< 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.11Luke 19:11XWaiting for response 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.12Luke 19:12XWaiting for response 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.14Luke 19:14XWaiting for response 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.13Luke 19:13XWaiting for response when he will judge their performance. Those who have done well will be rewarded with rulership with him in the kingdom of God,vs.17,19Luke 19:17,19XWaiting for response but any who fail will be rejected.v.24Luke 19:24XWaiting for response

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.14Luke 19:14XWaiting for response He wept over it,v.41Luke 19:41XWaiting for response lamenting that the people had not recognised their day of opportunity v.42Luke 19:42XWaiting for response and their treatment of God’s house in Jerusalem. He had made it “a house of prayer for all people”, v.46,Luke 19:46XWaiting for response Isaiah 56:7Isaiah 56:7XWaiting for response but they had made it “a den of thieves”.v.46,Luke 19:46XWaiting for response Jeremiah 7:11Jeremiah 7:11XWaiting for response

Jesus entered into Jerusalem a week before his crucifixion and the people hailed him as their king,v.37Luke 19:37XWaiting for response saying: “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest”.v.38Luke 19:38XWaiting for response 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 17:16Deuteronomy 17:16XWaiting for response 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 9:9Zechariah 9:9XWaiting for response