TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF JESUS

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It’s at this point that Jesus finally makes His way into Jerusalem. This is what He has been looking forward to all along.

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'"

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They replied, "The Lord needs it." They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come on you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

This entrance into Jerusalem is a highly referenced event throughout the Old Testament. Finally, Jesus’ time has come. And this time demands special preparation. According to Daniel this is the official presentation of Jesus as the Messiah. It’s the official offering of the Messiah to the Jewish people. I think this prophecy of Daniel was understood by many and therefore they were prepared for this grand entrance.

In Zechariah 9:9-10 riding into Jerusalem on a donkey is specifically mentioned. It says: Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.

The people were spreading clothing and palm branches before Him to carpet the pathway into Jerusalem to honor Him. It is a day of excitement and jubilation as the King's procession reaches the road's highest point as it crosses the ridge of the Mount of Olives. At this time of year, pilgrims clogging the roads rejoice as they come. And the pilgrims already in Jerusalem hear that Jesus is about to enter the city, and they come out to meet Him. The city is abuzz with the news of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and the pilgrims are eager to see this miracle worker they’ve heard so much about.

As this increasingly large band of "disciples" crosses the ridge and begins its descent into the Kidron Valley the people sing praise from Psalm 118:25, though only one line is quoted in Luke. Read the full passage to see how much refers to the coming of the Messiah: "Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord, save us; [literally, "Hosanna!"] O Lord, grant us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 118:19-29)

Here are all of these Messianic phrases being repeated regarding Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem:

Hosanna to the Son of David! (Matthew 21:9)
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Luke 19:38)
Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13)

The Pharisees were offended by this outpouring of praise for Jesus in Messianic terms and they asked that Jesus calm them down. But Jesus said, “If the people keep quiet, then the stones will cry out.”

What I like most about this scene is how it all comes together. Jesus needs a donkey and there was someone already awaiting the order to provide the donkey. This is what strikes me about the genius of the Kingdom. God has His people planted all over the world to call into service whenever the time is right.

This is why it so vital for us to keep following the 3 habits:
1. Walking with Jesus.
2. Walking with others.
3. Waiting for Jesus to lead out with orders and opportunities.

There are all kinds of important events that require the timing of the Lord and the readiness of many seemingly insignificant people to follow the Master’s calling.

We are in a spiritual revolution today and I am excited to say to you, THE REVOLUTION IS STILL ON! Jesus is still making an unlimited amount of triumphal entries into the lives of people today. He’s just looking to use someone’s donkey to carry Him in. And if that doesn’t work, then the rocks will cry out.

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

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As Jesus was finishing up with Zachaeus He moves right into telling them a parable of the ten talents.

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten talents. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'

The plan is set in motion. The master made an investment in his servants desiring for each of them to make that investment grow.

"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

NOTE the similarities between the story of the man who was seeking to be king and Jesus’ own situation. He, too, was hated by the leaders and seeking to be king. I can’t help but think that Jesus has an underlying meaning about Himself in this parable.

Three of his servants’ experiences with their investment are shared here: The first one came and said, 'Sir, your talents have earned ten more.' 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'

The second came and said, 'Sir, your talents have earned five more.'
His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'

Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your talent; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his talent away from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.'"

Whatever else is going on in this familiar parable, here are some bottom-line principles that must be taken away from this parable. Remember, we are looking for what this teaches about the Kingdom and nothing more.

FIRST—In the Kingdom the King gives out talents to everyone. Most likely this is more than money and wealth, but also personal giftedness.

SECOND—The King expects each person to put these talents to work. Our talents—money and giftedness—are to be used wisely to grow or increase what they have been given.

THIRD—The King is looking for each of his servants to take the risk of expending what he has been given and not holding on to it.

FOURTH—If the talents aren’t used, then the person will suffer loss, because even what he has will be given away.

Maybe the most important lesson from this parable is that the King expects each of us servants to obey him. This all seems to be right in line with what the Kingdom is all about. It has nothing to do with accumulating more and more. It does have to do with following orders and doing exactly what the King says.

You see, all we have and all we are is totally from the King. Therefore whatever the King asks of us to do or say must be followed. As long as we are being obedient in the lifestyle of the Kingdom—using what we’ve been given for the King and the Kingdom—then all is well and we live in the joy of our Master, the King. However, when we are disobedient in the lifestyle of the Kingdom—not proactively using what we have been given, then all we have is loss.

I like to think of it like this:
1. Use it—all that you have been given.
2. Use it for the Kingdom.
3. Use it for the Kingdom all the time.
4. Use it for the Kingdom all the time or you’ll surely lose it.