Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

As we continue our study in Luke, we come to the point where Jesus will be entering into at the time of the observation of the Jewish Passover Feast.

As Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to observe the Passover Feast, he will ultimately be put to death for the sins of the world.

Before that will happen, however, we will find a number of important interactions and engagements between Jesus and various people in Jerusalem.

From the text that we will be considering this morning, we must see that as Jesus enters into Jerusalem, he does so with a full demonstration of His kingly authority.

Throughout this passage Luke is conveying to his readers that Jesus is the King!

As we go through it then, keep in mind that this is YOUR King if you are a Christian.

The picture that we find conveyed through these verses is that of a man exalted as King, and being given acknowledgement from His subjects.

As we come then to this passage, let us consider then this King’s arrival in Jerusalem.

The first main point as we turn to this passage is:

1. Preparations for the King (vv.28-34)

We begin with the context being set in verse 28...

Keep in mind that they had just been in Jericho, and what unfolded in Jericho, both with the blind man being healed, and with Jesus’ encounter with Zaccheus is what builds up to this point.

We read the specific statement that Jesus now “went on ahead.”

We should not overlook this in terms of its inclusion.

It is very specific.

In Mark 10:32 we find the parallel of this verse, and it covers somewhat more detail in terms of the implicaitons of what Jesus was doing…

The first thing that we see here is that Jesus was fully cognisant of what was to take place, and yet he was fully resolved to continue on this path.

The fact is that he was going on ahead of the disciples.

He was taking the lead, despite the fact that it was his own death that would result.

We see from Mark that His resolve was so noticeable that the people around him were both amazed and fearful!!!

As we go on we read…

We see that Jesus is approaching the towns of Bethphage and Bethany.

Bethany is situated on the eastern slope of Mt.

Olivet.

Mt.

Olivet lay to the East of Jerusalem, with the Kidron Valley situated in between.

The Knowledge of Jesus

There are two options here.

One is that this was a pre-arranged scenario.

Jesus had known the person who owned the colt, and he had arrange in advance for this colt to be ready for him.

However, there is no indication in the text.

More likely, Jesus had a clear knowledge and understanding because of His divine nature, much the same as the time he saw Nathanael sitting under the fig tree before coming to meet with him.

Either way, what is extremely important here is that Jesus was preparing his mode of entry into Jerusalem.

And the mode of entry into Jersualem would be in fulfilment of prophecy.

Before we look at the prophecy itself, we need to note that the colt that is referred to here is the colt of a donkey.

Christ was preparing the colt of a donkey for his entrance to Jerusalem.

In terms of the prophecy then, Christ was bringing to fulfilment the prophecy of Zechariah from Zech 9:9

Now, immediatley as we read that prophecy, and then see what it is that Christ is doing here, we see that he was being very intentional about his kingship.

The prophecy of Zechariah speaks about “your king coming to you...”

There was no small point being made in this case.

This in itself was a bold proclamation by Jesus.

But there is a little more to it than this.

If we go back to the Old Testament, particularly to the account of David, we find that it was King David that rode a mule.

When David wanted his son Solomon anointed King, we find his instructions in 1 Kings 1:32-35

As Jesus was preparing for his entrance into the holy city - the city where David Himself had sat as king, and Solomon after him, he would enter into the Holy City riding on a mule.

One further point should be noted from this verse.

The colt had never been ridden by anyone… This is specifically stated by Jesus, and forms part of the very instructions to his disciples.

The significance of this is that an animal that had never been ridden before would be fit for sacred purposes.

Jesus was seeking not only the colt of a donkey, demonstrating his kingly status, but also a colt that had never been ridden, demonstrating the sacred, holy mission taking place.

As we continue, we read...

This may indicate that the owners of the colt were familiar with who Jesus was, probably friends of Jesus.

Alternatively, Jesus was simply speaking with authority, and knew the precise words that would move the owner to release the colt for its duty.

We must see the perfection of this scenario.

Jesus was acting in a prophetic manner here.

To know for certain that the colt would be tied just upon arrival, without a shadow of doubt, required perfect knowledge from Jesus.

He is indeed our great prophet.

Once again, things unfold exactly how Jesus had said.

The owner asks why they’re untying the colt, and they reply as Jesus had instructed.

And as we will see,

They answer exactly as Jesus had said they should, and this led the owner to release the calf and allow it to be taken with them.

It’s worth commenting here that Practical application:

Besides the 12 that followed Jesus where he went, there were many others who stood ready to serve Jesus in practical ways.

Jesus would have had supporters and followers in various towns around there.

When Christ needed lodging, or a meal, or a colt, or a room to prepare the passover meal, there were people that were willing to support and sustain him.

Are we at work in the service of our master?

2. Praise for the King (vv.35-38)

The disciples duly brough the colt to Jesus, and prepared for him a saddle by making use of their cloaks.

Having prepared the saddle, they then put Jesus onto the colt.

The crowd responded to what was taking place by taking their own coats, and throwing them down on the roadway as the colt continued on its way with Jesus on it.

We’ve already seen from the account of David and Solomon that Jesus mounting the donkey was a sign of his kingship.

We must also note that the people throwing their coats on the ground also was an act of homage to a king.

The above unfolds, and the young prophet anoints Jehu king.

We read just after this had happened, and the people that were with Jehu at the time enquired as to what the prophet said, he replied...

2 Kings 9:12–13 (NASB95)

12 .... “Thus and thus he said to me, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”

’ ”

13 Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”

In the parallel accounts in the Gospels, we read also of branches being thrown down on the road in order to prepare the way.

The fact is that the entire crowd was involved here in the acknowledgement and support of Jesus as a King.

As a crowd, they were preparing the way of Jesus as king to enter into the city of Jerusalem, and to do so with honour as an anointed King.

As we go on in our passage, we note that it wasn’t merely in their actions of laying down coats that demonstrated an acknolwedgment of Jesus as King.

Rather, it came through in their response of praise to God.

Luke notes in verse 37 that these praises began as Jesus was descending the mount of olives in the direction of Jerusalem.

He had mounted the colt in Bethany, and had ascended to the top of the Mount from the East, and was now descending on the Western side of the slopes towards the Kidron Valley which through which he would pass in order to ascend into Jerusalem.

As Jesus is descending the Mount of Olives, suddenly the crowd begins to cry out in praise and worship.

Our text tells us that they praised God “joyfully with a loud voice.”

A couple of things are worth noting here.

Firstly, the praise that is being offered up here is from the crowd of disciples / followers of Jesus, and not from those in Jerusalem itself.

Beyond this, we must see that their praise was filled with joy.

This was an exhuberant and excited crowd.

It was a moment of massive significance for them.

In the minds of the crowds, they were anticipating a true king and deliverer for them.

Their minds would have been on the fact that a Roman rule over them would finally be brought to an end, as they had their own king established, a conquering king.

Now, they were certainly mistaken as to the nature of Christ’s kingship, but you can just picture the excitement that must have filled them.

We see also that their shouts were loud!!

This significantly sizeable crowd was shouting loudly at the coming of the King, singing praises to God.

Our verse tells us further that they shouted with joy for “all the miracles which they had seen.”

They were exhuberant and full of life and energy because of the miracles that Jesus had been performing.

While Luke recorded four miracles only in this travel narrative as Jesus was heading to Jerusalem, certainly the people would have been aware of the many other miracles that Jesus had performed.