Monday: THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

Apr 3, 2023
2 min read

Luke 19:37-44

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Known as “the Triumphal Entry,” the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem represented a turning point in His ministry. After three years of ministry, people desired to celebrate and announce Him as a king.

It was common to give praise to the king. David acknowledged King Saul as “the Lord’s anointed.” In doing so, he acknowledged loyalty not only to the king, but also to the Lord.

The Pharisees, however, did not appreciate people announcing Jesus as their king. Doing so would usurp the power that they had. They wanted Jesus to tell His disciples that the message of declaring Him king was wrong. Jesus’ reply told the Pharisees that the message was not only true, but if His disciples didn’t declare it, God would allow inanimate stones to proclaim the message.

Jesus knew what lay ahead for Him. He wept for the people, as they did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: Do I recognize the time of God’s coming? Am I prepared to receive Jesus as my King?

While God sent Queen Esther for such a time as this, God has likewise prepared me for such a time as now. First, I need to recognize God’s timing. Do I see Jesus moving for my purposes or for His kingdom? If I’m not shouting about His peace and glory, will the stones cry out?

Lord, allow me to proclaim You as the Eternal King who reigns forever! Through You there is peace in my heart as Your glory shines in my life. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman