I Second That Emotion

Dwayne Haskins death. Saw post by the Steelers yesterday concerning his death. He was killed walking across an interstate in Florida by a dump truck… Haskins was the 3rd string qb for Pittsburgh, was in Miami training with the steelers and their new quarterback, Tribesky.

He played at ohio state, was a second place vote for the Heisman trophy.

His death doesn’t make sense.

sadness and surprise = grief.

As Jesus goes into Jerusalem, there are mixed emotions: The crowd anticipates he’s going to overthrow Rome… this mixes anticipation and trust= belief or faith.

The religious leaders were fearful of Jesus and anticipated he would make a mistake they could capitalize on.... they mixed anticipation with fear and I think they got anger or hatred.

Jesus, as enters Jerusalem, is neither happy nor sad, anticipative.... maybe, surprised- n ot at all… angry, no. fearful- yes, based on his prayer maybe.

Events of the Lord’s last week of ministry:

Sunday—Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Monday—Cleansing the temple

Tuesday—Controversies with the Jewish leaders

Wednesday—Apparently a day of rest

Thursday—Preparation for Passover

Friday—Trial and Crucifixion

Saturday—Jesus rests in the tomb

Sunday—Jesus raised from the dead

The Jewish day went from sundown to sundown, so our thursday is their friday., the day of passover.

On this day, Palm Sunday, it is worth discussing preparation.

Luke 19:28 ESV

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

what things had Jesus said?

Luke 19.1-10 ..

The story of Zaccheus. (in Mark, Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus who is begging on the side of the road.!) But here, it is Zaccheus.

Who lived in Jericho.

Who was converted- who became a believer.

Luke 19.11-27… a parable .

Going up to Jerusalem. From Jericho.

To understand this passage, you’ve got to understand that geography and the purpose of “going up to Jerusalem.”

Lk. 19:1-10 Passing through Jericho, Jesus meets Zacchaeus – a wealthy Jewish public official who collects taxes on behalf of the Roman government. Because he is too short to see over the crowds, Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore fig tree – a type of fig tree common in Palestine. Jesus calls up to him and is invited to stay in his house. Zacchaeus shows remorse for having cheated the poor, and promises to pay back four times the amount to those he has cheated.

Mk 10:46-52 On the way out of Jericho, Jesus heals a blind man – Bartimaeus – who is begging by the roadside as he is unable to work.

Mk 11:1-7 Jesus and his disciples climb up along the road from Jericho and approach Jerusalem from the east across the Mount of Olives (see 2 on Map 11). Before reaching the hilltop villages of Bethphage (meaning ‘place with young figs’) and Bethany (where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived) Jesus sends two disciples ahead to collect a donkey from its owner. Jesus rides down the hillside from Bethany towards Jerusale

Several times a year, at various festivals and celebrations, the Jewish people would go “up to Jerusalem.”

Jeruselem… the place where God chose to put his name and his presence. The place where daily sacrifices would be made to assuer Israel of God’s forgiveness. Jerusalem, the ploace where the people could find fellowship with God and hope for their future… with God.

And with a great deal of anticipation and joy and excitement the Jewish people would go “up to Jerusalem” several times a year. And they would travel in large groups across desert and territory to be where God was.

And this particular journey had a big purpose. It was the festival of Passover. To celebrate freedom. Specifically God’s freeing of the Israelites from Egyptian rule.

And so, so it seemed, Jesus and His disciples made their way “up to Jerusalem.” Jericho is 846 feet below sea level is nothing to hear. Until you consider that Jerusalem is 3000 feet above sea level. And Jesus has left Jericho, and is headed to Jerusalem.

For this group of travellers, they would come by way of the Mount of Olives. The mount of Olives rises to about 2600 feet where the travelers would have a full color panoramic view of the Holy City. And they would see the splendor and joy of “going up to Jerusalem.” You would be reminded of Passover, of freedom.

Except this time, there was something different about this journey… It wasn’t just freedom time, it was kingdom time.

but strangely, if I can clue you in, Jesus is not going to find freedom at all on this trip!

Luke 19:29 ESV

29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,

Bethphage- where Jesus gets the donkey...

Bethany- the place of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

The Mount of olivet- between the two, he sends two disciples to get a donkey

Luke 19:30 ESV

30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here.

go, get a donkey. A brand new, unridden donkey( the one that would be hard to ride).

donkeys represent royalty in scripture.... it was a cadillac, not a chevette.

Jesus had previously arranged this donkey, it was prepared.

Luke 19:31 ESV

31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ”

Code word. This was the code...”the Lord has need of it.”

Luke 19:32 ESV

32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them.

It worked.

Luke 19:33 ESV

33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

Luke 19:34 ESV

34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.”

Code

Luke 19:35 ESV

35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

At the mount of olives, Jesus mounts the colt. the donkey.

Luke 19:36 ESV

36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

You would never do this for anyone- except royalty.

Luke 19:37 ESV

37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,

Everyone following Jesus had seen much. They had seen Blind Bartimaeus, and Zaccheus converted, and Lazarus raised from the dead.... and so much more.

So they praised God.

Luke 19:38 ESV

38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

He’s a King. coming in the name of the Lord, the name no good Jew would ever say.

Peace in heaven.

Glory in highest.

Luke 19:39 ESV

39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

Tell them to stop. To

Luke 19:40 ESV

40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

You may get a funny thought when Jesus says this, but consider the following: Psalm 96.11

Psalm 96:11 ESV

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

Psalm 98:7–9 ESV

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Isaiah 55:12 ESV

12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

This concept, brings great meaning to the Christmas carol, Joy to the World… “And heaven and nature sing… in joy to the world.

In this crowd, on this day, there are mixed emotions. The crowd praised Him. The pharisees and religious leaders jeered at him.

Even Jesus has mixed emotions. He acknowledges who he is (if they don’t praise me, the rocks and stones will). Yet He weeps… read on

Luke 19:41–44 ESV

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Luke 19:45–48 ESV

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

The Crowds have mixed emotions. These same people who praise him in the week ahead will shout “Crucify Him.”

The Religious leaders have mixed emotions. They want to kill him, but they don’t want to alienate the crowds or tick off Rome.

Does Jesus have mixed emotions? I don’t think so. I guess I really am not sure. I think He’s sad. He weeps over Jerusalem. But He also appears to be angry- the temple had been turned into a den of thieves instead of a house of prayer.

What do you get with sadness mixed with anger? I think it’s abandonment or forsakenness. Loneliness.

The Loneliest Place You’ll Ever Be God Will Be There With You

Love Never Stopped.