< Luke 19 >

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem knowing that he would be crucified there, but the people expected he would immediately sit on the throne of the LORD, save Israel, and establish the kingdom: “They thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear”.v.11Waiting for response for Luke 19:11 Jesus therefore told them a parable to show there would be considerable delay. He would be like a nobleman going to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.v.12Waiting for response for Luke 19:12 In fact Jesus would go to heaven to receive the kingdom from his Father and then in due time return to take possession of it in Israel. In his absence “his citizens [the Jews] hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us”,v.14Waiting for response for Luke 19:14 and the Jews have ever since consistently rejected Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah. He also left behind instructions as to how his disciples should occupy themselves until his return v.13Waiting for response for Luke 19:13 when he will judge their performance. Those who have done well will be rewarded with rulership with him in the kingdom of God,vs.17,19Waiting for response for Luke 19:17,19 but any who fail will be rejected.v.24Waiting for response for Luke 19:24

In the midst of this rejoicing, Jesus’ heart was heavy, not only because of his imminent death, but also because he knew what would soon happen to Jerusalem and her people when (in A.D.70) the city would be destroyed.v.14Waiting for response for Luke 19:14 He wept over it,v.41Waiting for response for Luke 19:41 lamenting that the people had not recognised their day of opportunity v.42Waiting for response for Luke 19:42 and their treatment of God’s house in Jerusalem. He had made it “a house of prayer for all people”, v.46,Waiting for response for Luke 19:46 Isaiah 56:7Waiting for response for Isaiah 56:7 but they had made it “a den of thieves”.v.46,Waiting for response for Luke 19:46 Jeremiah 7:11Waiting for response for Jeremiah 7:11

Jesus entered into Jerusalem a week before his crucifixion and the people hailed him as their king,v.37Waiting for response for Luke 19:37 saying: “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest”.v.38Waiting for response for Luke 19:38 He entered the city riding on an ass, the mode of transport of the ancient kings of Israel because they were forbidden by God to have horses, Deuteronomy 17:16Waiting for response for Deuteronomy 17:16 and fulfilled a prophecy in Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass”. Zechariah 9:9Waiting for response for Zechariah 9:9