Slices
Prepare
The people remove outer clothing (v 35) to welcome Jesus. What might you need to remove in your life to come to him today, however vulnerable that leaves you?
Bible passage
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “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. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 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:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 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. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 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.”
Explore
Given that Jerusalem is the scene of mounting tension and opposition to Jesus, his choice to enter the city amid thousands of Passover pilgrims is significant – and hardly the action of a marked man.
The people would no doubt prefer that Jesus sat astride an impressive warhorse rather than a donkey. But in this choice Jesus not only fulfils a key prophecy spoken 500 years before (Zechariah 9:9); he signals that he is not the next national leader but a Saviour from sin.
Despite the lack of a warhorse, the people yell enthusiastically as if greeting a military hero, waving palms – symbolic of victory and peace. From our side of events we see this is no happy street parade – rather a ride to certain death. Only Jesus knows the truth and it makes him weep (vs 41–44).
One day Jesus will take centre stage astride a horse and we can truly praise him as King of kings: ‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war’ (Revelation 19:11).
Respond
Have you seen the ‘cross’ carried by donkeys? The narrow strips of darker hair running down their backs and across their shoulders make a cross. Take that picture into your day, as you shoulder your own cross to follow Jesus.
Deeper Bible study
‘To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.’1
With Luke’s travel narrative having concluded, Jesus now enters Jerusalem as God’s Servant coming to save the lost. The laying of the cloaks on the ground recalls the coronation of Jehu as Israel’s king.2 Jesus’ disciples sing an adaption of Psalm 118:26, stressing Jesus’ kingship. They are giving him the red-carpet treatment – heralding him as Israel’s Messiah.3 The words of peace and glory recall the angels singing at Jesus’ birth. Creation itself sings his praise (v 40)! Astride a colt, Jesus blazes the path of peace.
Luke adds Jesus’ poignant lament for Jerusalem (vs 41–44). As he cried over Lazarus’ death,4 so we see here Jesus’ humanity and empathy as he weeps for the spiritually dead city. His words declare the imminent destruction of the nation by Rome, as Israel will reject its King and crucify him. They choose the path of war, failing to hear Christ’s summons to peace (v 42). Like so many of us, they do not heed Jesus’ earlier call to do good to enemies, loving, blessing and praying for them.
As our collective memory of the twentieth century’s conflicts fades, political tensions and empires are again on the rise. Our brute tendency is to match force with force. Such a demand for retaliatory force was axiomatic at the time of Christ. Empire after empire rose and fell. All anticipated messianic figures in Israel’s varied prophetic hope were militaristic. Jesus shows us something different – a kingdom established through a King who suffers and dies at the hands of the world’s kingdoms. We are beckoned to reject revolution and follow his path of re-love-ution, the world changed through compassion, service, suffering, sacrifice and humility. As tensions ramp up, we must not resort to our base instincts, but should continue to walk that path of peace and forgiveness.
Pray for the world with the heart of Jesus. Pray for our enemies. Bless them. Rise. Go to them. Love them.
1 Luke 1:79 2 2 Kings 9:13 3 Darrell L Bock, Luke 9:51 – 24:53, Baker Academic, 1996, p1557 (Logos) 4 John 11:35
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Daniel 6,7; 2 John
Pray for Scripture Union
In July, Neil Jackson worked with a new church in Bradford to pioneer outreach using sports (especially cricket on the back of the Cricket World Cup). Please pray for the church as they seek to follow up this outreach and for the Scripture Union north team as they support them in this.
