And when he had said
these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near
to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of
the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering
you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring
it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say
this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and
found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its
owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The
Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their
cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they
spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the
way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to
rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had
seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in
heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd
said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you,
if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:28-40).
Jesus’ earthly mission was approaching its
climax. From the earliest days of His public ministry He promised a new kingdom
was soon to be established… “From that time Jesus began to preach,
saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17).
His signs, miracles, and wonders confirmed His divine authority and provided
glimpses of the coming kingdom, but in His approach to Jerusalem, even as
anticipation of His glorious and powerful reign grew, Christ revealed in very clear
and intentional ways that He is the King that serves us!
Jesus is the sovereign King. His
mission was well planned. His earthly ministry was winding down with a
preaching, teaching, and healing crusade that concluded in Jerusalem exactly at
the Passover. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to reveal the truth that Jesus came
to fulfill the Passover… “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a
new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been
sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus was in total control of every
moment of His passion week, from the triumphal entry to the resurrection. He
affirmed that He is our sovereign King with these words… “For this reason
the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No
one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to
lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received
from my Father” (John 10:17-18). Indeed, there is no part of a true
disciple’s life that is not under the watchful eye and sovereign
authority of the King that serves us!
Jesus is the strengthening King: Jesus empowered
His disciples by sharing His authority with them. He sent two disciples into a
village to secure a colt from its owners with nothing more than the words… “The
Lord has need of it”. The disciples’ word moved the hearts of the
colt's owners, and their own hearts were encouraged by a significant spiritual
truth for all true disciples. Christ shares His authority with disciples who
are fully engaged in His gospel sharing, kingdom building work… “And he
called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons
and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and
to heal” (Luke 9:1-2). Indeed, we have strength to meet every
need and overcome every enemy as we grow into effective, productive disciples
of the King that serves us!
Jesus is the submissive King: in
fulfilling prophecy and riding a colt, Jesus deflected praise toward His Father
and the crowd got it... “Blessed is the King who comes in the name
of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38). In this passion week, Christ would fulfill
and illustrate the kind of submissive, sacrificial love He wants true disciples
in every age to emulate… “Greater love has no one than this, that someone
lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Indeed, when we are
submissive to God’s will and to meeting the needs of others we become a clear
reflection of the King that serves us!
As we grow up into Christ, we are increasingly filled with and reflecting
the gentle power of…
The King that Serves Us.
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