11, 98.7-9, 114.7, Isaiah 55.12. The most impressive example is found in Matthew 27.51— “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” Nothing is going to stop those who trulyworship, give Him praise. God demands and deserves our whole body, soul, and spirit as a worship tool, Mathew 22.37– “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”. He deserves our unconditional surrender and adoration, without fear of what others may think.
Question: Do rocks praise more than I do? That is something to ponder on… What am I doing in my praise? Why doesn’t Jesus, just being Jesus, not fire me up like once did?