LUKE 19:39-44

Luke 19:39-44

Think about it with me for a moment – what is the one story in the Bible you wish you could have been there – seen in person. Not Hollywood style – the real deal. Maybe, for example, you’d like to see the creation happen right before your eyes – let there be light, and there was light. God spoke, and there was. To quote Dr. S. M. Lockridge who said of creation, “God struck the hammer of His power against the anvil of His will; the sparks flew, He gathered them in His hand and flung them into space, and the stars were created.” Out of nothing.

Maybe it’s Moses – not Charleton Heston or Disney’s Prince of Egypt – no, the real Moses speaking to God at the burning bush, unleashing the plagues, parting the Red Sea. Maybe it’s Jonah being swallowed by a great fish, only to see him thrown up on shore. Maybe it would be Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown into the fiery furnace, only to see them walking around with the Son of God – or Daniel spending the night with the lions. Maybe it would be Isaiah’s vision of God in the throne room, high and lifted up. A talking donkey, David and Goliath, Noah and all the happy animals on the ark – there are so many.

But for me, I’ve often thought how great it would have been to be alive in Galilee when Jesus walked the earth. To see the real thing – not the Jesus Film from 1979 or even the most recent The Chosen series. To see the gospels unfold – to see the events happen with my own eyes. Even now I have the hope we will be able to watch a movie in living color of His entire life – to include all the things that are written, and all those things not written. The Apostle John told us there were many other things Jesus did not recorded, but he supposed if they were, there wouldn’t be enough books in the world to contain them.

Think about it. From the promise to Joseph and Mary that she would have child, the Son of the Most High who would sit on David’s throne, to see that baby born, laid in a manger, the angel appearing to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Wow. The angelic choir singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

What about the rest of His childhood – all we have is that time at the Temple when He was twelve, amazing the teachers with His wisdom. What did He say – how did He confound them? Luke tells us He didn’t enter His ministry until He was thirty – what about the other 30 years? What was it like to be one of His brothers, James, Jude, Joses or Simon or one of His sisters and watch Him grow up? Maybe to see His baptism, with the Spirit of God descending on Him in the form of a dove, and the voice of the Father from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

When He did enter His ministry, He went everywhere, healing people of every imaginable disease, feeding the hungry, driving out demons, calming storms, walking on water. And His teaching – to actually hear Him speak the red letters we see in the gospels. To hear His voice. Oh, what about the Transfiguration? Or raising Lazarus from the dead? And then there was that Triumphal Entry. There is so much that would have been amazing. I’m holding out for the replay. How convincing, faith-producing, faith-strengthening it all would have been. It had to be, right?

And yet, when Jesus walked the earth, there were those who did believe, and those who did not. Not only did not, but there were many who opposed Him. How much proof did they want? And since they saw it and did not believe, what happened then? It’s in our text – Luke 19:39-44. Listen, I hope this text encourages us who have not seen and yet believed, and serves as a warning to those who do not yet believe.

That’s what happened. Judgment fell. Jesus had just ridden into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives on the colt of a donkey in fulfillment of yet another prophecy – this one in Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

There were thousands of Jewish pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. But as they ascended from Jericho, Jesus came with the Twelve and a large crowd of His disciples. As instructed, two of them secured the colt of a donkey. They spread their coats on the colt, placed Jesus on it, and began the march down the steep descent into the Kidron Valley toward Jerusalem, from Bethany, a couple miles away. They began shouting out, quoting the conqueror’s Psalm 118, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD.” Then they added, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Almost what the angelic choir said at His birth. Now, proceeding to His death, the disciples say almost the same thing, Glory to God, only now peace in heaven. Yes, by His coming, Jesus brought reconciliation – there is peace on earth and in heaven available for those who believe.

Soon, the whole city was stirred, and a large crowd came out to meet Jesus, whom they presumed might be the Messiah. They cut palm branches and laid their coats as a makeshift red carpet for Him to ride in on – through the Eastern or Golden Gate. They were delirious with excitement – expectant joy. It would have been so cool to be there. For a while.

Sure, the disciples were confused – still. Even though Jesus had been telling them for months – at least the Twelve – what awaited Him once He arrived in Jerusalem – they didn’t get it. They thought they were going to set up the Kingdom – Hosanna, save us now from the pesky Romans. Remember, this is important, Jesus gave them the parable of the minas to set them straight. He was a nobleman going away for a while, to receive a kingdom – but He will return, and we will give an account for our stewardship. But that’s not all – He will come in judgment the second time – to review the performance of His slaves, and to deal with His enemies.

Well, back to that entry. Not everyone was excited – even though they had been there to hear His words and see the miracles – or at least hear credible, eyewitness accounts. Faith producing, faint strengthening? And they did not believe. And so, we will see the parable of the minas becomes relevant for them. And I want it to be relevant for us – to be found faithful when He returns. To be found believing and serving when He returns. Here’s the outline of the text:

I. The Pharisees Opposing (39-40)
II. The Savior Weeping (41-42)
III. The Judgment Coming (43-44)

Jesus arrives, riding into Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah’s 500-year-old prophecy. John tells us they didn’t make that connection until after Jesus was glorified. But, it was an amazing parade, because the people were in a lather – in a deliverance mood. His followers were convinced He was the Messiah and was now coming to set up His kingdom. Those not His followers were okay with the possibility the Messiah might be riding into town. Better than a national championship team parading into town – this was the potential fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people. They were delirious with excitement. It was Passover – what better time to be delivered – indeed, what better day.

But again, not everyone was excited. The ever-present Pharisees were there to rain on the parade. Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” In other words, tell them to be quiet. Why? At least a couple reasons. First, they had opposed Jesus from the beginning. Way back in Luke 6, after Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, they began to conspire as to what they might do with Jesus – Mark say, how they might destroy Him. There are 15 mentions of Pharisees in Luke, most of them negative. This is the last time we see them in this gospel. They disappear, still unbelieving. (Saul-Paul) We’ve seen they didn’t believe because Jesus didn’t fit the program. He wasn’t one of their esteemed rabbis, He didn’t go to one of their esteemed schools, and He certainly didn’t follow their rules – the traditions of the elders. Yes, of course, He was doing amazing things – there could be no denying His miracles. So, they simply accused Him of being empowered by – an agent of Satan. Blasphemy.

And now, they say, while the people might be fooled, we’re not. We don’t like you, we don’t accept you. You’re nothing but a Galilean peasant. Rebuke Your disciples. They are ascribing the conqueror’s Psalm to You – they are proclaiming You to be the King – the Messiah. You don’t fit our expectations. Tell them to be quiet.

A second reason is, while they opposed Roman rule, they were allowed to spiritually rule the people. Why, the Sadducees were in cahoots with the Romans, providing opportunities for increasing wealth. Your disciples are going to upset the apple cart. You see, during Passover – a time of national and political unrest – the Romans brought additional troops from Caesarea on the coast to keep the peace. To quell any uprising, any riot. You have the beginnings of a riot here. Tell them to be quiet.

To which Jesus responded, “I tell you (a way of highlighting the importance of His words), if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” Jesus will receive praise even if people don’t give it. Even inanimate objects will cry out His praise. As one said, “That which is lifeless knows life when it sees it, even though that which is living does not.” After all, Jesus is the Creator. There are many verses that speak of Jesus creating, to include Colossians 1, which says, “For by Him all things were created…all things have been created through Him and for Him.” So, if the people who should praise Him don’t, He will still be praised. Romans 8 is a fascinating text:

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Even rocks are waiting for the return of Christ, when the sons and daughters of God will be revealed, and creation itself will be freed from its corruption. Metaphor, perhaps. Listen – no more earthquakes, no more tornadoes, no more forest fires, no more famine, no more hurricanes, no more floods. The point is, all creation was subjected to the curse and awaits when all things are made new. So understand, Jesus will have His praise.

Which brings us to our second point, and brings us His followers, conflicting emotions. As Jesus approached Jerusalem – you see, Bethany and Bethphage are on the other side of the Mount of Olives, obscuring the view of the city. Verse 37 says as He was approaching near the descent of the Mount, they began to praise God. Here, it seems as Jesus crested the hill and could see the city spread out before Him, He began to weep. And the word for weep is the strongest in the Greek language – it wasn’t like when Jesus wept – shortest verse in the Bible – at the tomb of Lazarus. Here, the word klaio speaks of loud wails, of bitter weeping. While the crowd had cheers, the King had tears.

Why was He weeping, wailing loudly? This was an emotion which sprung from deep within. He was crying, because the people of the city, His city, which He loved, had largely rejected Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. Did not believe in Him. It caused Him a grief so deep it must be expressed – because He knew what was coming. What their rejection meant. I said it brings conflicting emotions for us – because on the one hand, we are deeply grieved by the grief of our Savior. But on the other, we are deeply moved by His love for His people – for us. I wonder, when is the last time you wailed aloud for the lostness of people – people you know, people you love? I believe we would if we knew what was coming.

Look at what He said, “If you had known in this day – meaning, My day – the time period I have spent with you – the things which make for peace!” Peace has been a recurring theme. The angels said His coming, His birth brought peace on earth. The crowd of disciples said His coming brought peace in heaven. This peace is found first between God and man – through reconciliation – through the gospel, the good news He came to bring. Through His soon death, burial and resurrection. If only you had known what brings peace between heaven and earth. By the way, don’t miss the irony here – Jerusalem is the city of peace. But they did not know peace – they rejected the Prince of Peace.
Not only does His coming bring peace vertically between heaven and earth but also horizontally, between people. That peace comes through the Spirit of God and is called the bond of peace that unites us – regardless of who we are – socially, economically, racially, nationally, ethnically – it brings peace and unites us. But they had rejected His peace – an action on their part, which now resulted in God’s judgment – this peace was hidden from their eyes. It was a divine blinding of truth, because when He came, they rejected the way, the truth and the life. And He bound them in their unbelief. One said it this way, “They have blinded themselves to truth; God has blinded them to the path of peace.” In other words, it was too late.

Not only that, He wept because He knew of the judgment to come for of their rejection. Which brings us sadly to the judgment coming. Remember, Jesus told us in the parable of the minas that when He returns, His enemies would be severely judged. Bring them here and slay them before me. This coming judgment on Jerusalem is both proof and a picture of the severe judgment to come.

He had come to offer forgiveness, grace, salvation, and life. They chose to reject His offer and remain in their sin. So, Jesus said, judgment is coming. Look at it – for the days will come upon you. This is familiar OT phrase used to speak of pending, divine judgment. The days will come upon you when your enemies. Stop right there. This is interesting – who were their enemies? The Romans. The ones they thought the Messiah would show up and deal with when He came to set up His kingdom. And He will. But what they didn’t realize was their greater enemy was the sin that enslaved them. This was the enemy He came to defeat the first time.

The days will come when your enemies will do the following four things. The repetition of the word you a dozen times emphasizes the horror will happen to them. Just a quick aside here – but many liberal scholars suggest this is a vaticinium ex eventu, a prophecy after the fact. That Luke wrote his gospel after this all transpired, and he simply included it as a so-called prophecy of Jesus. You see, there are several things they reject: the inspiration, reliability and inerrancy of Scripture, and the deity of Jesus Christ. That as God in the flesh, He could know for certain what would happen forty years later. We believe the Scripture is the God-breathed Word of God. We believe that Jesus was the divine Son of God. We have no problems believing what we read. We don’t have to look for natural explanations of supernatural events.

Anyway, your enemies will do the following things, which are all consistent with a Roman siege on a city at that time:

First, they will throw up a barricade against you. That speaks of earthen mounds or walls for their protection and to keep the inhabitants of the city from escaping. They would also serve as siege ramps. You can see that from the top of the fortress Masada, where about a thousand Jews fled from the Romans after the fall of Jerusalem. Masada fell to the Romans in 73 AD.

Second, they will surround you with their army and hem you in on every side. Their circling encampment will be complete – you will be completely surrounded.

Third, they will level you and your children within you to the ground. They will spare no one – even killing the children within the city.
Fourth, they will not leave in you, that is, in Jerusalem, one stone upon another. They will raze the city to the ground.

History tells us all that happened in 70 AD. The zealots rebelled against Roman rule and oppression in 66 AD. The Roman General Titus who would later become emperor marched his armies to the city, and did what Jesus said. They laid siege to the city. It is estimated that one million Jewish people were killed – others were captured for a victory parade in Rome – others were dispersed. The Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum today commemorates the event. The city was utterly destroyed. They left three towers standing on purpose as a symbol and a warning. This is proof that there was once a great city here, and this is all that is left. Josephus records that after Titus viewed the destruction, he “threw his arms heavenward, uttered a groan, and called God to witness that this was not his doing.”

Why did this happen? Because you did not recognize the time of your visitation. They did not recognize who He was and what He had come to do. It was their time for a divine visit – and they refused it. What was intended to be a visitation for salvation had become a visitation of judgment. And Jesus took no joy in this. Here, He weeps. Back in 13:34, He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not have it!” Judgment was coming. Not only in 70 AD, which it did – but at the last judgment when they stand before God to give an account.

I’m not sure what to do with the continued suffering of the Jewish people through the centuries, up till October 7 two years ago. Today, they largely reject Jesus as their Messiah. But I hold out hope that one day they will look on Him who they have pierced – another prophecy of Zechariah that John 19 applies to Jesus’ side being pierced – and they will mourn, they will weep. I trust that will happen for them as nation as Romans 11 implies.

But we are living post cross, resurrection and ascension. We have it written here in God’s inspired, inerrant, eternal word. We have credible, eyewitness accounts. What more do you need to believe? To not believe is to continue in settled rebellion. Think about it – the angels asked the disciples when Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives – why are you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus will come back just the way you saw Him leave. The King will return. The Spirit has been sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. We have it all here. And some believe, and many do not.

But here’s the good news. And Jesus said, how blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believed. The gospel is still true, and still available for all who will repent and place their faith in Jesus.