Date:   04/01/2007

Text:   Luke 19:28-40

Title:   A Journey

Theme: Since Jesus is the king, nothing on earth can stop His witnesses.

Introduction:

  When we think of journey, many of us recall The trip in September of 05. With Hurricane Rita approaching, 3 million cars were trying to get out of Houston heading towards Dallas, Austin or other cities. A regular 4 hours trip turned into a 32 plus hour's drive. You asked your friends or family member in other cities or states to navigate you through those advance GPS technology. There were accidents, including the one killing many senior citizens. It took me 8 hours to drive from Sugar Land to the intersection of 99 and I-10. We decided to turn around and in 20 minutes we were home. It was a night mare, a journey no one can forget.

  The passage we read is about a journey. It is a journey that Jesus took towards the end of his earthly ministry. Luke devoted almost 10 out of 24 chapters of his book giving us a detail account of this journey. It was a 65 miles journey from Galilee to Jerusalem.

  Today we want to focus on Jesus'' arrival at his destination, Jerusalem. I would like to make several observations and see what it means to us today. Luke's writes in great detail. Studying this passage, or this book is like peeling an onion, one layer after another. And besides, these different layers interact with each other.

I.    Jesus sets the agenda and purpose for His ministry .

  In vs.28, we read, “ And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.” This journey started back in 9:51, “ 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” In order for his readers to get this point, Luke reminded them 4 more times about this journey. 13:22; 17:11, 18:31 and 19:28. During this journey to Jerusalem, Jesus taught, healed the sick, facing opposition from both civil and religious authorities, yet nothing could deter him.

  What is there in Jerusalem that he was so set to go? The temple was in Jerusalem, and the city was a symbol of God's dwelling place, the place where God rules. It was a political center where king Herod ruled. It was also the religious and culture center of that day. This was the city where Jews would gather to celebrate their religious festivals such as: Passover and Pentecost. It was a place where human and divine authorities/powers meet.

  However, to Jesus, Jerusalem is more than the seat of divine and human government. At three different times in his ministry Jesus told his disciples that he would suffer and kill by the authorities and then 3 days later he would rise from the dead. He would be handed over to the human authority in Jerusalem. To him, it was a journey of tension and conflict. In another word, Jesus was clear that this journey to Jerusalem was a journey of death. It was first suffering, death and then resurrection. Yet he set his face, he was determined to go to Jerusalem. In another gospel, it was noted that disciples were actually afraid because of his determination.

  If we know there will be trouble waiting for us at our destination, few of us would like to take that trip. Yet Jesus sets his own agenda and purpose in his ministry, his life and nothing can deter him from this.

  I think of Wilberforce in the 19 th century England. As a young man, One day on his way home, he saw several laborer transporting a casket in a poor neighborhood. The casket was on a horse cart going down a slope. As the cart hit a bump, the casket fell to the ground, and the corpse was thrown out. The workers were half drunk and started making fun of the event. This greatly offended Wilberforce and since then, he was determined to correct the social ills in England. He became a member of the British parliament, to pass legislatures so that all persons will be treated equal and with dignity. He spent his entire life to pass a law that would abolish slavery in England. There were many oppositions and he was discouraged and wanting to quit several times. But at his friends encouragement and his faith in God, he continued the fight. The anti-slavery law was adopted by the British Parliament about 3 months before his death. He set his agenda and purpose in life and stayed with it.

  How about us? What is our purpose in life? do we just go with the flow? Do we want all the power and money that we can acquire? Do we let others decide for us what we should do? Yes, the overarching destination for all believers is that we become more and more Christ like. Yet there are also purposes in life that will differ from person to person. Some dedicated their entire life to help the weak and the poor. Others in response to God's calling at different stages in life and entered into full time ministry. There are some whose passion is to help those in crisis pregnancy so they can give birth to the infants. I also think of many individuals with financial resources are help building schools and orphanages in many under privileged countries, cities and villages. I still vividly remember that 25 years ago, my seminary professor charged me with this: William, preach the word. Be a preacher of the word. This has been a driving force in my ministry for the last 25 years. What is your agenda and purpose in life? Let's move on.

II.    Jesus sets the agenda and purpose of His ministry because He is king.

  What was the disciples' role in this journey? They kind of went along, just following their master. They didn't mind going to Jerusalem, the city of power. By going to Jerusalem, they would have that hope that this Jesus may be installed as a king to deliver the Israelites from the Roman rule. But they certainly did not like the idea of being handed over to the authority, be beaten and killed. Even though Jesus told them that he would rise from the dead 3 days later, but this part did not seem to have registered in them. Luke specifically pointed out that they did not understand what Jesus was talking about.

  However, along the way, they heard Jesus' many teaching via parables. They saw the miracles he performed. He cast out demons, healed a woman could not stand straight, a man with dropsy. He healed the 10 lepers, and made the blind see. All these miracles were there to demonstrate that this Jesus is the son of God, the messiah that was promised in the OT. Then there was the incident of Jesus telling them to bring a young donkey for him to use. They must have puzzled, like we do, if Jesus had made prior arrangement with the owner, or was it a manifestation of Jesus'' power and authority?

  As they travelled close to Jerusalem, their attitude seemed to have changed somewhat. They put their clothes on the donkey for Jesus to use as a saddle. They also put clothes on the road, it is a gesture, a symbol of welcoming a king coming home from victory. And then they praised Jesus saying, 19:38, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” They have quoted Psalm 118. They at this time recognized him as the king prophesied in the OT. To the disciples, this trip of entering Jerusalem began to sound like the installation of a King in the royal city.

  I think we can understand this. Your friends want you to join them in a trip. You are not really up to it but you went along begrudgingly. Then as you go along, you begin to find it interesting, and before long, you were glad that you have come. At the beginning of the trip, the disciples didn't like the ideal of Jesus going up to Jerusalem to face suffering and death. But by the time they arrived, even though in a limited manner, they seemed to have recognized Jesus'' kingship.

  So, what was Jesus'' response to their praise? We read a little later that the Pharisees wanted Jesus to tell his disciples to be quiet. They were afraid that these 12 disciples' praise may arouse a greater number of people in Jerusalem to join them. But Jesus did not stop the disciples. He accepted their praise of him as king.

  This is the purpose of his journey to Jerusalem. It is in this city that he will be recognized as the king of universe. It is here that he would be given authority over all the heavens and the earth. However, before this, there will be suffering, death and resurrection. What we read in 19:38-39 is only the beginning of this process. Yes, he has come to Jerusalem as the King.

  But this is a very unusual king indeed. How so? First he came to this city of power in a donkey. In those days, donkey was not for kings. Kings would enter their city on a horse. Therefore for a king to come to the center of power in a donkey is unheard of. Can you imagine that in January 2009, the new president elect would arrive at the Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. in a SW airline plane? The plane with Dolphin painted on it? Yet Jesus came to this city of God in a donkey. Donkey stands for humility and peace.

  Moreover, this donkey is borrowed from someone. This king doesn't even has his own donkey. This then reminds us where was Jesus born? In a manger. It was not his own room, and again, it belonged to someone else. You see, this king has come to the city of power not in power or might, he is not here to revenge over all the nasty things they had done to him previously, but he has come in peace and humility. He has come to reconcile, to bring peace between God and his people. He came, and later through his suffering, death and resurrection to bring God's people back to him. He is the king that has come to his people in great humility. He has come not to be served but to serve and be a ransom for many. He affirmed his kingship. And it is for this reason, that he set his purpose and agenda in life.

  Since he is the king, what then shall be our response?

III.    As king, Jesus compels a response from His creation.

  Now, let's take a look at the brief conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to tell his disciples to keep their praises down.19:39, “ 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” Probably they were afraid that the crowd in Jerusalem would join them, and attracted the Roman's attention and brought trouble to the city. In other gospels we do read that the crowd also took part in the praise. But here, Luke deliberated focused on the disciples. They were the ones who praise Jesus as the king. And most likely the crowd in Jerusalem later joined them. And the same crowd, few days later also shouted to crucify him. Luke made a distinction between the disciples and the crowd.

  So, what was Jesus'' response to the Pharisees? 19:40, ‘ 40 He answered, "“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”' Jesus is saying, no you can't tell them to keep silent. If they do, the stones in Jerusalem would start praising him. No one can shut up man's praise to Jesus, the king. Here we see an interesting concept: the natural world and human events are often intermingled. You remember when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the earth was cursed. In Isaiah's prophecy of the peaceful reign of the Messiah, the cows and bears, lions and lambs would be side by side. At Jesus birth, there appeared a bright star. When Jesus was on the cross, it was dark for 3 hours, and later the earthed shook at his death. Since Jesus is the king of the universe, therefore the entire creation is to take part in praising him. the Pharisees knew this well. Psalm 19:1-4a 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” The problem with the Pharisees was that they did not recognize Jesus as the king, the Messiah, the son of God. He is God. Knowing him as the king, nothing can shut up the universe in praising him.

  In December, we found out that one of our daughters was pregnant. It was a good and exciting news. But we were given the order not to tell anyone for another month. How can you not to tell anyone this good news? The month of January was tough. We kept asking, can we tell now? When there is such great news, its hard to keep it to oneself, right? Have you tried to keep quiet after you received that engagement right? Or a dream came true? This is what Jesus was talking about. Once you have met the King, you cannot keep quiet about him. No one can shut a person's mouth from praising and talking about this King.

  He has come to Jerusalem, a symbol of God's dwelling place. It is a city where human and divine authorities meet. And now, him being the king of the universe has come to this power center to take his place. How can anyone keep quiet about this. Being the king, he compels his creation to respond him by praising him, by talking about him, by making him known to others, by being his witness.

  And you know what? 40 days after his resurrection, prior to his ascension, what did he tell the disciples? They are to be his witnesses. From where? Jerusalem. He came to Jerusalem in humility to the point of death. And it is from Jerusalem, his name would be uplifted and praised.

Conclusion:

  Earlier (Or in a little while) we had taken the holy communion. By taking the bread and the cup, we recognized that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, and he is also our king, the king of the universe. This king has come to reconcile us with Him, and moreover, he also brings reconciliation to you and the person next to you. Now, Facing this king, what is our response? The only reasonable way is to be obedient to him, like the donkey's owner. Submitting ourselves to Him, and let him use us as an instrument to bring peace into others' lives. As a response to his king, we are also to join the heavens and the earth, the entire creation to worship him and tell about his glory, beauty and holiness. Being our king, he compels us to represent and reflect him.

  However, as long as we live in this world, we are sinners and our praises will not be complete. Therefore we all look forward to the day, when this king will be totally glorified and perfectly praised by his children in the new heaven and earth. What we do today is a foretaste of what is to come.