A Colt, Some Weeping, & A House of Prayer

Jesus' intention was to get to Jerusalem as the Scriptures make clear in Luke 9:51 - Jesus is resolute...  something we see in Jesus' telling the disciples that they will find a colt.  We will talk about the significance of the colt - a peace offering, and not coming in on a war horse.  We see so many things about God's desire in this "triumphant" entry... first that it wasn't a throne taken by force or a battle, but a Kingdom arriving because peace is made between God and His people.

Jesus' tears in verse 41 show just how much He feels the pain of people NOT receiving the gift of peace that has come to them.  We see how heartbroken Jesus is because people will refuse the salvation presented them.

But the last picture we see is Jesus' deep concern for the worship of God.  The clearing of the temple wasn't pointing to Jesus not liking corruption - it points to just how much Jesus is centered on the worship of God.  The problem wasn't that offerings were being purchased - that was normal - but that SO MANY people were selling it looked like a market and they in a sense CROWDED OUT worshipers.  People were being forced to stand outside, not being allowed to use the space as it was meant to be used.

This triumphant entry gives us a closer look at Jesus - and by looking at Jesus we get a greater understanding of what God is like.  Jesus' life and his teaching had "all the people hanging on every word he said." (vs. 48).

The triumphant entry points to a Jesus who knew what waited for Him in Jerusalem and still faced it and finished it.  We also see his care for people (through His tears) and His love for God & people (by His clearing of the temple - people were made to worship God, nothing should get in the way of that).  Because He is God - certain about the future, people can put their trust in Him.  Because Jesus was certain about His future - we can be certain about ours - even in uncertain times.

Luke 19:28-48