05/19/20 “Who Is Jesus? And Why It Matters” Part 7
Who was Jesus and why it matters – Jesus Mission
5/19/10 HT PM
Luke 19:1-10 NKJV
Luke chapter 19 is an excellent chapter to discover the mission of Jesus Christ. Over the next few weeks together we are going to peal this chapter back in order to see the things that Jesus did in some of his final days on earth that are a template for our life today.
Luke 19 is broken down in four basic parts – for time, tonight we will introduce this chapter and peal back the first two parts. Here is the overview:
Last week (Pt 1&2)
• Part 1 (v. 1-10) The conversion of Zaccheus.
• Part 2 (v. 11-27) The parable of the nobleman and his servants.
Tonight (Pt 3&4)
• Part 3 (v. 28-40) Christ enters Jerusalem.
• Part 4 (v. 41-48) Christ laments over Jerusalem.
Part 3
Luke 19:28
When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Luke 19:29
And it came to pass, when He drew near to ◙ Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples,
Luke 19:30
saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.
Luke 19:31
And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”
Luke 19:32
So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.
Luke 19:33
But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”
Luke 19:34
And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”
Luke 19:35
Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.
Luke 19:36
And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.
Luke 19:37
Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
Luke 19:38
saying:“‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ◙
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 19:39
And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
Luke 19:40
But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” NKJV
Jesus being mission oriented chose sacred things
Defining sacred things
1. Things set aside (there is significance in the fact that this colt had never been used – take your life to a place of giving God the unused parts of your life, not what you have worn out and have left over) God is looking to be the first part of your life not just a part of your life!
Numbers 19:1
Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
Numbers 19:2
“This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. NKJV
2. Things sacrificed (somebody had to give up something) we do not know much about the owners, why they had the donkey in the first place, but we do know they gave something up. God enters your life is through the door of sacrifice!
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. NKJV
3. Things simple yet significant
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” ◙
1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1 Corinthians 1:21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:22
For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
1 Corinthians 1:23
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the ◙ Greeks foolishness,
1 Corinthians 1:24
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:25
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. NKJV
Part 4
Luke 19:41
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
Luke 19:42
saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:43
For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,
Luke 19:44
and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Luke 19:45
Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who ◙ bought and sold in it,
Luke 19:46
saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house ◙ is a house of prayer,’ ◙ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” ◙
Luke 19:47
And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him,
Luke 19:48
and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him. NKJV
Observations –
1. Jesus wept while others cheered
2. Jesus being mission minded caused Him to deal with things at the root not at the surface.
Most crowds do not know why they cheer or criticize
3. Jesus unleashed His fury on the Temple not the Government (Keep in mind that Christ entrance came at a time of significant political unrest, had Jesus attacked Rome, they probably would not have killed Him, he addressed the church above the government)
4. Jesus wept for they had missed their moment (makes you wonder right now, how He would view each of us today) His own disciples were missing their moment)
John 4:32
But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
John 4:33
Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
John 4:34
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
John 4:35
Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! NKJV
Seems that human nature sees things after they have passed, not as it stands in front of them.
5. Jesus knew that missing a kairos (Divine) moment would have long term devastation
6. Jesus challenged their use and function within their local temple (i.e., churches)
Questions –
1. What do you overlook today, that you will look back on and regret missing five years from now?
2. If Christ walked in to your church what tables would He overturn? (your being “personal”)
Challenges for your life –
Separate your life (Christ mission mindset caused Him to be separate)
James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:9
Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
See & seize your moments in God
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. NKJV