Luke 9 & 19 - Missing the King

In Luke 9 Jesus was transfigured before his disciples, revealing his glory. Ten chapters later, in Luke 19, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey while the crowds celebrated saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk 19:38). In between a lot of ministry takes place, but notice three passages in particular. In Luke 13 Jesus was warned that Herod wanted to kill him. He responded by lamenting over the unwillingness of Jerusalem to receive her king or his messengers. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” (Lk 13:34). In Luke 17 Jesus was asked about the Kingdom of God. He warned them that they would see it, but that it would not be what they expected. The King would be rejected, and unexpected judgment would fall. Finally, right after the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, prophesying its destruction (Luke 19:41-44).

The Triumphal entry was a celebration, but for Jesus it was a bitter-sweet celebration. He knew what was coming. Jerusalem would reject her king. Jesus would be crucified. Jerusalem would be destroyed. It didn’t take long for the rejection to begin. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem celebrated as a king, the Pharisees rebuked him. Seven verses later they were “seeking to destroy him” (Lk 19:47). Today is Palm Sunday. It is the day Believers celebrate the coming of the king. It is the day we remember when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as King. But there is a dark side to the day. In the midst of the celebration, the very people who considered themselves keepers of the Law rejected the one to whom the Law pointed. They rejected their own king.

It makes me wonder. . .  I wonder if we who claim to be Jesus followers really understand his plan and program? I wonder if we who claim to be believers really trust him when things get hard? I wonder if we who call ourselves Christians really reflect Christ in all that we do? I wonder if we who consider ourselves keepers of the truth are actually walking in truth ourselves. In the midst of waving palm branches and singing songs of celebration, we would do well to take a little time for self-examination.

1 Corinthians 11 warns of the danger of eating the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. It then warns, “Let a person examine himself” (1Cor 11:28). 2 Corinthians 13:5 warns, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” Galatians instructs believers, “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor” (Gal 6:3). It is appropriate, in our time of celebration, to take some time for self-reflection as well. Is our worship really about Jesus and his purposes, or is it about us? Think about it.