“Responding to Christ”

I.  The Pathway…

·         Christ’s mission of on earth was drawing to a close… Much of Christ’s teaching now aimed at His Disciples

·         Region North East of the Sea of Galilee… Just after the Transfiguration of Christ we spoke of last week…

Luke 9:51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

·         The time approached for Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension back to heaven…

Luke 13:22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

·         At the right time… We see a sense of purpose, a drive to purposefully, determined to head to Jerusalem…

Luke 17:11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

Luke 18:31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

Luke 18:32-33 ³² He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. ³³ On the third day he will rise again."

·         1^st mention of Gentiles being the executors… also notice his resurrection from the dead!

Luke 19:11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

·         Setup up the Kingdom… without going to the cross to deal with man’s sin

Luke 19:28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

John 12:12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

·         We are ALL on a pathway called life – how you doing?  Must get it right… where will your pathway lead?

To Jerusalem & Ultimately Calvary

Center of Jewish Religious & Political activity; Temple was there…

The Capital City, City of David, Mount Zion the Holy City… (focus till this very day)

Millions crowded, chaotic, hectic, a bee-hive of activity… (Josephus, the notable Jewish historian of that day, estimated that over two million people were involved in the great Passover Feast. It is known that 256,500 lambs were slain at one Passover and that each lamb represented at least ten worshippers… many people witnessed & heard about the raising of Lazarus from the death…)

Preparation & Yearly Passover Lambs were sacrificed (Jesus pathway led Him to Jerusalem and ultimately to the cross to die for our sins…

Jesus Officially Presents Himself as Israel’s Messiah

The people wanted a political king not a savior… days later people screaming “crucify Him”…

 

Ø  The Religious Responded with – Fear & Frustration

Mark 11:18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Luke 19:47-48 ⁴⁷ Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. ⁴⁸ Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

	The Jewish hierarchy, the power brokers of Israel hated Jesus… He spoke truth… truth hurts
	Uprooted their cozy relationship with Rome… also messed up “their” traditions/routine

 

Ø  The Romans Responded with – Fascination

Luke 23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.

	Herod looked at Christ as a circus side show… perform for me your magic tricks…
	Jesus remained silent and they ridiculed & mocked Him… gave Him an elegant robe

 

Ø  The Disciples Responded with – Faith

Matthew 21:6-7 ⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.

	The disciples showed active obedience… genuine faith
	Jesus rode a lowly donkey, not on a stallion like a conquering king would…
	A colt symbolized peace… this is the only time we see Jesus “riding” and not walking or in a boat

 

Prophetically fulfilling Isaiah 62:11 The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'" Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

 

III.  The Passion…

Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it

	In the midst of the festive jubilation, excitement, Hosanna’s… the fervor of the multitudes…
	Jesus body began to shake… laughing?  Praising God?  No He was crying…
	The Greek says it was not just crying but a strong, unrestrained emotional chest-heaving sobbing
	Why?  Jerusalem represented a rebellious people… the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah.
	They will miss the opportunity for blessing and abundant life… Jesus offers them peace as King
	But they refused… their response was to say NO…  Jesus was rejected – salvation to the gentiles

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

§  The Son of God… Creator, God robed in human flesh despised & rejected… slaughtered on cross

§  God is in control, nothing takes Him by surprise… Sacrificial Lamb of God slain for my sins!

IV.  The Pronouncement…

Luke 19:42-44 ⁴² 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. ⁴³ 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. ⁴⁴ 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."

	Jesus came offering them peace with God… But they refused… Jesus pronounced judgment…
	It happened in 70AD when General Titus’ Roman armies laid waste Jerusalem… bodies laid in the streets, bloodshed was everywhere, the great temple destroyed & burned… It’s interesting, for 2000 years the Jews have not practiced animal sacrifices…
	When Jesus returns the second time THEN they will recognize and accept Him as King.

 

(We could also use V.  The Postponement – Acts 13:45-46; Jn 1:11-12; Rom 11; Lu 19:11-27; Zech 13-14; etc.)

 

 

What is my response to Christ?

	Jesus weeps for you today… as you try to find peace in all the wrong places… in something other than in a new relationship with Christ.
	Jesus came to offer peace with God… Are you experiencing His peace in your life today?
	Jesus gently knocks on the door of our hearts… but He only enters by invitation…

Let’s pray…

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God.  If you trusted Christ, let us know so that we can rejoice with you!