Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem LUKE 19 Triumphant Journey

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem LUKE 19

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Context • Jesus was on His final trip to Jerusalem • He would soon enter the city on Palm Sunday • He had traveled to Jerusalem from Galilee in the north • As He traveled south, He was not able to continue to pass through Samaria (Luke 9: 51)

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Context • So, He likely turned east, crossed the Jordan River, and then traveled south through Perea • When He was opposite Jericho, He crossed the Jordan River again, this time heading west • Six miles from the Jordan River He came to the city of Jericho

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Context • As Jesus approached Jericho, he encountered a blind man, who He not only healed physically, but saved spiritually as well • Then, Jesus entered Jericho, and as He was passing through the beautiful city of Jericho, He had an encounter with another person – whom He saved • Jesus’ mission was to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19: 10)

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Context • This is the last record in the Gospel of Luke of a person being saved by Jesus until the salvation of the thief on the cross • A note on Jericho – used to be known as “the city of palm trees” – was a rich and beautiful city in Jesus’ day • It was located on a very busy highway from Perea to Jerusalem, and thus was an ideal place for a toll for taxes to be collected

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Context • In those days the Romans hired Jews to collect taxes for them • These hired Jews would charge more than the Romans required and kept the difference for themselves • Apparently, there were many tax collectors in Jericho, who were overseen by a man named Zacchaeus

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Context • The Jewish people despised tax collectors who were seen as traitors and viewed as thieves • Tax collectors were not allowed to go to the worship at the temple • They were religious outcasts

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was rich (Luke 19: 2), but nobody liked him • He may have been hurting and lonely, looking for help and guidance • To whom would he turn for help?

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • First, we should note the desire of Zacchaeus • He had probably heard the stories of Jesus and the numbers of people who had heard Him preach and been healed by Him • When Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was passing through Jericho, he wanted to see Him, but faced two obstacles – the crowd and his small stature

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Second, here we notice the determination of Zacchaeus • His size was not going to deter him – he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree – waiting for Jesus to pass by • Now, notice the command when Jesus came by

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said: “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. ” (Luke 19: 5) • Luke does two things here: he does not tell us how Jesus knew Zacchaeus (we have ideas), and he notes that Jesus uses the imperative “I must stay at your house today” – underscoring Jesus’ mission to seek and to save the lost

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Imagine Zacchaeus’ surprise – and delight – so he came down and took Jesus to his home • What is not surprising is that the crowd disapproved, grumbling that Jesus was going to be the guest of a sinner

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Perhaps this presents a question to us – do we stay away from people because they are sinners?

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Perhaps this presents a question to us – do we stay away from people because they are sinners? • Of course, they are sinners – and so are we • Of all people who should reach out to others, it should be us who know the good news of God’s amazing grace

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Luke does not tell us what they talked about, but there seems to be no question that Zacchaeus became a converted man • He immediately demonstrated his repentance by generosity and restitution – marks of repentance • Note that this story immediately follows the story of the rich ruler (Luke 18) who would not part with his wealth

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Jesus was showing us how a wealthy person can enter the kingdom of heaven – be truly repentant and show it by actions • Jesus declared that “today salvation had come to this (Zacchaeus’) house” (Luke 19: 9)

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Jesus and Zacchaeus • Zacchaeus was sought and saved by Jesus • I was sought and saved by Jesus • Have you been sought and saved by Jesus?

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas • Background • The winter palace of King Herod was in Jericho • When Herod the Great died in 4 BC, his son, Archelaus, assumed that he would be appointed king over Judea • Only the Roman Emperor could appoint him king • So, Archelaus travelled to Rome to be crowned as king

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas • Background • However, the Jews sent a delegation to the Roman Emperor beseeching him not to make Archelaus king • When Archelaus returned he executed all those who had been unfaithful to him • Perhaps it was this historical background that prompted Jesus to tell the parable of the ten minas

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas • Luke tells us that as the disciples heard the things He was saying, Jesus told this parable because He was near to Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately • The closer Jesus got to Jerusalem, the greater the excitement and anticipation that He was about to set up His physical kingdom immediately

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas • But the disciples did not understand that Jesus was about to depart from this earth and go to the far country of heaven where God the Father would crown Him as King of the kingdom of God • Jesus was hinting at His imminent departure, where He would go to receive His kingship and reign until some future time, known only by the Father, when He would return to earth in glorious triumph

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas We find several lessons that the parable of Ten Minas teaches us 1. Jesus Gives His Servants Gifts to Carry on His Work until He Returns • In the parable, a nobleman gave ten servants ten minas each, about 3 years' worth of wages, telling them to engage in business until he returns

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 1. Jesus Gives His Servants Gifts to Carry on His Work until He Returns • Similarly, while Jesus is away in heaven, He gives His servants gifts to carry on His work until He returns • What does the money in the parable represent? • The money represents the gospel – we are to be faithful in multiplying the gospel

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 1. Jesus Gives His Servants Gifts to Carry on His Work until He Returns • How do we do that? • Grow our own Christian lives through repentance, prayer, and daily dependence on the Holy Spirit • Trust God to meet our needs and guide our decisions • Serve people in need, showing Christ’s love and mercy • Praying, giving, and sending missionaries

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 1. Jesus Gives His Servants Gifts to Carry on His Work until He Returns • We put the gospel to work by carrying out our regular calling in a way that shows the supremacy of Christ • We might say that if what we do is done with the intention of bringing glory to God, anything and everything we do is an investment in the kingdom of God

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 2. Jesus will be Hated by Some while He is Away • Sounds like Archelaus • But Jesus was really talking about Himself • Jesus was the nobleman – the Son of the Father – who was about to receive the kingdom • He would travel to a far country, to receive it, passing through death, resurrection, and ascension before being crowned in the court of heaven and returning to earth

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 2. Jesus will be Hated by Some while He is Away • Some put Him to death • Others refuse to believe in His resurrection or ascension to the royal throne • They protest, “We do not want this man to reign over us. ” • Until He returns, He will continue to hated by some

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 3. Jesus will reward the faithfulness of His servants when He returns • In the parable the nobleman rewarded his servants for their faithfulness when he returned • One day Jesus will return, and then he will examine His servants to see how faithful they have been investing the gospel

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 3. Jesus will reward the faithfulness of His servants when He returns • Jesus will reward His servants in proportion to their faithfulness • While entrance to heaven is the same for all Christians – grace – our rewards are different depending on what we have done with the gospel

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 4. Jesus will Judge the Unfaithfulness of Servants when He Returns • In the parable, one servant hid the minas • Many people do the same with the gift of the gospel from God • Rather than put it to work, talking about their faith, afraid to give more of their money than they think they can spare to God, or afraid to do anything for Jesus that goes beyond their own abilities – holding back – showing pride and rebellion

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 4. Jesus will Judge the Unfaithfulness of Servants when He Returns • In the parable, what the unfaithful servant had was taken from him and given to the faithful • Likewise, Jesus will do the same upon His return • This prompts us to examine ourselves • Do we profess faith in Jesus, but there is no fruit to show it?

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas 5. Jesus will Destroy His Enemies when He Returns • The nobleman, in the parable, did much the same as Archelaus did upon his return – He had his enemies killed • Our lesson from this is that Jesus will destroy those who are opposed to Him when He returns

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Ten Minas If we profess to be a Christian, we must invest the Gospel of Jesus in service to others

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Triumphant Entry – The Unexpected Jesus • The account of the Triumphant Entry is found in all four gospels • It was a pivotal moment in world history when the ticking of a prophetical clock struck an important hour • In Daniel 9, we hear a prophecy about the coming of “Messiah the Prince”

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Triumphant Entry – The Unexpected Jesus • The prophecy states that from the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, there would be a period until Messiah the Prince would come to Jerusalem • The time – from the date of the prophecy, 444 BC until the date of our text – follows the prophetic time clock exactly • The Messiah was coming to Jerusalem

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Triumphant Entry – The Unexpected Jesus What were the expectations for the Triumphal Entry? • The People • They wanted to throw the Romans out • They sang “Hosanna” which means to “save now” • They saw Jesus as more of a revolutionary who could ride in and take control

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Triumphant Entry – The Unexpected Jesus What were the expectations for the Triumphal Entry? • Jesus’ Disciples • A new political system with Jesus at the top and them right underneath • Power and position • Note the account of Matthew 20 where James’ and John’s mother requested that her sons be at Jesus left and right in His kingdom

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Triumphant Entry – The Unexpected Jesus What were the expectations for the Triumphal Entry? • The Religious Leaders • For Jesus to keep quiet, calm down, and go away • They were concerned with only one thing – to maintain the status quo – so they could remain in power

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Triumphant Entry – The Unexpected Jesus What did Jesus give them? • Jesus would not devalue the day • It was Palm Sunday – a day of visitation to Jerusalem • It was the day to declare that Jesus was the Messiah for all who had been listening to all the Scriptures had taught • It was a day that even the creation would testify to if man was silenced

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem The Triumphant Entry – The Unexpected Jesus What did Jesus give them? • Jesus came as a King, but one of peace, not war • His visitation this time was on a donkey, a symbol of peace (riding on a horse would be a symbol of war) • He came to make peace between a rebellious humanity and a loving, yet holy Father, not by using the sword, but by allowing the sword to kill Him

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem • Jesus came as a leader who gives up power and position, and then dies • He came as one who will upset traditions and people in power in order to renew relationships with the Father • He will leave the triumphant journey, cry over Jerusalem, go into the Temple area, and throw out those who had co-opted it for thievery

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem • But the purpose of His Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem was a carefully orchestrated plot to force His execution on the exact day and in the exact manner of His choosing so that His mission could be accomplished • He would pay the penalty for our sin so that the relationship broken with the Father in the Garden of Eden would be restored for those who trust in Him alone for their eternal life

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem • Sometimes we just want God to fix whatever jam we find ourselves in • The people of Israel saw Rome as the problem and Jesus’ takeover as the solution

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem • Sometimes we just want God to fix whatever jam we find ourselves in • The people saw Rome as the problem and Jesus’ takeover as the solution • The real problem was sin, and the real solution was Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection

Triumphant Journey to Jerusalem Will you accept Jesus’ Solution?