Scripture – Luke 19:28-44 Triumph and Tragedy
Today’s teaching on Jesus crying is found only in the book of Luke. It takes place on the Tenth Day of Nissan – a day we call Palm Sunday. We will explore the triumph and the tragedy of that day and what it says about the heart of God, along with what it says to us about our need for Jesus.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the Tenth Day of Nissan – a significant day – the day the Jewish people choose and set aside the lambs in preparation for their slaughter later in the week. It’s on this very day that Jesus, our Passover Lamb was being “set aside,” designated, as the sacrifice for the sins of not only the Jews but the entire world. As He rides into Jerusalem He is announcing and presenting Himself as the Lamb of God who offers Himself for us for the sins of the world as our Passover Lamb. Truly a day of triumph and tragedy. Triumph because God wins! Tragedy because of the incredible price Jesus would pay.
500 years earlier the prophet Zechariah announced, “See Jerusalem, your King comes to you riding on a donkey’s colt.” This is just how this triumphal entry happens – it’s Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as King. Why say king? In the ancient world if a king came in warfare he rode into town on a horse. But when a king came in peace he rode in on a donkey. And so, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, as King of Israel, just as Zechariah had said.
There’s something fascinating about donkeys. Every donkey has on it’s back the shape of a cross – a stripe of dark hair running down its spine and another across its shoulders making a cross upon its back. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem He rode on a cross….
As Jesus overlooks Jerusalem His eyes fill with tears, the word in the greek has the connotation of sobbing. Jesus was sobbing with overwhelm at what he knew lay ahead, by what He knew of the Father’s love, by what he knew of the cost of human rebellion that lay ahead.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem knowing that although crowds acclaimed him there were many that hated Him and who were plotting His death. So many had rejected Him and Jesus knew the judgement that lay ahead for Jerusalem. He saw the consequences of their rebellion and He sobbed, “If only you had recognized what would bring you peace.” Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Verse 44 tells of the judgement that awaits Jerusalem. This is just what happened within a generation of Jesus speaking these words. Ancient historical writings on the destruction of Israel in 70AD tell of the horrors of Jerusalem’s complete destruction and of the deaths of a million Jewish people. And Jesus wept with the knowledge of what was to come.
Looking at the past and looking at the present, we can see and understand: Jesus is who He claimed to be, He is the Messiah and Savior. He desires that no one perishes and that all come to the knowledge of the truth. God’s purpose in judgement is to draw us back to Himself.
For all people, this scripture today reminds us how serious it is to turn one’s back on the Living God. The story of the Tenth Day of Nissan shows both Triumph and Tragedy.
Tragedy – of all Jesus would endure over the next 6 days, the tragedy of what awaited Jerusalem.
Triumph – of an empty tomb, the triumph of a returning Savior.
The Son of God endured tragedy for us that we might triumph forever! And even in the tragedies of life God points us to Jesus who brings eternal victory and triumph!
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St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.
This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.
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